Pebbles, Sand and Silt Report from Dillsburg, Pennsylvania
Tonya Meyers and Jennifer Gruber, First-Grade Teachers, Dillsburg Elementary, Dillsburg, Pennsylvania

THESE STUDENTS COLLECT A SOIL SAMPLE TO BEGIN THEIR STUDY OF SOIL IN THE FOSS PEBBLES, SAND, AND SILT MODULE.

Mrs. Gruber’s and Mrs. Meyers’s first-grade classes at Dillsburg Elementary have been getting “down and dirty” collecting soil samples for their FOSS Pebbles, Sand, and Silt Module investigations. They have made explorations into dirt like never before. Who would have thought a metal spoon would be so handy when excavating a small area for a soil sample? The children found it amazing that so many different materials go into making up soil. Most of the students assumed it was all made of the same stuff—dirt. Students have been actively participating in identifying the parts of soil. Venturing outside to imitate the everyday practices of a “real life” scientist has given students a whole new perspective on the earth material they walk on everyday.

THESE STUDENTS SHOW OFF THE RESULTS OF PUTTING THEIR SOIL SAMPLE THROUGH DIFFERENTSIZED SCREENS.