Soil conservation is serious business but Project SOILS makes it sound like fun. The very names of the games and songs suggested by Project SOILS stir the child in everyone. Root Race, Soil Circle, Diversitag, and Shelter Skelter are just a few of the invitations to play and learn about soil, and soil conservation.
"The goal of project SOILS is to add to and complement the resources currently available on the topics of land use, soil degradation and soil conservation in Saskatchewan.," says Lizabeth Nicholls, supervisor of Wildlife and Outdoor Education, Saskatchewan Environment and Resource Management (SERM).
"We aim to create a greater awareness of these vital issues through hands-on, interdisciplinary activities for educators and their students from Kindergarten through Grade 12. We want students to learn accurate concepts about how the ecosystem works, and the importance of diversity: for example, the problems of soil erosion, loss of soil organic matter and soil cover, and some of the new sustainable solutions to these problems."
Project SOILS was initially developed by the Saskatchewan Soil Conservation Association (SSCA) in 1992. A year later, the first edition of the Activity Guide was printed and the accompanying workshops for educators became available. While the SSCA is still an active managing partner, SERM assumed delivery of the program in 1994. The printing of a revised edition of the Activity Guide was funded by the Canada-Saskatchewan Agriculture Green Plan in 1995 and a French edition of the guide will be available this fall.
"The guide and the workshops were developed by teachers, and specialists in such topics as biology, agriculture, and soil. So the best subject was brought together with the best of the teaching practices. The training workshops are carried out by a team composed of a teacher facilitator and an agricultural/soil specialist. Project Soils is recommended by Saskatchewan Education for use as a supplement to the core curricula," says Nicholls.
"The feedback from the several thousand participating educators - these include teachers, education students and youth leaders with groups such as 4-H, Guides and Scouts Canada - is 'good' to 'excellent'. The guide offers 18 activities that are designed to illustrate ecological concepts and are active enough to maintain the interest of students. Teachers like the guide because the games, music, art and activities teach in a way that makes for quick and easy understanding of concepts, and how they apply to real life," says Nicholls.
"This understanding is important because students have to fill their adult role as citizens. They have to have environmental literacy so they can effectively participate in co-management of our resources in the future."
To reserve a Project SOILS workshop - and receive a free Project SOILS Activity Guide on completion - telephone (306)787-5242.