Year 3 – CBOL Session 7: Rocks & Soil (Soil Layers)

This hands-on outdoor science lesson explores what lies beneath our feet through movement-based challenges and practical investigation.

Students learn the structure of the Soil Profile and discover what soil is actually made of through sorting and testing.

🌍 Core Learning:

The Soil Layers (Bottom to Top):
• Bedrock – The solid foundation
• Subsoil – The sticky clay-rich middle
• Topsoil – The living layer where plants grow
• Humus – The dark, rotting organic surface layer

Soil Composition:
• Organic – Living or once lived (worms, leaves)
• Inorganic – Never lived (sand, pebbles, minerals)

🚀 What’s Included:

✔ Detailed Teacher Guide with full session script
✔ Laminated Soil Layer Cards (per team)
✔ Organic vs Inorganic Sorting Cards
✔ Soil Profile Plant Pot Stacking Challenge
✔ Swamp Crossing Sorting Relay Plan
✔ Student Clay Content Investigation Worksheet
✔ Equipment & Setup Checklist

🪱 Investigation: The Soil Ribbon (Worm) Test

Enquiry Question:
How much clay is in your soil?

Students:
• Roll damp soil into a ball
• Form a “worm” or ribbon
• Measure how long it stretches before breaking
• Analyse texture (Sticky = Clay / Gritty = Sand)

They practise:
• Prediction
• Measurement
• Observation
• Recording data
• Drawing conclusions

Curriculum-aligned.
Active learning focused.
Outdoor enquiry based.
Teamwork structured.

This lesson doesn’t just teach soil.

It lets children feel it, test it, and understand it.

📥 Buy now and bring earth science to life.