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The animal, fungus and bacteria kingdoms |
The Microscopic World |
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Learn that there are more bacteria in your body than there are human cells! |
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The animal, fungus and bacteria kingdoms |
The Microscopic World |
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Learn that the essential nutrient called vitamin B12 is made by bacteria in the digestive systems of humans and animals. |
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The animal, fungus and bacteria kingdoms |
The Microscopic World |
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Learn that some bacteria are harmful, whilst others are helpful, thus it is necessary to wash your hands after touching animals, going to the toilet and before eating etc. |
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Soil and stone |
Indicator species |
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Experiment with changing the soil conditions to see if that affects the plants which grow there spontaneously (e.g. in a grassy area with small rushes (Juncus species) growing in a straight line this may be due to soil compaction. One could dig a section in the row and leave another area untouched. Return months later to see the changes in what plants are growing spontaneously there). |
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Soil and stone |
Indicator species |
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Learn that an indicator species is one which, if abundant, healthy and spontaneous (not planted), can tell you something about the local conditions, such as a plant which tells you whether the soil is compacted, wet, dry, acidic, or alkaline. |
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Soil and stone |
Indicator species |
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Create a story, poem or song about the need for plants to have their own niche (i.e. how different types of plants love being in different places). |
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Soil and stone |
Indicator species |
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Identify common local plants and discuss what they can tell us about the soil conditions (e.g. rushes indicate wet, nettles indicate rich soil). |
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Soil and stone |
Indicator species |
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Observe different plants which grow spontaneously locally, investigate how/whether this relates to the soil there. |
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Soil and stone |
Soil textures and soil tests |
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Compare the different properties of sand and clay (e.g. how much water and air it holds, what happens when you stand on it, which holds more nutrients etc.). |
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Soil and stone |
Soil textures and soil tests |
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Find out about acidity and alkalinity in soil, how it affects plants that grow there, and how plants affect the pH of the soil (e.g. conifers make it more acidic). |
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Soil and stone |
Soil textures and soil tests |
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Sing a song about soil textures (e.g. "There's three different types of mineral in soil"). |
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Soil and stone |
Soil textures and soil tests |
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Do a soil jar test to find out what percentage is sand, silt and/or clay. Compare soil from different places. Compare with results from soil touch test. |
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Soil and stone |
Soil textures and soil tests |
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Test soil to find out if it's acidic or alkaline. Use a pH kit and/or do a home test e.g. add 2 spoonfuls of soil to a jar, add vinegar, does it react? If so you have alkaline soil. Add 2 spoonfuls of soil to another jar, add distilled water and baking soda - does it fizz? If so you have acidic soil. |
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Soil and stone |
Soil textures and soil tests |
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Do a soil touch test i.e. rub soil between your fingers - does it have big grains like sand or minuscule grains like clay, or is it soapy like silt? Roll soil into a sausage, can it stay like that (indicating clay)? Try with different soils. |
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Soil and stone |
Soil textures and soil tests |
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Observe how different soils affect the plants which grow there - their health as well as the species composition. |
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Soil and stone |
Exploring soil and soil life |
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Listen to the earth (e.g. ear on soil/child-made telephone to Mother Earth) - it is alive and full of energy in roots, fungi and worms all working together to create soil - a precious resource that needs us to care for it. |
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Soil and stone |
Exploring soil and soil life |
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Dramatise life in soil in which children act as the different elements in soil e.g. stones, minerals, water, air, humus, earthworms, fungus, plant roots, seeds, bacteria etc. |
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Soil and stone |
Exploring soil and soil life |
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Read or listen to mythological stories from around the world with symbolic representations of the earth; discuss the wisdom of ancient cultures in their relationship to the earth. |
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Soil and stone |
Exploring soil and soil life |
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Spot different plants which can tell you about the soil, and the history of the site (e.g. nettles often grow where humans once lived and urinated). |
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Soil and stone |
Exploring soil and soil life |
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Sing and dance songs inspired from indigenous cultures about earth as a mother (e.g. "The Earth is Our Mother, we must take care of her"). |
