Recommended time
Minimum 60 minutes, maximum 90 minutes

Goals for the session

• Do mapping exercise
• Introduce group to Inspiration K-12 Edition software

Materials and equipment

• A copy of A Handful of Dirt, by Raymond Bial
• Software to make diagrams (Inspiration K-12 Edition or a similar application)
• Copies of daily newsletter templates
• Newsprint or flip-chart paper
• Colored markers
• Composition books
• Pens

Part 1: Community Builders

What is it?
Check out the article on community builders for suggestions. Also see Session 1.

Example: Zoom
Have the group sit on the floor in a circle. The facilitator is also part of the circle and starts the game by turning to the adjacent child, looking him or her in the face and saying "zoom!" That child then turns to the child on his or her right and continues the game by saying "zoom." This continues until the saying of "zoom" comes back to the facilitator, who can then continue the game in the opposite direction.

The objective of the game is to have the children focus on being ready for their turn to say "zoom" and keeping the rhythm going all around the circle.

Part 2: Read-Aloud

What is it?
The suggested reading material is A Handful of Dirt by Raymond Bial. This book explains how soil is created through natural decomposition processes and describes the living organisms in soil. The book features great color photographs of different kinds of soil as well as plants, microorganisms, insects and animals that live in soil. Click here for other recommended books. Have participants pair up to discuss questions, and then share them as a group.

Sample questions

• What is soil made of?
• The book says, "Without soil there would be no life on Earth." What are the reasons for this?
• Imagine that dirt no longer existed. What would life be like?
• As the book notes, "Many people think of soil as unclean." In what ways do the bacteria and other living organisms in soil help keep people healthy?

Part 3: Idea Mapping

What is it?
Idea mapping is a technique used to generate, share and display ideas as a group. Participants break into small groups to work on hand-drawn maps made up of concentric circles. Participants at all reading and writing levels can contribute to the maps. Drawings, single words and word phrases can be used to represent ideas.

The purpose of this map is to brainstorm ideas for field trip activities for the project.

How to
Check out the article on idea mapping.

Each group should have several pieces of newsprint or butcher paper and a set of markers. The map starts with the facilitator writing a word in the center of a sheet of paper and drawing a circle around the word. Ask a question that relates to the word, and have the group respond to it in drawings and words. Add another circle that encompasses the first to hold responses to an additional question.

Map ideas

• Central word: Dirt
• Question for the first circle: Where can we find dirt in the neighborhood?
• Question for the second circle: What other places can we visit to find dirt and learn about dirt?
• Question for the third circle: What people can help us learn more about dirt?
• Question for the fourth circle: What things can we do to learn more about dirt?

Note: For more information on idea mapping, check out the Thinking Maps Web site. Training and teaching materials can be ordered through the site.

Part 4: Introduction to Inspiration K-12 Edition

What is it?
Inspiration K-12 Edition software is an easy-to-use application for making diagrams, outlines, word webs, flow charts and other graphical representations that organize information. Photos and other images can be imported into Inspiration to enhance diagrams, charts and webs. (Note: Microsoft Word has box, circle and line tools that can also be used to make charts and diagrams. Inspiration is easier to use and offers enhanced functions.)

How to
Introduce new software by showing a few tools and functions at a time and giving simple, focused assignments as a basis for practical exploration. Participants will not be able to remember lengthy demonstrations. In addition, they will discover many special tools and functions on their own as they use the software.

Start by demonstrating how to make a basic box and line diagram. Gather the group in front of one computer. Make a diagram of easy-to-list information, such as the characteristics of someone in the room. Add the person's name to the box that appears on the center of the screen when the application starts. Use the Rapid Fire tool to add a list of physical characteristics about the person to the box. Click the link tool to have this information moved into a new box. Return to the center box and use Rapid Fire to add another list of characteristics, such as favorite sports. Continue adding boxes. Show how to delete a box and how to delete text in a box. Show how to add a graphic. Show how to change the box to another shape.

Next, ask two of the participants to come before the group and make a similar diagram by charting each other's characteristics.

Then give the participants an assignment: Make a diagram related to A Handful of Dirt. Ask participants to work in pairs. Partners may add drawings or clip art to their diagrams.

Diagram ideas

• Diagram the food chain of the living things that depend on soil. (You will see that it is not linear!) Start with the smallest being and move to the largest. What do the microorganisms that live in soil eat? What eats the microorganisms? And so on…
• Diagram the process by which something that was once alive, such as a plant or animal, turns into dirt after it dies.

If Inspiration K-12 Edition or similar software is not available, make the diagrams with paper and colored markers or pens.

Part 5: Journals

What is it?
Do a journal exercise, as described in Session 1, Part 4. Share the journal entries as a group.

Sample exercises

• In words and pictures, do a "profile" of an organism that lives in soil. What does it look like? How does it move? What does it like to do? What does it eat?
• Imagine that you are going to grow the best garden ever. You need a compost heap to make nutritious soil for the garden. What would you put in it? How would you build it? What other things would be in the garden?

Part 6: Daily Newsletter

What is it?
Do the daily newsletter exercise, as described in Session 1, Part 5.

Extension activities
Start making your own soil with a compost bin similar to the one described in A Handful of Dirt. Check out "The Yuckiest Site on the Internet" for instructions on how to make a worm composting bin. Bins can be made with worms; compostable trash, such as banana peels and egg shells; a few pieces of wood; and lining materials, such as newspapers or wet leaves.

Use a microscope or magnifying glass to look closely at moist dirt. Make a list or a chart of the things you see.