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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Soil Testing and Texturing

For Teachers K - 8th
Young scholars are introduced to soil textures and why they are important in examining soil quality. They find out how to feel the difference between soil textures. Pupils describe which soil texture is best for gardens and growing...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Soil Detectives: The Case of the Lost Friends

For Teachers K - 8th
Students show how soil varies across the landscape, they explain how soil can be used to solve mysteries. Pupils are introduced to techniques that would be used to distinguish soils from different places.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rooting Into the Soil: Examining the Relationship Between Plants, Soil, And Water

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students, in groups, conduct an experiment to compare how water moves through different soils. They discuss how different soils could have an impact on different plants.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dig Into Soil

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

Soil Properties

For Teachers 5th - 10th
Students explore the porosity of soil. In this soil instructional activity, 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...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Plants Need in Order to Survive and Grow: Soil

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students 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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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

soil, Water, and Plants

For Teachers K - 4th
Students examine the relationship between water retention and plant growth by conducting two experiments. They first compare the water retention qualities of clay, sand and loam soil types. Then they use the data from the first...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Investigating Planetary Soils

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Learners study soil characteristics and identify properties of soils from different parts of the solar system.  For this soil lesson students divide into groups, read soil descriptions, test and record soil samples. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Investigation 6 - Soil Profile

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders study the components of soil. They observe the basic components of soil and relate the components to plant growth. They record color, texture, and kinds of materials on their profile log (light color, denser, grittier -...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Soil Formation

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders investigate how soil is formed. They analyze types of soil samples, examine soil using a magnifying glass or microscope, complete a chart, conduct a soil and plant experiment, and construct a soil profile.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Layering the Soil

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Young scholars study and classify soil. In this soil science instructional activity, students classify soil by texture and size and study soil horizons. Young scholars label the soil types with their specific soil horizon and learn about...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Getting to Know Soil

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students make predictions and analyze soil. In this soil properties lesson, students make predictions about soil properties for various soil samples. Students examine the types of soils and record their observations. Students analyze...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

SOIL

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders name the various materials that comprise soil, including weathered rock and other organic matter; and explain that soils differ in their color, texture, capacity to retain water, and ability to support the growth of many...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Soil

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders name the various materials that comprise soil, including weathered rock and other organic matter. They explain that soils differ in their color, texture, capacity to retain water, and ability to support the growth of many...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Testing Soils for Garden Planting

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders collect soil samples and record the location of the samples by using GPS.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Forestry Suppliers

For Teachers K - 4th
Students explore the scientific reasons that certain types of foods cause different reactions when they interact with the tongue. They analyze the differences between acids and basics. The experiment is performed at three different sites...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water-Holding Capacity

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students design and conduct an experiment to compare the water-holding capacity of sand, soil, and moss. They measure the change in weight for each material after adding the same amount of water to each material.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Space Science: A Scoop of Moon Dirt

For Teachers K - 8th
Students discover soil characteristics and how it is formed on Earth and the Moon by examining local samples to a lunar simulant. They replicate the effects of wind erosion by scraping dry bread with sandpaper. Students use rocks and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Properties of Soil

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders conduct investigations to test different types of soil from different regions of Texas. They make comparisons and identify the characteristics of the soil. The end product of the inquiry is a student report.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

COMPARE SOILS BY GROWING PLANTS

For Teachers 6th - 8th
The student will identify the difference in the rate of plant growth in three soils that vary in organic matter.1. Obtain three to four flowerpots, different types of soil, a record chart, three to five beans for each pot, and water....
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Effect of Moisture on Soil Temperature

For Teachers K - 12th
Students analyze the relationship between soil moisture and its effect on soil temperature.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring Rocks

For Teachers K
Students recognize differences in the size, shape, texture, and color of different rocks. In this rocks lesson plan, students also learn and repeat back how a volcano erupts and make one out of a toilet paper tube.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Reflection and Absorption of Light

For Teachers Higher Ed
Students use a microcomputer connected to a light sensor and temperature probe to explore the reflection and absorption of radiation for different surfaces. Students follow instructions in this guided inquiry based lab and are then asked...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dirty Pictures

For Teachers 1st - 4th
Students investigate how food, clothing and shelter come from soil after they examine soil from their own backyards. They map soils on the color wheel before making glue and soil pictures and tie-dying T-shirts in red soil.