Spring in the Garden

OBJECTIVE Students will use observational skills and senses to notice how the spring season changes the garden. ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS How do the seasons affect life in the gardens? MATERIALS NEEDED Three adult group leaders PROCEDURE Introduction:How might things have changed since we last talked about the seasons? Activity:• Divide the class into three groups. Assign […]

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Compost and Compost Tea

OBJECTIVE ​Students will explore the soil food web while creating their own system to brew compost tea ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS What is compost? How do we build soil? MATERIALS NEEDED 5-gallon bucketMesh bag or cheeseclothCompostAquarium pumpA few feet of tubingMolassesOptional: Kelp meal, azomite, worm castings, sea salt, humates, etc. PROCEDURE How to assemble the Compost Tea […]

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Soil Testing

OBJECTIVE Students will understand how to analyze a soil test. Students will be able to amend soil according to soil test results. Students will be able to identify the major elements in the soil and the significance of each element, as well as the relationship between elements. ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS What is soil? Why is soil […]

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Sensual Soil

Note Microsoft Word – Document4 Adapted from Life Lab OBJECTIVE To compare a variety of soils with the senses. ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS How does soil feel? Does all soil feel the same? MATERIALS NEEDED • Four containers with different types of soil:• clay, compost, garden soil, sand• Scrap paper or sticky-notes• Four lunch-size paper bags• Four […]

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Soil Experiment: Part 2

Note Adapted from LifeLab’s Living in the Soil? OBJECTIVE Students will determine whether soil type makes a difference for a particular type of plant to grow. Students will be able to describe the components of healthy soil. Students will make their own soil mixture. ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS What type of soil do plants prefer? How do […]

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Soil Experiment

Notes Adapted from LifeLab’s Which Soil Do Plants Prefer? OBJECTIVE Students plant seeds in three types of soil and compare results. Students are able to set up an experiment to test which soil helps a seed grow the best. Students will determine whether soil type makes a difference for a particular type of plant to […]

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