In environmental science, third graders recently learned about the properties of healthy soil. Students dissected two different soil samples and worked to locate the components within each sample. Third graders were introduced to three main inorganic ingredients, sand, silt, and clay, and they learned that ideal soil will have a mixture of all three. Another vital soil component discussed was organic materials, which consists of things that are alive or used to be alive. This base understanding of soil quality prepares students to connect their learning to the school-wide composting program being rolled out by our upper elementary. From here, the third graders will extend their knowledge to study how water moves through soil and how sand, silt, and clay impact this. Through these understandings students can study the soil quality here at Crestview and work to continuously improve it.