NOTES
This lesson is the first of two parts
OBJECTIVE
Students understand the relationship between irrigation and salt build up.
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
How do soil health, plant health, and peoples’ health relate?
MATERIALS NEEDED
Salt
Trays labeled “salt,” “no salt,” “no water”
Soil
Sunflower seeds
Tape
Sharpie
Two solo cups (one labeled “with salt,” one labeled “no salt”)
PROCEDURE
Introduction: What happens to water on a field in a hot, dry climate? What does it leave behind? What does that do to the soil?
Activity: Divide students into three groups.
- Salt team sows micro-greens in tray with salty soil and waters them with salt water each day
- No salt team sows micro-greens in tray with regular soil and waters them with water each day.
- No water team sows micro-greens in regular soil and does not water them.
Wrap up: write down hypothesis: what do you think will happen to each tray?
Extensions:
- Mesopotamian Food and Agriculture
- Mesopotamian Agriculture and Soil: Lesson 2