From: Kathy

Dirt Day                3+ y/o

Children develop observation skills while learning about what things are
found in dirt.

Materials needed:

Shovels
Spade
Spoons
Water table or individual plastic tubs
Sand, gravel, topsoil, and clay-based dirt
Magnifying glasses
Paper cups
Water
Poster or paper
Marker

What to do:
1.  Announce the date of Dirt Day with a big poster.  Request that children
wear old play clothes and bring extras to have on hand.
2.  Empty the water table or set out several plastic tubs.
3.  Have separate containers of sand, gravel, topsoil and clay-based dirt.
4.  Label a paper cup for each child.
5.  Have books and field guides about rocks and minerals available.
6.  Take the children outside with shovels, spoons and a garden spade.
7.  Choose a spot and dig up a large spadeful to bring back to the
classroom.  Allow the children time to explore the hole with their digging
tools.
8.  Bring a shovelful of dirt inside and place it in the empty water table
(or in a few plastic tubs).  Let the children comb through the dirt.
9.  Record comments and observations on a large poster or individual work
sheets.  Ask, "Are there any living creatures?  Rocks or stones?  Any
surprises (nails, glass, bones, etc.)?  If earthwoms or insects are found,
encourage gentle observation for a short period of time.  Discuss their role
in the environment, then bring a few children along to release the creatures
outside.
10.  Rocks, stones or pebbles discovered in the course of observation can be
assembled in the science center as the beginning of a rock collection.  Ask
for other contributions.
11.  Allow children to add water to the dirt and observe changes.

More to do:
Make bricks by packing mud into the bottom half of cut-off wax milk cartons.
Allow to dry in the sun and carefully peel off cartons.  Talk about adobe
houses.

Related books:
"How to Dig a Hole to the Other Side of the Earth" by Faith McNulty
"A Hole is to Dig" by Ruth Krauss