Grade 1 Environmental Environment and its resources – Soil Notes
Soil (Udongo)
Hello! Soil is the top part of the ground where plants grow. 🌱 In Kenya many plants like maize (mahindi), tea (chai) and vegetables (mboga) grow in good soil.
Types of soil
- Sandy soil — feels gritty, drains water quickly. Good for some plants.
- Clay soil — feels sticky when wet. Holds water but can be heavy.
- Loam — a mix of sand and clay. Best for many crops like maize and vegetables.
Why soil is important
- Grows our food: maize, vegetables, tea, coffee. 🍅🌽
- Holds water for plants. 💧
- Home for small animals: worms and insects. 🐛
- Keeps our land healthy and green. 🌳
How we care for soil (Kenya-friendly)
- Plant trees (punda/miti) and grass to stop soil from washing away. 🌳
- Add compost (komposti) or manure to make soil rich. ♻️
- Cover bare soil with plants so rain does not wash it away. 🌾
- Avoid cutting many trees on hills (this causes erosion). ⛰️
Fun activity — Plant a bean!
- Get a small cup and some soil. 🌱
- Put one bean seed in the soil and cover lightly.
- Keep the soil a little wet and put the cup near the window. ☀️
- Watch your plant grow each day! Draw it in your notebook. ✏️
Little rhyme
Udongo ni rafiki, udongo ni zuri — Soil is our friend, it helps us grow food! 🎶
Ask a teacher or parent to help with the planting. Have fun learning about soil! 🇰🇪