DOI
https://doi.org/10.62812/WBQU6854
Document Type
Curriculum Resource
Publication Version
In Review
Publication Date
Summer 6-12-2026
Keywords
Regenerative Agriculture, Soil Health, Indigenous Knowledge Systems, Environmental Stewardship, Composting, Soil Biodiversity, Experiential Learning, Food Systems Science, Mitákuye Oyás’iŋ, Elementary STEM Education
Description
In this engaging Grade 1 Science adventure, students become "Earth Doctors" as they discover that the soil beneath their feet is a living, breathing community! Guided by the Lakota value of Mitákuye Oyás’iŋ (all are related), children will learn that Makhá (the Earth) is not just "dirt," but a relative that provides us with everything we need to live. Students will get their hands dirty investigating the "Soil Helpers"—the worms, roots, and tiny bugs that work like a team to keep the land healthy. They will explore the three golden rules of being a good neighbor to the Earth: Compost (feeding the soil its vitamins), Cover (never leaving the soil "naked"), and Care. The adventure moves from the schoolyard to the digital world, where students use Scratch coding to bring their own Soil Helper stories to life, showing how plants and worms work together in a beautiful loop of life. By the end of the lesson, students won't just see a playground; they will see a living system that they have a special responsibility to protect, nourish, and respect every single day!
Pages
8
Type
Lesson Plan
Format
Language
English
Publisher
Open Prairie, South Dakota State University
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
Recommended Citation
Arlene A. Abao. 2026. Lesson 1. Makhá Waókiyapi: Soil Helpers, Feeding the Land That Feeds Us (First Graders’ Lesson About Regenerative Agriculture). ILEARN Teaching Resources. Volume 8 (1): 232- 239; DOI: https://doi.org/10.62812/WBQU6854