4.3 The Effects of Soil Quality on Animal Life
A middle school agricultural literacy lesson (Lesson MS.NR.4.3) from the Natural Resources Science: Soil unit that teaches students about growing media used in container planting. Students identify the major components of growing media—peat moss, wood residues, vermiculite, and perlite—and describe how growing media supports plant growth through anchorage, aeration, and water/nutrient retention. The lesson includes an interest approach, hands-on observation of media samples, a “Party Host” review activity, and an assessment.
At a glance
- Learning objectives
-
- As a result of this unit the students will… Explain the importance of maintaining soil quality.
- Identify the major components of growing media.
- Describe how growing media supports plant growth.
- Time required
- Instruction time for this lesson: 45 minutes.
- Grade level
- Middle School
- Materials
-
- Overhead projector or writing surface
- LCD projector or SMART board (optional)
- Writing utensil
- Sandwich bag of potting soil
- Sandwich bag of perlite
- Sandwich bag of vermiculite
- Sandwich bag of peat moss
- Sandwich bag of wood residue
- Jar of plain tomato salsa
- MS.NR.4.3.TM.A – overhead or 1 copy per three students
- MS.NR.4.3.TM.B – one per teacher
- MS.NR.4.3.TM.C – one per teacher
- MS.NR.4.3.TM.D – one per teacher
- MS.NR.4.3.TM.E – overhead or one copy per three students
- MS.NR.4.3.TM.F – overhead or one copy per four students
- MS.NR.4.3.AS.A – one per student
- MS.NR.4.3.ASSESS.A – one per student
- Lesson Number
- MS.NR.4.3
- Precepts
- K. Emotional Growth; K1. Cope with life's trials; K6. Seek appropriate counsel
- Key Terms
- Growing medium/media
Downloads & Links
Aligned Standards
National Standards
- NL-ENG.K-12.4Communication Skills
- NS.5-3.3Life Sciences
- PS.02.02.01.bDescribe the physical characteristics of growing media and explain the influence they have on plant growth.