What is Soil?
Grade 8th Grade · Science · 45 min
What's Included
Learning Objective
Identify the living and non-living components of soil, and describe the characteristics of healthy soil.
Warm-Up Video
SciShow Kids · 6:46
Soil Is Alive! | SciShow Kids
Guided Notes
3 key concepts
- 1
Scientists call the dirt in our gardens "soil", and it’s home to many living things, including earthworms that help plants get air and food.
- 2
Soil is a mixture of water, small pieces of rock, and air, and it has a lot of organic matter, which is anything that was once alive or is currently alive.
- 3
Decomposers in the soil break down dead plants and animals, acting like recyclers, and they serve as an important source of food for critters like worms and tardigrades.
Practice Questions
9 questions · Multiple choice & Short answer
Exit Ticket
Quick comprehension check
“Name three living and three non-living components of healthy soil.”
Complete Lesson Package
Get all 3 ready-to-use resources: