1.02 What’s the Word SOIL
This is Lesson 1.2, “What’s the Word? SOIL!”, from the Grow Your PALS Program Guide (The National FFA Mentoring Program) in the Plants and Gardening unit. Through hands-on activities using common materials (cereals, brown sugar, cocoa powder, chocolate milk), students explore soil texture and particle sizes (sand, silt, clay) and learn why plants need soil for water, nutrients, and anchoring. The large-group lesson includes a “What Type of Soil is Best?” planting experiment, observation worksheets, and a creative art review.
At a glance
- Learning objectives
-
- Identify different types of soil texture.
- Explain how plants use soil.
- Time required
- Instruction time for this lesson: 50 minutes.
- Materials
-
- PALS1.2 LG.TM.A-C
- PALS1.2.LG.AS.A – one per student
- PALS1.2.LG.AS.B – one per group
- Writing utensil – one per student
- Three large glasses or transparent containers
- Sample of a large-sized breakfast cereal – example: Peanut Butter Captain Crunch
- Sample of a medium-sized breakfast cereal – example: Rice Krispies
- Sample of a small-sized breakfast cereal – example: Oatmeal
- Approximately ½-gallon chocolate milk
- Small, potted plant
- Small cup of drinking water – one per student
- Small snack item – one per student; example – cookie or a pretzel
- Plain white computer paper – one piece per student
- Markers/crayons/colored pencils/paint – any one or combination will work
- Three, clean containers – small bowls or cups will work
- Sample of brown sugar
- Sample of cocoa powder
- Sample of a spreadable material – like a cinnamon spread
- Three clean half-gallon milk cartons, tops removed with around 6 inches of the container remaining
- Gravel
- Sand
- Clay soil
- Potting soil
- Well-drained lawn or garden soil
- Seeds
- Water bottle
- Paper towels
- Sand paper
- Laminated piece of construction paper
- Unit
- Plants and Gardening
- Lesson Type
- Large Group
- Precepts
- J. Mental Growth — J1. Think critically
- Resources
- National FFA Organization. (2003). LifeKnowledge Precepts and Signs of Success
- Key Terms
- Soil texture, Soil particle, Sand, Silt, Clay
Downloads & Links
Aligned Standards
National Standards
- NL-ENG.K-12.12Applying Language Skills
- NRS.01.02.05.b.Identify rock, mineral and soil types.
- NS.K-4.3Life Science
- NS.K-4.6Science in Personal and Social Perspectives
- PS.02.02.01.c.Formulate and prepare growing media for specific plants or crops.
- PS.02.02.02.b.Discuss how soil drainage and water-holding capacity can be improved.