Over 27-31 October 2025, the 4th grade of Ellinogermaniki Agogi ran five hands-on experiments on urban soils: the Heat Spy Mission (comparing how schoolyard surfaces retain heat), Biodiversity in the Pavement Cracks (documenting micro-ecosystems with magnifying glasses), the Soil-to-Table Walk (tracing an apple’s journey from Pelion to the school canteen), the Compost Challenge (building bottle-composters), and the Rainwater Experiment. Around 150 fourth-grade pupils across six classrooms took part, supported by 10 teachers using FAO Land and Water resources and project summer-school materials. Pupils were visibly surprised to find a thriving ecosystem of plants, worms and ants in their own schoolyard cracks, and quickly connected their temperature readings to the urban heat they feel daily. Tracing the apple’s route sparked lively discussion about food origins, and the bottle-composters held their attention well beyond the week. The activity gave pupils a working understanding of urban heat islands, soil biodiversity, food supply chains and organic-waste recycling, and earned the school international recognition: Ellinogermaniki Agogi was announced as the global winner of the FAO 2025 World Soil Day “Tiny Soil Detectives” contest (organised with the EU Mission “A Soil Deal for Europe” and the IUSS), with the winning report showcased at the official World Soil Day celebration on 5 December 2025.