Healthy soil (non-statutory Climate Change & Sustainability) | Science

Starter quiz

Rain, sun, wind, snow, hail stones, fog, thunder and lightning are all types of ...
- 'weather' ✓
Which of these are types of soil?
- granite
- clay ✓
- loam ✓
- sandstone
- sandy ✓
Which of these does soil provide?
- it provides a material to support plant roots ✓
- it provides a home for people to live
- it provides nutrients for healthy plant growth ✓
- it provides a home for small animals to live ✓
- it provides nutrients for people to eat
Which of these processes helps soils to form?
- melting
- magnetism
- erosion ✓
- growth
- weathering ✓
How long does it take for soils to form?
- a few hours
- a few days
- many months
- many years ✓
What is it called if we have too much rain that doesn't drain away leaving a large amount of land covered in lots of water?
- a drought
- a flood ✓
- a drain
- a puddle

Exit quiz

Which options below are examples of types of weather?
- rain ✓
- snow ✓
- flood
- wind ✓
- drought
In what way is Earth’s climate gradually changing?
- The climate is getting warmer more quickly now than a hundred years ago. ✓
- The climate is getting colder more quickly now than a hundred years ago.
- The climate is not changing, it is the same as a hundred years ago.
Climate describes weather conditions over ...
- a few days.
- a couple of weeks.
- a few hours.
- many years. ✓
What do changes in the climate affect?
- how much water there is in your bath
- how much water there is in soil ✓
- how well plants grow ✓
- how well you grow
- how many nutrients there are in soil ✓
Flooding or not enough rain can affect how well crops grow. What are crops?
- A crop is a deciduous or evergreen tree.
- A crop is a plant that is grown in large amounts. ✓
- A crop is a plant that is grown in a pot indoors.
Which of these animals in the soil may be affected if soil is either too wet or dry?
- earthworm ✓
- whale
- dog
- mite ✓
- springtail ✓

Worksheet

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Lesson Details

Key learning points

The weather describes outside conditions over a few weeks and the climate describes conditions over many years.
Earth’s climate is gradually changing. The climate is getting warmer more quickly now than a hundred years ago.
Changes in the climate can affect how much water, nutrients and air are in soil and how well plants can grow.
Too much rain (flooding) or not enough rain can affect how well crops grow.
If soil is too wet or dry this can affect how well animals help mix soil and break down organic matter to add nutrients.

Common misconception

Children may be confused by the difference between the words weather and climate.

By identifying types of weather in the early part of the lesson, you can then help pupils to understand climate by discussing how typical types of weather remain over a long period.

Keywords

Weather - Weather is rain, wind, sun or other conditions you get at a particular time or place.
Climate - The climate of a place is the kind of weather a place usually has over many years.
Soil - Soil is ground up rock mixed up with plant and animal remains.
Nutrient - A nutrient is any substance that plants or animals need in order to live and grow.
Flooding - Flooding is the covering or submerging of normally dry land with a large amount of water.