- Hello.

We are the Education Department from Washington and Jefferson College - [Both] and this is our teachable moment.

- Maybe you have seen these cups of delicious dirt dessert before, but did you know that they represent the four layers of soil?

Dirt dessert might be tasty but soil is important because it acts as a water filter and a place for things to grow.

It provides habitat for billions of organisms, can stop erosion, and holds water.

- The layer on top is called topsoil.

- It is where plants and other organisms live.

- The next layer is the subsoil.

- It is composed of a mixture of small particles and can be rich in minerals.

- The parent layer is the third level.

- It is where rock and soil are formed.

- The bottom layer is bedrock.

It is mostly solid rock.

- Playing in the dirt is fun, - but so is investigating.

- Next time you and your family are outside take some time to notice the soil below your feet.

- You might dig up something interesting.

- [Child] iQ: smartparent Teachable Moments are funded in part by the Grable Foundation.