Soil as Habitat

The incredible community of life living in soil. Earthworms, decomposers and the nutrient cycle. Class 7 Science with quiz.

Class 7 ScienceClass 7 / Grade 7Ages 9–12
Lesson
🪱 Soil as Habitat
One teaspoon of soil has a billion organisms!🦠Bacteriabillions/gramdecompose matter🍄Fungibreak downwood and leaves🪱Earthwormaerates soil;casts add nutrients🐜Ants/insectstunnel and mixsoil layers🦔Mole/rodentsburrow; bringdeep soil upMore living organisms in a handful of soil than humans on Earth!

Soil is not just a growing medium — it is one of the most biologically rich habitats on Earth. A single teaspoon of healthy soil contains approximately a billion bacteria, hundreds of thousands of fungi, and thousands of other organisms. Earthworms, beetles, ants, centipedes, mites, nematodes, and many others all live in soil. Each plays a role in maintaining soil structure, nutrient cycling, and organic matter decomposition.

Frequently asked questions

More lessons