Field trips to the museum

A handful of soil

Grade level:
JK to Grade 2 (Ontario)
Preschool to Elementary cycle 1 (Quebec)

Fee:
$10 per student

Duration:
90 minutes

Dates offered: April 13, 2026 to June 12, 2026

Max. group size: 29

Students engage in hands-on, station-based learning designed to spark their curiosity. They explore seeds, investigate a sensory bin, and observe live worms from a vermicompost. As they experiment and explore, they create a germination necklace and build a mini greenhouse to take back to class. Along the way, they uncover how soil is full of life, encouraging wonder and curiosity about the natural world.

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Close-up of the hands of three children. A red earthworm crawls in each hand.

Lesson plan

Consult this lesson plan for ideas to extend the learning—and the fun!

A Handful of soil: Lesson plan

Curriculum links

Kindergarten

Problem solving and innovating
Belonging and contributing

Grade 1

Science and technology:
- STEM skills and connections
  - STEM skills and communication skills
- Life systems
  - Relating science and technology to our changing world
  - Exploring and understanding concepts

Grade 2

Science and technology
- STEM skills and connections
  - STEM skills and communication skills
- Life systems
  - Relating science and technology to our changing world
  - Exploring and understanding concepts

Preschool

Cognitive development
- Thinking skills
- Strategies

Elementary cycle 1

Mathematics, science and technology: Science and technology
- Living things
  - Matter
  - Appropriate language

Fees

$10 per student, up to a maximum of 29 students. Please note a minimum fee of $150 applies.

*Program includes free admission for the teacher as well as up to a maximum of 7 other adults. Please note that there is a mandatory minimum ratio of 1 adult for every 6 students. These requirements do not apply to groups with students who have special needs.

Complimentary or discounted admission, as well as passes and memberships are not applicable to group visits.

Reservations

Booking requests can be made through the school programs reservation request form.

You can also connect directly with our customer engagement team:
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 613-991-3053 or 1-866-442-4416

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A guide at the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum holds a bowl of worms, showing one to two young girls with smiles on their faces, clearly amazed. The table in front of them is covered with a yellow cloth and displays an illustration of soil cross-sections, a bowl of soil, and other items.

Field trip planning tips

Make the most of your field trip to the museum with these planning tips.

A museum employee with headphones demonstrates a bowl of soil, surrounded by plants, images and scientific diagrams.

Virtual field trips

Meet Wonder Worm

We often forget that the ground is teeming with life. With your students, discover the creatures hiding underground.

Museum programs at your school

AgVenture: Henrietta hen

Kindergarten – Grade 4
Preschool – Elementary cycle 2

Students will encounter real chickens from the museum’s farm, listen to them cluck and touch their soft feathers. Through exciting, educational activities, students will learn about the lifecycle of these farm favourites.