June is Great Outdoors Month! That means it is time to put down the video game, turn off the television and head outside! This month we will be celebrating getting kids outside to explore, observe and get their hands in the dirt. Research shows that good old-fashioned dirt contains a variety of microbes, bacteria and viruses that are actually good for kids by helping boost their immune systems. Use Project Learning Tree’s “Soil Stories” to explore different kinds of dirt. Go get your hands dirty!

Family Fun:
Trying growing sunflower seeds in different kinds of soil, such as loam, clay soil, sandy soil, and silty soil, then observe which kind of soil the seeds grow best in.

Book List
Grades PreK-2
Bourgeois, P. 1990. The Amazing Dirt Book. Kids Can Press, Limited.
Bryant-Mole, K. 1996. Soil. Steck-Vaughn.
Capogna, V.V. 1999. Did You Ever Wonder about Things You Find in Your Backyard? Marshall Cavendish Inc.
De Bourgoing, P. and G. Jeunesse. 1995. Under the Ground. Scholastic, Inc.
Drake, J. and A. Love. 1998. Kids Summer Games Book. Kids Can Press, Limited.
Good, E.W. 1996. It's Summertime! Good Books.
Kemp, J. and C. Walters. 2007. Outdoor Fun and Games for Kids: Over 100 Activities for 3 - 11 Year Olds. Hamlyn.
Oxlade, C. 2002. Soil. Heinemann Library.
Richardson, A.D. 2001. Soil. Capstone Press.
Rosinsky, N.M. and S. Williams. 2002. Dirt: The Scoop on Soil. Capstone Press, Inc.
Tomecek, S. 2002. Dirt: Jump into Science. National Geographic Society.
Weisner, C. 2003. Let's Get Going: The Step-by-Step Guide to Successful Outings with Children. Red Deer Press.

Grades 3-5
Boring, M. 1999. Fun with Nature. T&N Children's Publishing.
Bourgeois, P. 1990. The Amazing Dirt Book. Kids Can Press, Limited.
Bryant-Mole, K. 1996. Soil. Steck-Vaughn.
Carlson, L.M. and J. Dammel. 1995. Kids Camp!: Activities for the Backyard or Wilderness. Chicago Review Press, Incorporated.
Cherkerzian, D. 1993. Outdoor Fun: Great Things to Make and Do on Sunny Days. Boyds Mills Press.
De Bourgoing, P. and G. Jeunesse. 1995. Under the Ground. Scholastic, Inc.
Flanagan, A.K. 2000. Soil (Simply Science Series). Capstone Press, Inc.
Kemp, J. and C. Walters. 2007. Outdoor Fun and Games for Kids: Over 100 Activities for 3 - 11 Year Olds. Hamlyn.
Kranz, L. 2002. My Nature Book: A Journal and Activity Book for Kids. T&N Children's Publishing.
Loy, J. 2003. Follow the Trail: A Young Persons Guide to the Great Outdoors. Holt, Henry Books for Young Readers.
Oxlade, C. 2002. Soil. Heinemann Library.
Rhatigan, J. 2003. The Kids' Guide to Nature Adventures: 80 Great Activities for Exploring the Outdoors. Sterling Publishing Company, Incorporated.
Rhatigan, J. 2005. Run, Jump, Hide, Slide, Splash: The 200 Best Games Ever. Sterling Publishing Company, Incorporated.
Richardson, A.D. 2001. Soil. Capstone Press.
Silverstein, A., V. Silverstein and C.E. Silverstein. 2000. Life in a Bucket of Soil. Dover Publications.
Tomecek, S. 2002. Dirt: Jump into Science. National Geographic Society.
Warshaw, H. and J. Brown. 2003. Get out!: Outdoor Activities Kids Can Enjoy Anywhere. Sterling Publishing Company, Incorporated.

Grades 6-8
Carlson, L.M. and J. Dammel. 1995. Kids Camp!: Activities for the Backyard or Wilderness. Chicago Review Press, Incorporated.
Cherkerzian, D. 1993. Outdoor Fun: Great Things to Make and Do on Sunny Days. Boyds Mills Press.
Flanagan, A.K. 2000. Soil (Simply Science Series). Capstone Press, Inc.
Gurney, B. 2004. Sand and Soil. Crabtree Publishing Company.
Kranz, L. 2002. My Nature Book: A Journal and Activity Book for Kids. T&N Children's Publishing.
Loy, J. 2003. Follow the Trail: A Young Persons Guide to the Great Outdoors. Holt, Henry Books for Young Readers.
Rhatigan, J. 2003. The Kids' Guide to Nature Adventures: 80 Great Activities for Exploring the Outdoors. Sterling Publishing Company, Incorporated.
Rhatigan, J. 2005. Run, Jump, Hide, Slide, Splash: The 200 Best Games Ever. Sterling Publishing Company, Incorporated.
Sharp, K. 2009. Soil. Cherry Lake Publishing.
Silverstein, A., V. Silverstein and C.E. Silverstein. 2000. Life in a Bucket of Soil. Dover Publications.
Snedden, R. 1998. Rocks and Soil. Raintree Publishers.

Grades 9-12
Janice, R. 2006. Land Abuse and Soil Erosion. Wiegel Publishers.
Lowenfels, J., W. Lewis, and E. Ingham. 2006. Teaming with Microbes: A Gardener’s Guide to the Soil Food Web. Workman Publishing Company, Inc.
Nardi, J.B. 2005. World beneath Our Feet: A Guide to Life in the Soil. Oxford University Press.
Sharp, K. 2009. Soil. Cherry Lake Publishing.