What is soil composed of and why is it important in an ecosystem? Objective Students will be able to evaluate the importance of plant and animal matter as contributors to soil; and recognize that wildlife in many forms contributes to the diversity and balance of ecological systems. Preparation Two 1 hour sessions with 3 weeks between Soil from the same source to fill three 1' x 1' x 1' containers Earthworms Composting material (like kitchen scraps and yard leaves) Procedure 1. Select some soil that is not particularly rich-it might be heavily compacted: by a roadside; or in an area where there Duration: 90 Minutes Additional Standards: NGSS 5-LS2-1. Develop a model to describe the movement of matter among plants, animals, decomposers, and the environment. Essential Question What is soil composed of and why is it important in an ecosystem? Objective Students will be able to evaluate the importance o.