Digging Into Discovery: 2nd Grade STEM

Students Investigate the Properties of Soil

This spring, our 2nd grade students have been getting their hands dirty—in the best way possible! In Julia Esser’s engaging STEM class, students have been investigating the fascinating properties of soil through a series of hands-on experiments and explorations.

The unit began with a soil dissection, where students used screens, plates, and spoons to sift through samples and separate out different components. As they explored, they encountered new vocabulary like humus—the decaying plant and animal matter that enriches soil—and discovered that soil can contain all sorts of materials, including pebbles, gravel, sand, and bark.

To deepen their understanding, the students soaked soil samples in water overnight. The next day, they observed how the soil separated into distinct layers. Sand and rocks sank to the bottom, bits of bark floated to the top, and the humus and water settled in between. Each student recorded their observations in their science journals, helping them reflect on what they had discovered.

The learning extended beyond the classroom with a walk to the "Nature Play" area on campus. There, students collected and compared soil from that area to samples from the MTS garden. Through thoughtful discussion, they identified similarities and differences between the two soils and came to appreciate that soil isn’t just “dirt”—it’s diverse, dynamic, and essential to life on Earth.

As a bonus, students also harvested carrots they had grown in the MTS garden—bringing the lesson full circle, from soil to snack!