Aeration

What Is Aeration?

Word of the Week

Oxygen

Oxygen is an element found in air and water that allows life on planet Earth.

Plants produce oxygen during photosynthesis.

Species Spotlight

Ant

Family: Formicidae

Unless you live in Antarctica, there is a good chance you live near ants! You might find some if you start digging around or flipping over rocks. Ants are insects and, like all insects, they all have hard exoskeletons, six legs, and antennae used for feeling and smell. However, with more than 22,000 species of ants. Many ants have traits that make them unique, even from other ants!

Some ants are solitary, meaning they live alone. Others are very social and live in complex social groups with a queen and workers.

Ants eat many types of food, as well. Some ant species drink sugary liquids from plants, while others are scavengers (they eat dead matter). Some ants even eat fungus grown on leaves they collect.

Though ants have many traits that make them different, most ant species have the same jobs in nature. In addition to being food for animals like birds and lizards, they also aerate soil! When ants build tunnels underground, they allow oxygen and nutrients to spread out, which helps plants grow. Next time you see ants crawling around, thank them for doing their part in keeping nature filled with healthy plants.

What's Inside An Anthill?

Conservation Corner

Helpful Pests

Let’s be honest. Most of us don’t want bugs crawling around in our homes. Depending on where you live, mosquitos, ants, spiders, cockroaches, and even scorpions can be real pests. Aside from the fact that, well, they’re bugs, some pests (like scorpions!) can be dangerous. Many people use chemicals and other pesticides to get rid of pesky bugs and keep them away.

While these may not necessarily be animals you want inside your home, they are good to have outside. Scorpions and spiders are predators. They keep pests like ants, mosquitos, and cockroaches in check. Mosquitoes pollinate flowers, which allows plants to produce fruits and seeds. Ants aerate your soil, allowing oxygen and nutrients to spread out underground. And, all of these pests will bring cute (and hungry) birds to your yard!

Removing pests with chemicals can be bad for people and the environment. Instead, encourage your grownups to make sure your home is sealed around the base. This will prevent bugs from wandering in from outside. If a pest does happen to wander in (and is not dangerous), carefully move it back outside so it can keep doing its job in nature where it belongs.

BRAIN BLAST

Make a list of "pests" that live in your area (think bugs, spiders, mice, etc.). For each pest, determine why they are important in nature.

Quiz

Quiz Printable

Aeration Translation

Match each word to its description.

Aeration Translation Printable

Aeration Challenge

Explore What Animals Aerate the Soil in Your Neighborhood

Challenge

*Expert option on page 5*

Aeration is an important part of all ecosystems, even the ecosystem in your neighborhood! With the guidance of an adult, pick a garden bed, grassy field, or similar environment to explore the aerating animals.

Use a shovel to gently dig around a 1-2 foot area. Draw each animal you find and estimate how many are.

Expert Option: Once done exploring, try to identify each animal and answer the questions on page 3.
Go!