By Maggie Willis
The Lal Carbon Center was honored to present at Boy’s Exploration Day at Jonathan Alder Canaan Middle School in Plain City, Ohio, on October 21, 2024. This event aims to provide 5th and 6th grade boys with a school day filled with new experiences focused on STEAM, technology, and future-ready skills.
Research Technician Alex Jones and Maggie Willis collaborated with Ohio State Extension Educator Amanda Douridas to deliver two soil-centric sessions for the students. Amanda introduced the students to soil sampling in the school’s pollinator garden, while Alex explained the science behind soil health and carbon, including its effects on color, texture, and structure. He also challenged the students to recognize how plants use carbon dioxide in photosynthesis, and how to describe that process in the chemical equation for photosynthesis.
Maggie engaged the students with a soil health matching game and a soil turbidity demonstration, where they experimented with how soils change under different management techniques when dropped in water.
Afterward, the students enjoyed creating with soil paints and learning how different minerals and chemicals affect soil colors. Thank you for the wonderful opportunity to introduce the importance of soils to students at Canaan Middle School!