Background Information
Soil is often viewed as the skin of the earth -- a remarkable living and breathing natural resource! Soil sustains life as it provides the foundation for growing plants that serve as food, feed, fiber, and fuel, all while filtering and purifying water resources. Iowa is home to some of the best soils in the world -- our landscape was historically covered with a vast tallgrass prairie, which over thousands of years led to the formation of some of the richest, most fertile soil in the world. Today, however, soil is being lost much faster than it can be replenished! Conservation practices that help to hold the soil in place and build up organic matter are of utmost importance.
Vocabulary
Soil: Layer of earth where plants grow
Erosion: The process of soil being washed or blown away
Organic Matter: The remains of plants and animals
Humus: Decayed organic matter in the soil
Organisms: Living things
Decomposer: An organism that breaks down (decomposes) other organisms
Fungi: Spore-producing organisms that feed on organic matter
Residue: Dead or decaying plant material
Bacteria: Microscopic single-celled organisms that aid in digestion, aid in decay of living things, and can cause disease
Books
A Handful of Dirt by Raymond Bial
Dirt: The Scoop on Soil by Natalie Rosinsky
Soil: Get the Inside Scoop by David L. Lindbo
Videos
Old McDonald Had a Farm (Music Video and Enhanced Learning Activities)
Land Formation in Iowa (4-minute Video Animation)
What’s In Your Water?
The Farm (Video and Activity)
Adventures of the Conservation Pack
Episode 9 (Video and Worksheet)
Episode 18 (Video and Worksheet)
Additional Activities
Edible Soil Cups
Prairies, Wetlands and Croplands: Keys to the Future Lie in the Past
Recommended activity on p.4: Soil Comparisons