The Soil Basic Science Nursery 2 First Term Lesson Notes Week 4
Discovering Soil: Fun Facts for Nursery 2 pupils
Lesson Plan Presentation
Subject: Basic Science
Class: Nursery 2
Term: First Term
Week: 4
Topic: The Soil
Sub-topic: Understanding Soil
Duration: 40 minutes
Behavioural Objectives:
- By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to explain what soil is.
- Pupils should be able to mention some items found in the soil.
- Pupils should be able to understand the importance of soil for plants.
Key Words: Soil, dirt, plants, rocks, roots, bugs.
Entry Behaviour: The teacher will ask pupils if they have ever played in the dirt or seen plants growing in the ground.
Learning Resources and Materials:
- Pictures of soil and plants
- Flashcards with soil-related vocabulary
- Toy shovel and bucket for a hands-on activity
- Chart paper and markers
Building Background / Connection to Prior Knowledge: The teacher will remind the pupils about the previous lesson on air and its importance for breathing. The teacher will connect this to soil, another important thing we find on the ground.
Embedded Core Skills:
- Observation: Pupils will observe pictures of soil and plants.
- Communication: Pupils will describe what they see and understand about soil.
- Critical Thinking: Pupils will think about why soil is important for plants.
Instructional Materials:
- Pictures of soil and plants
- Flashcards with soil-related vocabulary
- Toy shovel and bucket for a hands-on activity
Content:
THE SOIL
i) What is Soil?
- Soil is the top layer of the ground where plants grow.
- Soil is made of tiny pieces of rocks, plants, and animals.
ii) Items Found in the Soil:
- Rocks 🪨: Small and big stones can be found in the soil.
- Roots 🌱: Plant roots grow in the soil to find water and nutrients.
- Bugs 🐜: Small insects and worms live in the soil.
- Leaves 🍂: Old leaves can fall to the ground and become part of the soil.
Examples:
- When we dig in the garden, we see soil.
- When we plant seeds, they go into the soil to grow.
Soil is very important because it helps plants grow and gives a home to many small animals.
Presentation:
- Revision: The teacher revises the previous topic on air and its uses. The teacher asks questions like, “What do we breathe in to stay alive?”. Air: It Is All Around Us Basic Science Nursery 2 First Term Lesson Notes Week 3
- Introduction: The teacher introduces the new topic, soil. The teacher explains that soil is the dirt we find on the ground where plants grow.
- Interactive Session:
- Discussion: The teacher shows pictures of soil and asks pupils what they see. Pupils describe the color and texture of the soil.
- Hands-on Activity: The teacher gives each pupil a toy shovel and bucket. Pupils pretend to dig in the soil and find items like rocks and roots.
- Discussion: The teacher talks about items found in the soil, such as rocks, roots, bugs, and old leaves. The teacher explains that these things help plants grow.
Teacher’s Activities:
- Show pictures and flashcards of soil and plants
- Lead the hands-on activity of pretending to dig in the soil
- Explain the importance of soil for plants
Learners’ Activities:
- Observe pictures and describe what they see
- Participate in the hands-on activity of digging in pretend soil
- Listen to the teacher’s explanations and ask questions
Assessment: The teacher will assess pupils’ understanding by asking questions like:
- Question: What is soil? Answer: Soil is the dirt we find on the ground where plants grow.
- Question: What does soil look like? Answer: Soil can be brown, black, or gray, and it feels soft.
- Question: What can we find in the soil? Answer: In the soil, we can find rocks, roots, bugs, and old leaves.
- Question: Why is soil important? Answer: Soil is important because it helps plants grow big and strong.
- Question: Where do plants grow? Answer: Plants grow in the soil because they get food and water from it.
- Question: What do worms do in the soil? Answer: Worms help make the soil healthy by eating old leaves and making tunnels.
- Question: Can we find water in the soil? Answer: Yes, sometimes water is in the soil, and plants drink it to grow.
- Question: What happens when we dig in the garden? Answer: When we dig in the garden, we see soil, rocks, and maybe some bugs.
- Question: How do plants stay in the soil? Answer: Plants have roots that grow deep into the soil to keep them steady.
- Question: Can we play with soil? Answer: Yes, we can play with soil, but we should wash our hands afterward.
- Question: Why do we need soil to grow food? Answer: We need soil to grow food because plants get their food from it.
- Question: What can we do with soil? Answer: We can plant seeds in soil, grow flowers, and make gardens beautiful.
- Question: Can we find animals in the soil? Answer: Yes, we can find small animals like worms and bugs in the soil.
- Question: How does soil feel? Answer: Soil feels soft and a little bit squishy when we touch it.
- Question: Why should we take care of soil? Answer: We should take care of soil so plants can grow, and animals have a home.
Evaluation Questions:
- What is soil?
- What do we find in the soil?
- Why is soil important for plants?
- Have you ever seen plants growing in the ground?
- What color is soil?
- What do you use to dig in the soil?
- Can you name one item found in the soil?
- How do plants grow in the soil?
- Why do we need soil for plants?
- Can you describe what soil feels like?
Objective Questions
- Soil is the top layer of the __________. a) Air b) Ground c) Water d) Sky
- Soil is where __________ grow. a) Trees b) Plants c) Rocks d) Toys
- Soil is made of tiny pieces of __________. a) Metal b) Rocks c) Paper d) Glass
- Insects and worms live in the __________. a) Trees b) Air c) Soil d) Water
- Rocks and __________ are found in the soil. a) Leaves b) Water c) Sand d) Clouds
- Plant __________ grow in the soil. a) Flowers b) Roots c) Fruits d) Leaves
- We find soil in the __________. a) Sky b) Garden c) Ocean d) House
- When we dig in the garden, we see __________. a) Rocks b) Water c) Soil d) Air
- Soil helps __________ grow. a) Trees b) Rocks c) Clouds d) Plants
- Old leaves can fall to the ground and become part of the __________. a) Water b) Air c) Soil d) Sun
- Soil is important because it gives a home to __________. a) Fish b) Birds c) Insects d) Clouds
- Soil is where we plant seeds to make __________ grow. a) Trees b) Plants c) Animals d) Cars
- When we step on the ground, we are stepping on __________. a) Air b) Water c) Soil d) Fire
- Soil is __________ for plants to grow. a) Bad b) Good c) Cold d) Hot
- Soil is the __________ where plants get their food. a) Toy b) House c) Ground d) Sky
Conclusion: The teacher goes around to mark and ensure pupils understand the topic. The teacher encourages pupils to ask questions if they need more help understanding soil and its importance.