Unit Plan
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Reach

For Students Pre-K - 1st
REACH is a self-paced interactive reading program to engage parents and children as at-home reading partners. Designed by classroom reading specialists and aligned with kindergarten through third grade standards, these self-paced...
Handout
eSchool Today

E School Today: Your Revision Notes All About Soils

For Students 3rd - 7th
Learn what soils are and why they are important. Discusses soil profiles, types of soils, soil conservation, soil ecosystems, and soil formation.
Activity
Exploratorium

Exploratorium: The Dirt on Dirt

For Students 5th - 8th
What is dirt, and what makes some dirt superior for gardening? Find out in this virtual soil exploration.
Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Porosity

For Students 9th - 10th
Soils are made of particles of different types and sizes. The space between particles is called pore space. Pore space determines the amount of water that a given volume of soil can hold. Porosity is the percentage of the total volume of...
Unit Plan
Next.cc

Next: Soil

For Students 3rd - 8th
Investigate how our lives depend upon having healthy soil by engaging in these interactive activities. Links are provided for further exploration.
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Habitat Part 2

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
This activity is designed for students to examine soil and determine which soil will be the best for plant growth. The students will also investigate the effect of sunlight on plants and the importance of sunlight in producing chlorophyll.
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: 2 Day Investigating Soil Samples: Observing and Identifying Soils

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This description of this activity is a 2-day lesson: Day 1, Field Lab, Day 2, and Classroom Investigation. In this field lab, children working in groups will collect 3 samples of soil from different locations. Each sample will be placed...
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: How Do Rocks Compare to Soil?

For Teachers K - 1st
In this classroom investigation students will observe and chart similarities and differences in rocks and soil.
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Investigating Soil Composition Soil Soaks Up Water

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
In this classroom activity, young scholars will show how soil composition affects the amount of water the soil holds. They will test sand and soil independently and then create their own mixture.
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Investigating Soils

For Teachers 6th - 8th
For this guided inquiry students will specify soil types by using various methods of determining soil textures and analyze them with a soil triangle. This activity is a laboratory investigation where students gather data on soil...
Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Humic Acid and the Optimum Soil for Plants

For Students 9th - 10th
Humic acid is touted as an organic soil additive to improve plant growth by multiple means. Does it really work? Here's how you can find out.
Unit Plan
National Institute of Educational Technologies and Teacher Training (Spain)

Ministerio De Educacion: El Modelado Del Paisaje I

For Students 9th - 10th
This unit will discuss how the external geological agents cause the arrangement of the landscape that can be found throughout the earth. It contains 18 interactive activities.
Lesson Plan
PBS

Pbs Teachers: Soil in the Amazon

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Compare plants grown in simulated Amazon soil to those grown in soil prepared by the slash-and-burn method. Describe leaf development in plants grown in different soils and chart, average and graph plant growth by height
Handout
Other

What Is a Soil Test?

For Students 9th - 10th
The North Carolina Department of Agriculture explains soil testing, taking a soil sample, and analyzing the results.
Handout
Other

N.e. Soil Formation: Genesis

For Students 9th - 10th
This comprehensive site explores a number of soil related topics. A glossary of soil terms, formation of soils, and classification of soils are just of a few of the topics found on this this.
Website
Other

Alberta Government: Choosing a Fertilizer

For Students 9th - 10th
Site gives a fairly high level breakdown of the general contents of a fertilizer (the Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, and Sulfur content) and what that does for soil.
Handout
US Department of Agriculture

Natural Resources Conservation Service: Sk Worm: Ask the Answer Worm

For Students Pre-K - 1st
Soil facts presented by S.K.Worm. A series of questions about soil, its structure, purpose and vulnerability are answered by this engaging worm.
Unit Plan
Scholastic

Scholastic: Study Jams! Science: Landforms, Rocks & Minerals: Soil

For Students 3rd - 6th
A slideshow and a short multiple-choice quiz on the topic of soil and its importance to living things.
Handout
Careers New Zealand

Kiwi Careers: Water and Soil Engineer

For Students 9th - 10th
A New Zealand-based website that offers basic information about a water and soil engineer, including a job description, working conditions, job market, and how to enter the job.
Lesson Plan
Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian Environmental Research Center: Forces of Change: Worm Watch [Pdf]

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
Over a period of a week to ten days students observe the impact worms have on soil. Seven easily obtainable objects are all that is needed to complete this activity. 45 minutes are required for setup and some additional time for...
Unit Plan
Channel 4 Learning

4 L: Science Essentials: Material World

For Students 1st - 5th
Learn about topics related to the material world. Each topic includes facts, a glossary, an interactive quiz, printable worksheets, an image bank, and web links.
Website
Geography 4 kids

Geography4 kids.com: Makin' the Soil

For Students 3rd - 8th
List the five most important things to know about how soil is formed.
Unit Plan
Georgia Department of Education

Ga Virtual Learning: Landscape Evolution

For Students 9th - 10th
In this amazing online tutorial you will learn about how water, mass wasting, weathering, and erosion have help shape the landforms on Earth. The lesson includes many helpful interactive materials to prepare help you understand landscape...
Article
Washington State University

Washington State University: Ask Dr. Universe: Where Does Dirt Come From?

For Students 3rd - 8th
Great question! Dr. Universe refers to her friend Jim Harsh, a scientist, from Washington State University to answer.