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Blowing and Flowing
Fifth graders compare and evaluate the rate of erosion from water and wind on three type of landscape: bare land, land with sparse vegetation, and land covered by dense vegetation.
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Erosion by the Wind
Fifth graders simulate wind driven soil erosion by using paper confetti to demonstrate the movement of the soil. They write about three examples of soil erosion found in their community.
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Edible Soils
Students create soil profiles, including rock, clay, silt, sand, and humus, in clear plastic cups out of edible materials.
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What Plants Need in Order to Survive and Grow: Soil
Young scholars conduct an experiment to evaluate whether plants need soil to survive and grow. They plant two seeds, one with soil and one without, make predictions, and record and analyze the seed germination results on a worksheet.
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Drought
Learners gain knowledge about the impact of drought in agriculture. They investigate soil types, water flow, and various erosion conditions which occur during a drought and see how farming practices changed after the 1930's.
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Fertilizers & Grass Growth
Young scholars design an experiment to test the effects of common fertilizers on grass growth. They write or present a laboratory report responding to their observations and consider how fertilizers may affect the soil environment.
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Wetland/Estuary Structure and Functions
Students plant wetland plants in aquatic soil and regular soil. They test the effect fertilizers have on each and record the chemicals found in run-off water collected from each soil sample.
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What Kind of Garden Would Grow in Our Schoolyard?
Students perform soil tests for pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, composition and water percolation rate and assess the conditions in the schoolyard.
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GROWING PLANTS UNIT
Students predict outcomes of scientific experiment,.conduct a scientific experiment with control groups, and plant seeds to observe, measure, and compare growth across groups. They gather, record, analyze, and share data with other...
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Willie the Worm
Students explore Earth science by participating in a compost activity in class. In this worm lesson, students discuss the importance of worms in the creation of plants. Students cut out pieces from a print out to assemble a paper worm in...
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Soil and its Importance
It's difficult to guess the original goal of this presentation. It examines four factors to be evaluated, but their direct connection is unclear. Soil texture is described in three slides. The depth of material is examined in two slides....
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A World of Soils
In this word search worksheet, learners read several paragraphs about the types of soil. Students then use the bold words to complete the word search puzzle.
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Getting the Dirt on Soils
Students examine soils and the components that make them up. In this hands-on soil science instructional activity, students receive soil samples and must identify the various aspect which make up soil.
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Soil Isn't Dirty; It's Diverse!
Second graders participate in a soil activity. In this soil lesson students complete a worksheet describing different soil types and the organic and inorganic things found in them.
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Dirt: Making Dirty Water Clean!
Fourth graders study soil and water. In this water instructional activity students work in groups and use a filter to clean water.
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Life in the Soil - Is the Soil Alive?
Amaze soil scientists with a list of the myriad of microorganisms residing in a mere 1/4 teaspoon of soil! Then take them on a ride through the carbon cycle, down to the level of decomposers. Finally, give more specific details about the...
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Chapter One: The Importance of Soil
The grammar is problematic on several of the slides in this collection, but the information is generally accurate. If you don't mind making a some corrections rather than starting from scratch, this presentation will save you some...
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They're Tilling that Field Behind the Mall
Unfortunately, the article for which this resource was written is not available. You can, however, find another current document on agriculture and urban development for your class to read together, and then still follow the suggested...
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Rock Your World
Young scholars define soil, dirt, clay, silt, and sand. They conduct an online scavenger hunt, answer pre-written online questions on a piece of paper, and play the Earth Materials Game after completing the scavenger hunt.
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In My Own Backyard
Students explore the soil and vegetation found in their home and/or school environment and map a familiar area. Each group is assigned a section of the schoolyard. They draw maps of their assigned places and gather soil and vegetation...
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Worm Watching
Students examine the role earthworms play in building soils. They discuss worms and what they do with soil, make predictions and draw pictures, and observe their worms in soil over a two week period.
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The Color of Soil
Students are introduced to the Munsell System of Color Notation that is used for direct comparison of soils anywhere in the world. They become familiar with hue, value and chroma notations, identify colors that act as clues to the...
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Plant Parts
Ninth graders identify plant parts by using different classification methods. In this plant lesson plan students observe and draw different types of leaves then classify them according to species.