Grow a Native Soil Garden
Gardens come in all shapes and sizes. Try this activity out to make a very
unique native garden!
You Will Need:
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The lid of a shoebox
Plastic bag
Scissors
Soil from three different places. They can be from places such as a
garden, yard, under a bush, and the woods.
1. On the box top, draw 2 lines so it is divided into three spaces. Draw the
lines over the sides so you can see them from the side.
2. Cut the plastic bag flat so and lay it on the box top so it covers it.
3. Using the guidelines on the side of the box, fill each space with soil from
a different place.
4. Keep the soil moist, giving it a little water when it feels dry to the touch.
5. Wait to see what grows!
What Happens:
Plants will grow! Can you figure out where they came from?
Why:
Soil is made up of not only tiny pieces of rock and minerals, but also many
other things, such as seeds. When you keep the soil moist, the seeds burst open
and sprout. Count and see how many different kinds of plants grow in each
square. Is there any different between them? In what ways?
Extra Activity:
With a magnifying glass or microscope, examine some of the soil. What do you
see?
This activity was adapted from,
Susan Lang. Nature in Your Backyard: Simple Activities for Children. Millbrook Press, Brookfield, CT, 1995.
Pages 40-41.