This curriculum was made possible with generous support from Peter Swift & Diana McCargo of Philo Ridge Farm
Digging into Soil: A Garden Practicum is an activity guide written by KidsGardening in cooperation with The Lower Sugar River Watershed Association as a complement to the booklet “S” is for Soil. We encourage the use of both books as companions, but they can be used together or independently. "S" is for Soil is available here.
Digging into Soil has been written to help educators use a garden program to teach students about soil. The target audience for Digging into Soil is grades 9 -12 and the activities are linked to high school level Next Generation Science Standards. The lessons can be adapted for middle school ages too. The goal of these companion resources is to cultivate a new generation that is inspired to make collective choices that preserve and improve existing soil resources.
The authors are convinced that the future depends on caring citizens making environmentally sound decisions, and this means they need basic knowledge about soil and our impact on these systems. Beyond basic knowledge, they must also feel connected to the soil so they are motivated to find and implement solutions needed to protect this precious resource. Soil can no longer be viewed as a commodity used to create industrial products like a tool in a factory where short-term economic gains trump its long-term health. Soil is much more than just sand, silt and clay. It is a complex system critical to our health, well-being, and survival. Healthy soil is fundamental to healthy life on earth!
Digging into Soil has been written to help educators use a garden program to teach students about soil. The target audience for Digging into Soil is grades 9 -12 and the activities are linked to high school level Next Generation Science Standards. The lessons can be adapted for middle school ages too. The goal of these companion resources is to cultivate a new generation that is inspired to make collective choices that preserve and improve existing soil resources.
The authors are convinced that the future depends on caring citizens making environmentally sound decisions, and this means they need basic knowledge about soil and our impact on these systems. Beyond basic knowledge, they must also feel connected to the soil so they are motivated to find and implement solutions needed to protect this precious resource. Soil can no longer be viewed as a commodity used to create industrial products like a tool in a factory where short-term economic gains trump its long-term health. Soil is much more than just sand, silt and clay. It is a complex system critical to our health, well-being, and survival. Healthy soil is fundamental to healthy life on earth!
Illustrator
Rob Dunlavey
Project Team
Sarah Pounders, Senior Education Specialist, KidsGardening
Emily Shipman, Board of Directors, KidsGardening
Steven I. Apfelbaum, Founder and Chairman, Applied Ecological Services, Inc.
Susan M. Lehnhardt, Senior Ecologist, Applied Ecological Services, Inc., President Lower Sugar River Watershed Association
Reviewers
Dr. Jessie Conaway, Faculty Associate, University of Wisconsin - Madison
Tonya Gratz, Conservation Technician, Green County Land & Water Conservation Department, Wisconsin
Hannah Halfhill, Youth Educator, Toledo GROWs, Ohio
Jennifer Hammonds, Senior Manager K12 Curriculum and Instruction, National Wildlife Federation
Erin Lineberger, Environmental Educator, Gaston Natural Resources Department, Dallas, North Carolina
Richard Meyer, Teacher, Burlington High School, Burlington, Vermont
Kevin O'Toole, Teacher, Morton Freshman Center, Cicero, Illinois
Editors
Susan Littlefield
Suzanne DeJohn
Rob Dunlavey
Project Team
Sarah Pounders, Senior Education Specialist, KidsGardening
Emily Shipman, Board of Directors, KidsGardening
Steven I. Apfelbaum, Founder and Chairman, Applied Ecological Services, Inc.
Susan M. Lehnhardt, Senior Ecologist, Applied Ecological Services, Inc., President Lower Sugar River Watershed Association
Reviewers
Dr. Jessie Conaway, Faculty Associate, University of Wisconsin - Madison
Tonya Gratz, Conservation Technician, Green County Land & Water Conservation Department, Wisconsin
Hannah Halfhill, Youth Educator, Toledo GROWs, Ohio
Jennifer Hammonds, Senior Manager K12 Curriculum and Instruction, National Wildlife Federation
Erin Lineberger, Environmental Educator, Gaston Natural Resources Department, Dallas, North Carolina
Richard Meyer, Teacher, Burlington High School, Burlington, Vermont
Kevin O'Toole, Teacher, Morton Freshman Center, Cicero, Illinois
Editors
Susan Littlefield
Suzanne DeJohn
KidsGardening.org
Since 1982, KidsGardening has led the youth gardening movement. As a national nonprofit, we are striving to improve nutritional attitudes, educational outcomes, social and emotional learning, and environmental stewardship in youth across the country through garden-based learning. Our mission is to create opportunities for kids to learn though gardening, engaging their natural curiosity and wonder by providing inspiration, community know-how, and resources.
The Lower Sugar River Watershed Association
The Lower Sugar River Watershed Association is a nonprofit volunteer conservation organization based in south central Wisconsin, dedicated to the care and enjoyment of water resources and to empowering citizens with experience and knowledge to steward land and water resources in the Lower Sugar River Valley.
Since 1982, KidsGardening has led the youth gardening movement. As a national nonprofit, we are striving to improve nutritional attitudes, educational outcomes, social and emotional learning, and environmental stewardship in youth across the country through garden-based learning. Our mission is to create opportunities for kids to learn though gardening, engaging their natural curiosity and wonder by providing inspiration, community know-how, and resources.
The Lower Sugar River Watershed Association
The Lower Sugar River Watershed Association is a nonprofit volunteer conservation organization based in south central Wisconsin, dedicated to the care and enjoyment of water resources and to empowering citizens with experience and knowledge to steward land and water resources in the Lower Sugar River Valley.
