Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Forest as a Filter

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students experiment using soil and water. In this forest as a filter lesson, students identify the role of forest cover, vegetation, and foliage impacts erosion and evaporation. Students conduct a simple experiment, form a hypothesis,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What is Soil?

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Learners examine soil. In this earth science lesson, students define and describe weathering and erosion as it relates to soil. Learners compare and contrast potting soil with forest soil and complete a science observation worksheet.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Worm Composting

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders discuss worm composting. In this decomposition lesson plan, 2nd graders look at the anatomy of the worm and how it eats food. They have their own worm bin and review what foods can and can not be given to the worms for...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Measuring Soil Temperatures at South Penquite Farm

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students investigate soil temperatures. In this graphing and earth science instructional activity, students insert temperature probes into different types of soil at varying depths. Students complete a data chart and construct a related...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Plants Alive! How Plants Grow and Move

For Teachers 1st - 4th
Students explore how plants move in response to the environment. In this plant lesson plan, students engage in three different experiments to investigate how plants grow and move. Resources available in English and French.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Soil Composition

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students examine soil. In this soil composition lesson students participate in soil sedimentation and filtration activities. The students discuss what non-living and living things are in soil and why it is so important.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Soil Properties

For Teachers 5th - 10th
Young scholars explore the porosity of soil. In this soil lesson, students conduct an experiment which shows the porosity of different types of soil. They use sand, silt, and clay to see how soil particles are more or less aerated and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dig Into Soil

For Teachers K - 4th
Students discuss what is found in soil. In this science lesson, students observe the soil outside and write down information in regards to location, vegetation, and topography. Students experiment with the soil and its many properties...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Soil, the Forgotten Resource

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students discuss soil understanding that is is often overlooked as a natural resource. In this science lesson plan, students recognize that we depend on it for energy in the form of foods. Students experiment with six boxes of soil to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Much Soil is There?

For Teachers K - 5th
Young scholars examine that all living things depend on soil to live. In this science instructional activity, students pretend that an apple is planet Earth. Young scholars cut the apple to represent the portions of Earth with the last...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Investigating Soil

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Learners investigate soil contents. In this soil lesson, students gather samples of soil and record their findings on a graphic organizer. After analyzing the material in the soil, learners illustrate the layers they found.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Soil, Designer Soil: From Rainforests to the Prairie

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students explore the role and importance of soil in the ecosystem.  In this Science and Social Studies lesson, students complete an experiment using various kinds of soil and clay and then examine how soil has a direct impact on our...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Soil Treasure Hunt

For Teachers K - 4th
Young scholars explore the concept of soil and decomposition. In this soil and decomposition lesson, students investigate bags of soil. Young scholars then learn how  animals and other organisms help in the decomposition process. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Plant Needs

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore the needs of plants.  In this plants biology lesson plan, students work in groups to perform an experiment with tomato plants.  Each group records observations in a journal, takes pictures, and interprets the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Global Warming Experiment

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students examine the changes in Earth's temperature. In this global warming lesson plan, students perform an experiment testing temperatures of soil. Students record their findings and discuss what made the differences in the soil...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Soil Permeability

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students discuss how soil permeability is affected by permafrost. In this soil lesson plan, students freeze soil over night, and discuss how the environmental conditions of freezing affect soil and further affect vegetation.
Worksheet
Curated OER

The Composition of Soil

For Students 9th - 12th
In this composition of soil worksheet, students study the make-up of soil by identifying the amount of air in the soil, the amount of water in the soil, the size of the mineral grains in the soil and the proportion of humus in the soil....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Perkin' Through the Pores

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students investigate how organic matter increases the amount of water soil will hold. In this water soil lesson plan, students use soil and measure water amounts using organic matter. Students measure the water holding capacities.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Digging Into Soils!

For Students 4th - 6th
In this soil analysis worksheet, students fill out a chart with information about four samples of soil. Students record notes about 5 questions about the soil samples: feel, color, possible origin, and smell. Students draw a picture of...
Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

Plants, Soil and Nutrients

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Young scholars conduct an experiment. They review how to use the scientific method to conduct an experiment with white carnations and food coloring. They create a hypothesis and test it to better understand how plants get nutrients,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Digging the Earth's Crust

For Teachers 4th - 9th
Students investigate the Earth's crust. In this geology lesson, students identify the materials made up of the Earth's crust and investigate the different kinds of soil.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Worms! Nature's Recyclers

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders explore the process of composting. In this composting lesson, 3rd graders read the book Wonderful Worms, and create composters.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Will Biodegrade?

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Learners create their own landfill where they observe materials that will and won't biodegrade. In this biodegrading lesson, students discuss the concept of a landfill and what materials biodegrade into soil and which ones stay in the...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Porosity and Permeability Lab

For Students 8th - 10th
In this porosity and permeability worksheet, students experiment with different types of soils such as sand, gravel, pebbled and rocks. They put each soil type in a beaker and pour water in being sure to measure the amount of water they...