Mystery Diners

Mystery Diners

Soil Surface Dwellers
Lesson: 2.14
Level:
Intermediate
Station: Soil Management
Format: Class Project
Rating:
Intermediate Lesson 2.14 Mystery Diners

Lesson Overview

The surface dwelling bugs in the garden are the ones seen most often. In this lesson, students will expand the catalog of organisms found in the Lab by adding the visible surface dwellers for future reference.

Goals

  • Students will be able to identify common bugs that inhabit the surface of the soil in the raised planters.

Outcomes

Students will locate and identify bugs on the surface of the soil and plants in order to expand the catalog of organisms and microorganisms found in the Lab.

Teach the Teacher

Tools & Materials

  • Magnifying glass
  • Hand trowel

Activity

There is biological activity everywhere. Bugs and microbes are critical participants in the soil food web and often that extends to the area above the soil.

In the raised planters at our flagship Lab, we often see Daddy Long Legs, pill bugs, and centipedes navigating the surface of the soil. New students in the Lab will often jump to a dire conclusion about how to handle them. But most of the critters you see in the soil are beneficial if you’re confident about your soil management practices.

But what do you do when an unknown guest joins the party?

It’s best to know you enemies and allies before it’s mission critical. Expand the catalog of microorganisms created in Lesson 2.6 by adding a section for insects found in the top layer of the soil or on plants in the raised planters.

Related Lessons

Give the Advanced lesson a try now that you’ve completed the Intermediate Lesson! Or revisit the Beginner Lesson as needed.

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