Activity
American Geosciences Institute

American Geosciences Institute: Earth Science Week: Soil Properties

For Students 9th - 10th
Students investigate soil porosity by building a model using the three main soil textures: sand, silt, and clay.
Lesson Plan
American Geosciences Institute

American Geosciences Institute: Earth Science Week: Investigating Soil

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students chose a spot to investigate the soil on publicly owned land.
Activity
Huntington Library

Huntington Library: Garden Lesson Plans: Rooting Into the Soil [Pdf]

For Teachers 4th - 8th
An experiment to investigate the capacity of different soils to retain water, and how this impacts on the survival, evolution, and adaptations of plants. Extension activities are included.
Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Earthworm Castings: Soil for Young Garden Plants

For Students 9th - 10th
Everybody knows that worms are good for the soil, but not everybody knows why. Here's a project that investigates just one of the ways earthworms improve the earth.
Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Solid Ground? Measuring Soil Bearing Capacity

For Students 9th - 10th
Foundations for many types of structures rest on soil. This project shows how you can investigate the bearing capacity of different types of soil.
Unit Plan
Georgia Department of Education

Ga Virtual Learning: Forensic Properties of Glass and Soil Evidence

For Students 9th - 10th
In this comprehensive interactive tutorial you will investigate the area of forensic science and how the various types of evidence differ. Learn what types of crimes involve glass and soil and what ways these types of evidence are...
Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Toxic Trees: Just How Toxic Is That Black Walnut Tree?

For Students Pre-K - 1st
The goal of this plant biology science fair project is to make and test an herbicide made from the leaves of the black walnut tree and investigate the toxicity of black walnut trees.
Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Can Garlic Prevent Crown Gall?

For Students 9th - 10th
Crown gall is a plant disease caused by the soil bacterium Agrobacterium tumefaciens. This project uses tomato plants to investigate whether garlic extract can prevent crown gall infection. Though this is a lengthy experiment, a...
Activity
American Geosciences Institute

American Geosciences Institute: Earth Science Week: Climate and Temperature

For Students 5th - 8th
In this experiment, students investigate what impact the composition of soil, its water content, and its location have on the soil's temperature, which in turn would have an effect on the rate of decomposition of organic matter in the soil.
Unit Plan
Utah State Office of Education

Utah Science: Rocks, Minerals, and Soils Introduction

For Students 2nd - 5th
Dig into the layers of activities exploring and investigating minerals and how they are related to both rocks and soil.
Lesson Plan
American Geosciences Institute

American Geosciences Institute: Earth Science Week: Measuring Permeabilities of Soil, Sand, and Gravel

For Teachers 6th - 8th
This investigation will help middle schoolers learn that different geologic materials have different characteristics.
Lesson Plan
Other

Nutrients for Life Foundation: For Teachers: Nourishing the Planet

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Download free curriculum with three modules on soil and plant science: elementary, middle, or high school. Each module includes hands-on investigations to help learners understand the importance of healthy soil and thriving plant...
Lesson Plan
Other

Nutrients for Life Foundation: For Teachers: Nourishing the Planet

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Download free curriculum with three modules on soil and plant science: elementary, middle, or high school. Each module includes hands-on investigations to help learners understand the importance of healthy soil and thriving plant...
Lesson Plan
Other

Digital Library for Earth System Education (Dlese)

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This resource provides materials for teachers on a huge array of topics. Search site by topic, grade level, and desired output (such as lesson plan, case study, assessment or tutorial). Site is focused on earth science, geography, and...
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Erosion in Our World

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students collect evidence to investigate erosion and deposition around the schoolyard.
Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Bury Your Trash!

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
This activity will allow students to bury various pieces of trash in a plotted area of land outside. After approximately two to three months, the trash will be uncovered to allow the students to investigate what types of materials...