Overview
High schoolers use their school grounds as an education center. This
outdoor school garden is a laboratory where students prepare to study
soil science, start Soil Journals and conduct an experiment that helps
neighboring schools start gardens. An educational program featuring
web pages and multi media presentations adds dimension to this down
to earth project. |
For more about Special #3 from
Techno Gardening, e-mail
Aida Quinones, author and
AT&T Teacher Disseminator |
Learning
Standards
Research, analyze and evaluate environmental challenges, through
observation, and experimentation.
Research and apply the unifying concepts of science.
Use technologies to obtain, utilize and present information.
|
Classroom
Activities
Preliminary activities start with students surveying the school grounds.
They look for vegetation, slope, bare spots, moisture level, use of
land, and examples of weathering. They begin to address a series of
soil related |
issues in their Soil Journal and complete lab reports
for their first experiment:
|
Community
Activities
Secondary school students use their acquired skills to teach elementary
school students the importance of soil conservation. Students analyze
soil in their school garden and make recommendations for improvement.
They duplicate this process in other schools throughout the district.
|
Careers
Students research career opportunities related to soil science. Careers
include soil conservation technician, soil analyst, agronomist, soil
consultants, farmer, and horticulturist. |
Materials
Applications in Biology/Chemistry , Center for Occupational
Research and Development, Waco, Texas; LaMotte Soil Handbook,
LaMotte Company, Chestertown, MD; plastic bags, small spoons or spatula,
soil samples, goggles, petri dish, magnifying glass, microscopic slide,
microscope, camera, film |
Technology
Students research soil on the Internet and begin to document work
for a PowerPoint presentation. |
Assessment
Students are tested on Questions About
Soil and Characteristics of Soil?
Teacher checks Soil Journals and lab reports for accuracy and completion.
|
Web Sites
Students research soil and substrate at
http://www.rain.org/~sals/Petrik.html
|
Dishing the Dirt Part 1
