Why Is Healthy Soil Important?

Healthy soil is essential to life on Planet Earth. Without it, plants could not grow, animals would lose their habitats, and humans would have very limited options when it comes to food, fibres and building materials! It’s fair to say that soil is one of the unsung heroes of the natural world!

This comprehensive set of 32 student task cards has been designed by our teaching experts to encourage your students to consider the importance of healthy soil to plants, animals and humans. Some example task cards are:

• Imagine a world without healthy soil. Explain who and/or what would be affected by this.
• Describe some actions that humans can take to protect the soil of the world to ensure it stays healthy. 
• Research an animal that depends on soil for both shelter and food. Present your research using a medium of your choice.
• You are designing a garden. Explain how you would prepare the soil to ensure that plants grow well and that soil-dwelling animals thrive.
• A community wants to reduce water pollution. Explain how planting trees and maintaining healthy soil could help achieve this goal.

These soil task cards can be downloaded as a full-colour PDF or an editable Google Slides file. The editable file makes it possible for teachers to make personal additions or alterations to the resource. 

These task cards make the perfect addition to your unit of work on soil and its importance to living things.

Multiple Applications for These Healthy Soil Task Cards

One of the great benefits of these healthy soil task cards is their versatility! There are many options when it comes to using this resource in your classroom. Here are a few tips from one experienced teacher:

• Student Choice – Allow your students to choose a task card that most interests them. Students can complete the task using information they have learned in class, or by completing additional research using trustworthy sources of information. They can present their task using the suggested method on the card, or by using another medium of their choice.
• Teacher Choice – Keen to exercise a little more control over your students’ learning? Why not select a small number of task cards that the students can choose from, or even have all students work on the same task to focus on a specific learning outcome. This will make assessing your students’ understanding a little easier, too! 
• Group Collaboration – The activities featured in these task cards lend themselves brilliantly to group collaboration. Place your students in groups and have them work together on one of the tasks as a team project. Be sure to put measures in place so that all students have the opportunity to contribute!

How to Access These Healthy Soil Task Cards

Use the dropdown menu on the Download button above to access either the easy-print PDF or the Google Slides version of this resource. (Note: You will be prompted to make a copy of the Google Slides template before accessing it.)

Print the task cards on thick card for added durability. Store the cards together in a large envelope or ziplock bag for safekeeping.

This resource was created by Caitlyn Phillips, a Teach Starter collaborator.

More Activities to Explore Why Healthy Soil Is Important

We have more engaging resources to use in your science lessons on soil. Click below for more curriculum-aligned, teacher-created resources!

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