Introduction
Have you ever thought about the soft things we feel under our feet when we walk? We see it around us, but we may not have wondered why it is important to all living things? It is soil and many living things depend on soil. Soil helps plants get nutrients and water and hold their roots in a place. It provides a place for animals and insects to make their homes. Healthy soil helps fruits and vegetables to grow which are used by both human and animals.
In this WebQuest, you will become a soil explorer! You will read Why Do We Need Soil by Laura K. Murray. As we discover the importance of soil, we will work on the question: Why do we need soil?
Task
Your job is to discover why soil is important?
After reading the book and using online resources, you will make a poster about the topic “Why Do We Need Soil?”
In your poster, you must include
- A definition of soil,
- Two reasons for the importance of soil
- Pictures of soil and living things that depend on it
- Apply the knowledge you learned from the book and online sources to create an informative poster. Share your poster with peers and explain what you learned about soil.
Process
Step 1:
- Explore the book and discover how plants and animals depend on soil? and share your work with peers.
-
Write two interesting facts about soil, you learned from the book.
Step 2:
https://fulfillnj.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Body-Image-200dpi.jpg
Organize your information and create a poster answering all the questions from step 1.
Step 3:
Share your learning with classmates and complete the sentence: "Soil is important because_____________".
Resources:
-
Why do we need soil by Laura K. Murray
- https://online.kidsdiscover.com › unit › soil
National Geographic - https://www.nationalgeographic.com › Environment
- https://fulfillnj.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Body-Image-200dpi.jpg
Evaluation
Criteria
| Criteria | Rating | Points |
| Understanding of soil including why soil is important. |
2 points full marks 0 point no marks |
2 points |
| Poster including clear and detailed information about soil |
6 points full marks 0 points no marks |
6 points |
| Group Work: students' active participation, listening and sharing ideas |
2 points full marks 0 points no marks |
2 points |
| Total points=10 |
Conclusion
Congratulations! You have completed your WebQuest about soil.
You learned the importance of soil and why living things need soil.
You shared your thoughts with peers in an impressive way. Presentation of poster really impressed me.
Credits
Book:
Murray, L. K. Why Do We Need Soil?
Online resources:
https://online.kidsdiscover.com › unit › soil
https://www.nationalgeographic.com › Environment
https://fulfillnj.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Body-Image-200dpi.jpg
Teacher Page
Grade Level: 2nd Grade
Subject: Science
Topic: The Importance of Soil
Book: Why Do We Need Soil? by Laura K. Murray
Learning Objectives: At the end of this project, students will be able to explain what soil is and what is its' importance to living things. They will use the information from the book and online resources to look for answers of their questions. Finally, they will share their ideas with peers.
Materials; Why Do We Need Soil? by Laura K. Murray, pencil, colors, poster, and computer.
The teacher will first introduce the topic and read the text. Then, students will read the text and explore teacher-approved online resources to gather information and find the answers of their questions. At the end, students will share their findings with peers.
The teacher will guide students in collecting information, and will provide help when needed.
Teacher will assess students' knowledge by asking WebQuest questions about the importance of soil, students' engagement in discussion, and presentation of poster.