Introductory techniques

Ask pupils to bring in a sample of soil from home in a bag. Let them use their hands or magnifying glasses to look at the contents. Encourage them to describe what they see, noting differences and similarities between samples.

Then go outside into the school grounds and ask them to spot places where they can see soil. These could be marked on a map.

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Soil and slopes fieldwork

Set up a soil tray with two or three different soils or find locations around the school grounds where there is exposed soil and provide scoops, toy animals, stones, small containers etc for children to dig, scoop, pour, and describe what they feel and see.

Use language prompts like ‘Is it soft or rough?’, ‘Can you find something hidden?’ (hide some ‘treasure’ buried in the soil) and ‘Do all the soils feel the same?’

Add water to soil collected into trays and squeeze, mould and shape the mud.

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The Geographical Association (GA) has worked closely with the Field Studies Council (FSC) to develop these resources.