Author: Benjamin Conner
Planning Unit: College of Agriculture
Major Program: Soils
Plan of Work: Youth and Adults Agriculture and Natural Resources Education, Adaptation, & Sustainability
Outcome: Initial Outcome
While more of the population is growing up in an urban/suburban landscape, less are being exposed to agriculture and natural resources. According to the 2010 Census data, 32.5% of the total population in Scott County live in rural areas, thus 67.5% live in urban/suburban areas. Soil is a fundamental necessity to agriculture and natural resources. The extension agent took part of the Royal Spring Middle School Conservation Education Tour which was organized by the Scott County Conservation District. The agent was able to teach the whole sixth grade pupil population at Royal Spring Middle School about the characteristics and purpose of different soil profiles. This topic can be a rather bland subject for a group of sixth graders, so the agent was able to make it interact and interesting. Using candy and food, the agent had a student in the class build a soil profile in a clear cup. When the student added each new layer, the agent explained the properties in a soil profile, the necessity of that profile, and how that profile might affect other profiles or organisms. Eight classes of sixth graders, totaling 275 students, rotated between stations every fifteen minutes to learn about different topics of conservation. During their visit to my station, the students were able to learn more about what is really going on under their feet. Light bulbs went off when students connected that organic matter provided valuable nutrients to the soil, which in turn were used by plants to grow. The students were able to identify the five different profiles at the end of the class when reviewing as a class. They noticed key differences in each profile and thought critically about the importance of keeping our soil healthy and free of pollution and trash.Student adding layers to soil profile while classmates critically thought about the importance of each layer.
Layers of an edible soil profile.
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