Dig Up the Dirt on Dirt

Dirt. It’s all around us, but do we really notice it – besides under our fingernails? Dirt is necessary for life. You'll hit pay dirt with these activities.

CONNECT:

• What’s the dirt on dirt? See this dirt-y video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=if29mjcd5bc
• Not all dirt is the same. Read about the difference at http://www.scienceforkidsclub.com/dirt-on-dirt.html
• Soil – the final frontier! See why at https://school.discoveryeducation.com/schooladventures/soil/
• Why does rain give off at fresh earthy small? Discover the answer at http://www.livescience.com/49520-smell-of-rain-aerosols.html
• Read animals that really dig dirt: http://www.earthtouchnews.com/natural-world/animal-behaviour/for-world-soil-day-6-animals-that-really-dig-the-dirt

CREATE:

• Tour the underground, and dig into dirt: http://archive.fieldmuseum.org/undergroundadventure/
• (Dirty) Fun: Get elbow deep in some dirt! Try these kid-friendly activities: http://www.nwf.org/what-we-do/kids-and-nature/why-get-kids-outside/dirt-is-great.aspx
• Need an excuse to get dirty? From construction activities to art with dirt, explore these dirt sensory activities: http://handsonaswegrow.com/30-dirty-kid-activities/
• Go eat dirt?? Here’s a recipe for a yummy pudding that looks like dirt, complete with worms: http://pbskids.org/zoom/activities/cafe/dirtpudding.html
• Play dirt detective at http://www.history.org/kids/games/dirtdetective.cfm

CARE:

• Let kids eat dirt. So says Time magazine: http://time.com/2828841/why-you-should-let-kids-eat-dirt/
• But there are also hazards in eating dirt. Know what’s good and bad about it: http://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/En/News/NewsAndFeatures/Pages/The-hazards-and-benefits-of-eating-dirt.aspx
• Celebrate the importance of mud on International Mud Day. http://www.kodokids.org/history-international-mud-day/ even shows you how to put on a mud event. It’s real hands-on fun!
• Having too much fun in the dirt? http://www.howtocleanstuff.net/how-to-remove-dirt-and-mud-stains/ shows you how to remove dirt and mud stains.
• Be a part of the KidsGardening Movement: https://www.kidsgardening.org/

CAREERS:

• Dig dirt? You might have the makings of an archeologist: https://www.nps.gov/archeology/public/kids/index.htm
• Or grow your career as a gardener or related fields: http://www.growcareers.info/
• Or dig into social science as a career: https://www.soils.org/careers