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12.08.2009
This short activity helps young learners explore what makes up forest top soil. First leat each child take a handful of topsoil and examine it closely.
Grade: Primary school
This short activity helps young learners explore what makes up forest top soil. First leat each child take a handful of topsoil and examine it closely. Then disucss it under the following features:
FEEL: texture of soil, soil moisture, lightness (air spaces)
SMELL: richness
LOOK: colour, contents (sift through and look for seeds, leaf litter, animals, etc.)
Now remove some topsoil (about 20cm deep) with a small spade. Half fill a 2l plastic cool drink bottle (with its top cut off) with soil. Take this back to the classroom. Now fill the bottle with water, and with the top covered, shake it vigorously. Allow the contents to settle overnight and examine the layers that have formed. A piece of white cardboard can be attached to the side of the bottle and the respective layers recorded (see picture below).
FEEL: texture of soil, soil moisture, lightness (air spaces)
SMELL: richness
LOOK: colour, contents (sift through and look for seeds, leaf litter, animals, etc.)
Now remove some topsoil (about 20cm deep) with a small spade. Half fill a 2l plastic cool drink bottle (with its top cut off) with soil. Take this back to the classroom. Now fill the bottle with water, and with the top covered, shake it vigorously. Allow the contents to settle overnight and examine the layers that have formed. A piece of white cardboard can be attached to the side of the bottle and the respective layers recorded (see picture below).
