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Spotlight on Soil
We dig in it, build with it, and depend on it for the nutrients and water we (and plants!) need to survive. It can take hundreds of years to create an inch of this precious resource, yet we often take it for granted — or even worse — treat it like dirt!
The soils in your schoolyard, garden, fields, and other outdoor areas provide fertile ground for learning. Young gardeners can use their senses to examine and describe soils. Older students can compare drainage, composition, pH, and other qualities of soils from different sites, or experiment by growing plants in different soil types. This month we share background information and lesson ideas to encourage you and your soil sleuths. Read more:
Spotlight on Soil - What is soil?
Building a Lasagna Garden - Build your own 'soil' from a raised bed of mulch, organic matter, kitchen scraps and compost.
Lesson Ideas
Getting in 'Touch' with your Soil - Students explore ways to determine the composition of soil.
The Plant-Soil Relationship - Students investigate the relationship between plants and soil.
What's New?
Sprouting on the 'Sill: Growing Salad in Windowsill Gardens – An interview with Kidsgardening Advisory Board member Gioya Fennelly.
Including All Children: Designing Accessible Garden Programs Using Multiple Intelligences and Universal Design Principals – An article from Kidsgardening Advisory Board member Carrie Banks.
Summer Maintenance Tips for School Gardens
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NEW
Book: Farm to Table & Beyond
In this inquiry-based curriculum, middle-school
students explore and analyze their personal food choices through
scientific reasoning, and they apply what they've learned through
discussions and debates to personal decisions related to food
systems, health, and the natural environment. Learn
more and order here
Fundraise
with Flower Bulbs: Earn 50% Profit  Looking
for a "healthy" and alluring option for raising funds for
your school? NGA endorses the Flower
Power Program. It features easy-to-grow spring-flowering
bulbs and is a good deal to boot; your school gets to keep
50% of the profits. Click
here to learn more.
More
Garden Activities
and Lessons
Seeds
Feed the World
These precious packages have the potential to produce plant life and to
sustain human life. Discover the fascinating history of people/seed partnerships
and find ideas for classroom investigations. Click
here to download a .pdf version.
Seeds!
The Promise of Life
Discover how these
minuscule miracles can inspire your classroom gardeners and scientists. Click
here to download a .pdf version.
Plant-Insect  Interactions
Thematic classroom stories, standards- based project ideas, how-to advice,
and resources. Click
here.
Our Favorite
Kids' Fiction Books
An annotated list to inspire imaginations and garden projects. |
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© 2009
National Gardening Association