A Forest Year: Soils Unit

an interdisciplinary unit for 1st grade students by JoAnn Kruzshak
Thetford Elementary School, Thetford, Vermont

“If you have walked quietly in one forest, you have walked in all the forests that have ever been. ”
Roger Caras

Within walking distance of our school is the Thetford Hill State Forest. This wonderfully rich and diverse ecosystem is the site of our year-long study of the forest. This interdisciplinary study incorporates all academic areas and involves weekly visits to the forest. Through the study of their natural environment, the children develop a strong attachment to and respect for the land. Weekly visits over the course of a year foster an awareness of the natural rhythms of the seasons. Empathy for the natural world and a sense of place results from direct study of the forest. The children become aware of the interdependency of plants, animals, and people as they learn about the forest ecosystem. As children observe and study together, they develop communication and problem-solving skills. A deepening sense of community and trust develops among the children as a result of their collaboration. Children make sense of their world through direct experience, which is provided in abundance through the forest study.
The Soils Unit will be taught in the spring, after the children have had extensive experiences in the forest. In this unit the children will study the characteristics of rocks and soil, how soil can affect plant growth, erosion, and the role that soil plays in the forest ecosystem. The unit was developed to meet the requirements of our district science curriculum.

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