This document outlines a grade 1 classroom activity where students dig a soil pit in a garden to observe soil layers and learn about ecosystems and organisms that inhabit the soil. Students engage by collecting soil samples, identifying critters, and understanding their roles in decomposition and soil health. The lesson emphasizes the importance of topsoil as a natural resource and includes materials needed, procedures, and extensions for further exploration.

1. Dig A Soil Pit!
Grade Level: Grade 1
Description
In this activity, students will dig a pit in the garden and observe soil layers. They will then
speculate as to what the soil layers mean for the garden.
Guiding Question
What is top soil? How much top soil do we have in our garden or school yard?
Big Idea
Top soil is a vital natural resource, and necessary for the plants in our garden.
Learning Objectives
To be able to name some organisms that live in soil, and classify them as decomposers.
Materials
* Soil sample
* Wire mesh screen with ½ inch holes
* Funnel
* Plastic bags without holes
* Empty coffee can
* Light source
* Trowels
* Rubber gloves
Preparation
Assemble supplies. Decide on a small part of your garden that can be dug.
Introducing the Lesson
Activate prior knowledge: Ask students if they have ever turned over a log or a stone. What did
they see? What kind of animals do they know of that live in the forest. How do these animals
live together? What do they eat? Did they know that soil is like a forest, full of small macro-organisms
that live together in much the same way.
Engage Student Interest: We are going to go out into the garden and capture some soil beasts.
Lesson and agricultural enhancement supported by a grant from the Massachusetts Society for the
Promotion of Agriculture.

2. Procedure Total time approximately 1 hr 20 mins
Outside:
1. Divide the class into small groups. Ask each group to collect in a plastic bag, a sample of soil
and leaf litter from a depth of four to six inches underground. The sample should be moist, since
there isn’t much life in dry soil and leaves. (10 mins)
In the Classroom:
2. Each group should place a piece of wire mesh (½ inch holes) inside a funnel and rest the
funnel inside an empty coffee can. Put the soil sample on top of the wire mesh. (10 mins)
3. Hang a light bulb over the can. Shine the light directly on the soil. The heat from the lamp
will drive the soil critters deeper as they look for moisture. They will land in the bottom of the
can where the students can take a look at them. While they are waiting for the insects to do this,
you can present the hand out on soil creatures and look over it as a class. (20 mins)
4. Have the students try to identify some of the soil critters and speculate on how they work in
the soil decomposition process. (Breaking down dead plant matter, digesting, adding to organic
matter when they die, eating each other, etc) (20 mins)
Wrap up
Have each group draw a picture of one of these invertebrates. Make these into posters if there is
time. (20 mins) Take your wild soil beasts back to the garden so that they can get back to work!
Assessing Student Knowledge
Ask your students what process these animals help with in the soil. How does healthy soil life
help your garden? What creates a good habitat for healthy soil life? What creates a bad one?
Extensions
Compare these results with samples from a forest, or a lawn. Make a worm bin to have some of
this soil life as your pets, and observe the decomposition process first hand!
* MA Department of Ed. Standards in this lesson*
Earth and Space Science Standard #4: Explain and give examples of the ways in which soil is
formed.
Lesson and agricultural enhancement supported by a grant from the Massachusetts Society for the
Promotion of Agriculture.

3. Macro-invertebrates you might find in healthy soil
Earthworms: Segmented soil critters without legs that move by expanding and
contracting their bodies like an accordion. As earthworms eat, they break down
plant materials into smaller pieces, aerate the soil, and add nutrients in the form
of castings (soil and nutrient-rich wastes that have been digested and released).
Centipedes: Predatory soil critters that move about quickly on many legs.
Their bodies are flattened and each body segment has only one set of legs.
(Centipedes bite)
Millipedes: Long, rounded soil critters that have hard segmented bodies
with many legs. Each body segment has two pairs of legs. As
vegetarians, millipedes eat holes in fallen leaves and other things, thus
enabling smaller decomposers to continue the decay process.
Springtails: These soil critters literally spring to life when approached. A pointed
projection folded inward at the tip of their abdomens can be quickly extended,
acting like a spring to propel them into the air. Springtails feed on fungi and other
molds, bacteria and decaying matter.
Mites: These very small soil critters look like minute dots moving about in the
soil. There are thousands of species and they range in color from white to bright
red. Mites are related to spiders and have eight legs and a round body. They eat
fungi, other molds and decaying wood and leaves.
Isopods: These soil critters are covered with flattened plates of armor,
resembling tiny armadillos. They are brown or gray in color. Isopods eat
decaying leaves and wood and are often found in damp leaf litter and rotting
wood. They are commonly called Sowbugs or, if they roll into balls when
disturbed, Pillbugs.
Lesson and agricultural enhancement supported by a grant from the Massachusetts Society for the
Promotion of Agriculture.

4. Books and Resources Resources used for writing these guides included here.
USDA Natural Resources Cons. Service
State Office 451 West Street
Amherst, MA 01002
(413) 253-4350
Web Site: www.nrcs.usda.gov
Soil & Water Cons. Society of America
7515 Northwest Ankeny Road
Ankeny, IA 50021-9764
(800) THE Soil Fax: (515) 289-1227
Web Site: www.swcs.org
Book: Soil! The Inside Scoop
Soil Society of America: www.soils.org
USDA Agricultural Research Service
Kids Science Projects www.ars.usda.gov/is/kids/fair/story.htm
Book: Project Seasons, Shelburne Farms. http://store.shelburnefarms.org
Book: GrowLab®: Activities for Growing Minds. National Gardening Association. http://
www.gardeningwithkids.org
Project Soil: http://projectsoil.org/project_soil
Soils and Conservation Website: with Soil Zoo : www.waite.adelaide.edu.au/school/Soil/
index.html
P. O. Box 345 Seekonk, MA 02771
www.aginclassroom.org
Lesson and agricultural enhancement supported by a grant from the Massachusetts Society for the
Promotion of Agriculture.

5. Please Visit the Massachusetts Agriculture in the Classroom Website
to tell us how you used this resource.
Thanks!
Lesson and agricultural enhancement supported by a grant from the Massachusetts Society for the
Promotion of Agriculture.