For the entire class:

• 1 patch of ground (earthy, with soil) that can be used to dig holes in, roughly 1.5 m x 1.5 m (5 ft x 5 ft)
• (optional) string, approximately 12 m (40 ft), for marking off ground segments
• 2 small shovels or trowels, to dig up the soil
• assorted trash and pieces of food (have students save their lunch trash)
• 2 large sheets of poster paper
• disposable gloves, pair for each student