Our Soil Sampling program is a unique experience for students to learn about soil!
In this program, students get hands-on experience learning about both the physical and chemical aspects of soil. Students handle soil samples as they learn about the physical properties of soil, such as texture and structure. We discuss how the different soil texture types hold onto nutrients and water and how this can impact plant growth and health. We also do a brief introduction to the soil texture triangle.
For older students (6th grade and up), we also investigate the chemical properties of soil with hands on experiments. In groups, students extract the nutrients from their soil sample, test the pH of their soil and test the levels of Phosphorus, Potassium, and Nitrate in their soil. As a group, we discuss how the levels of these different nutrients can impact the soil's ability to support healthy plants.
