Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Set Your Table for a Sweet and Sticky Earthquake Shake
Earthquakes can have different affects depending on their location. This week long exercise asks you to build a model house and a special table to shake it on, and see how different soil types can amplify shaking.
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Earthworms: Nature's Tiller?
Everybody knows that worms are good for the soil, but not everybody knows why. This lab shows you how to efficiently measure earthworms within units of soil to determine their affect on decomposition and reduction of surface residue.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Investigating Our Surroundings: Observing the Outdoors
Learners will observe, describe, measure, compare, and contrast leaves, rocks, grass, and soil using observation and tools.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Soil vs. Rocks
Students will compare soil and rocks by observing and sifting a soil mixture and a rock mixture. To complete the activity students will make a Venn diagram.
![Huntington Library: Garden Lesson Plans: Rooting Into the Soil [Pdf] Activity](https://static.lp.lexp.cloud/images/attachment_defaults/resource/large/FPO-knovation.png "Huntington Library: Garden Lesson Plans: Rooting Into the Soil [Pdf] Activity")
Huntington Library
Huntington Library: Garden Lesson Plans: Rooting Into the Soil [Pdf]
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.
BioEd Online
Bio Ed Online: What Is Soil Made Of?
Do you know what makes up soil? Soil is a combination of many different living and non-living things and provides raw materials needed by all living things. In this lesson young scholars will explore a sample of natural soil by...
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: What Is Soil?
Have you ever played in dirt from your yard? You were actually playing with one of the most important natural resources on earth - soil. Watch a short video on soil and a second video showing the phases of plant development using...
Curated OER
Bureau of Land Management: Just for Kids: Soil Biological Communities
This engaging site about soil is easy to understand and filled with quick facts. Cartoon graphics and menu tabs highlight topics which include the importance of soil, fast facts, soil critters, food webs, and others.
Other
Children of the Earth: Soil Facts for Kids
Cute site for younger students to learn the basic facts about soil. Follow the questions and answers posed by a cute earthworm and his family!
Globe
The Globe Program: The Scoop on Soil [Pdf]
The following story provides students with an in-depth understanding of the significance of soil. Read about Anita, Simon and Dennis, their search for Scoop and all that ensues to help them understand Earth's processes.
Globe
The Globe Program: Muestras De Suelos [Pdf]
In Spanish. This science-based storybook introduces students to key concepts in soil. Includes classroom learning activities that complement the science covered in the book. Requires Adobe Reader.
US Geological Survey
U.s. Geological Survey: What's in My Soil? [Pdf]
Lesson plan engages students to separate, examine and identify the major components of soil to better understand how these components give soil its unique physical characteristics.
Other
Montauk Historical Society: Montauk Point Lighthouse: Erosion Control
This website explains the problem that erosion has created for this particular lighthouse. There is a detailed explanation of what is causing the erosion and how to fix it.
Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy: Gardens Activity Guide: Soil
In this lesson students conduct a soil analysis to understand soil types and explore the relationship between the garden and healthy, fertile soil. Soil is a natural resource that is crucial to life on Earth and when managed properly, it...
Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy: How Dirt Works
In this instructional activity, young scholars learn the value of soil and its role as a natural resource.
University of Illinois
University of Illinois Extension: Natural Resources, Environment, and Ecosystems
A collection of lesson plans for specific age levels to help students gain a better understanding of animals, plants, and people, and how they affect each other in ecosystems. Many of the activities provide discussion questions and...
Georgia Department of Education
Ga Virtual Learning: Forensic Properties of Glass and Soil Evidence
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...
Other
Nutrients for Life Foundation: For Teachers: Nourishing the Planet
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...
Other
Nutrients for Life Foundation: For Teachers: Nourishing the Planet
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...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Obi Wan Adobe: Engineering for Strength
Students conduct an experiment to determine how varying the composition of a construction material affects its strength. They make several adobe bricks with differing percentages of sand, soil, fibrous material and water. They test the...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Soil Core Sampling
Students learn about one method used in environmental site assessments. They practice soil sampling by creating soil cores, studying soil profiles and characterizing soil profiles in borehole logs. They use their analysis to make...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Soil Investigations
Learners learn the basics about soil, including its formation, characteristics and importance. They are also introduced to soil profiles and how engineers conduct site investigations to learn about soil quality for development,...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: How Dense Are You?
Students learn about geotechnical engineers and their use of physical properties, such as soil density, to determine the ability of various soils to offer support to foundations. In an associated activity, students determine the bulk...
Texas Education Agency
Texas Gateway: Weathering and Decomposition
Learn about weathering and decomposition in this tutorial that includes interactive activities, videos, and more.