What's in Our Soil?

This article describes the kindergarten unit on environmental awareness, "Who Wants to Live and Grow in a Garbage Dump?," which integrated life science, health and nutrition concepts, and relationships around the topic of "soil." Science Technology Education and Mathematics (STEM) activities used in the lesson plans were developed to help children learn about the interrelational and circular relationships between children's own health and nutrition, children's dependence on plant and animal life (life science), and how different aspects of the environment (land, water, and air) are needed to sustain animal and plant life. Preservice teachers sought to develop units that connect real-life science to children's everyday lives through inquiry and develop STEM activities where young children observe the life patterns that animals and plants use to survive (NGSS Lead States 2013).