Curated OER
Should Soil Be Sterile?
Students determine if the sterilization of topsoil is beneficial to seed germination and plant growth. They grow plants alongside control groups, make and record observations of plant growth and measure plant biomass.
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Rocks and Soil Changes lesson plan
Students recognize objects around their school made of rocky materials. In this changes in rocks and soil lesson, students use a website for a virtual experiment of rocks. Students group rocks based on their properties. Students...
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How Much Soil is There?
Students examine that all living things depend on soil to live. In this science lesson, students pretend that an apple is planet Earth. Students cut the apple to represent the portions of Earth with the last section representing soil.
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Soil and Agriculture:Lesson 3 - Soil Erosion
Students reseach the different types of soil erosion and ways to control it in this series of activities.
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Compost Lesson
If you are looking for how to introduce elementary environmentalists to the process of composting, here is a comprehensive outline for making it happen. The plan is to set this up at the beginning of a school year in order to observe the...
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Soil Detectives: The Case of the Lost Friends
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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Soil Testing and Texturing
Learners 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 healthy...
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Water Cycle and Its Movement in the Soil
Young scholars are introduced to the water cycle and water movement in soil. In this water cycle lesson, students explore how water moves through the water cycle and discuss water sources, natural reservoirs, soil infiltration rates and...
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soil, Water, and Plants
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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Fieldwork: Horizons Under Ground: Digging Through Wetland Soil
Students study the different soil types and describe the different soils in various environments. In this soil lesson students walk to a reserve and discuss what they saw.
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Properties of Soil: Original Lesson Plan
This lesson is an investigation of soil properties, particularly texture, color and space for air and water. Student inspect soil samples found in their locale, perform several tests to determine different properties, and involves a ...
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Dig Into Soil
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...
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What Plants Need in Order to Survive and Grow: Soil
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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Soil Types
Fifth graders examine how sand and rock fragments in soil are products of erosion or the weathering of rocks. They listen to the book "Sand" by Ellen J. Prager and answer discussion questions. Next, they analyze sand samples and sort...
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Soil, the Forgotten Resource
Learners discuss soil understanding that is is often overlooked as a natural resource. In this science lesson, students recognize that we depend on it for energy in the form of foods. Learners experiment with six boxes of soil to help in...
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Soil Properties
Students explore the porosity of soil. For 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 thus...
NASA
Let's Investigate Mars
Take your science class on a hypothetical field trip to Mars with an engaging astronomy lesson. After first learning about NASA's Mars rover missions, young scientists plan their own scientific investigations of Earth's nearest neighbor.
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Settlement Exploration: Then and Now
NASA has crafted an imaginative and memorable series of lessons, "NASA and Jamestown Education Module." This activity is one of the five components. In it, middle schoolers connect history and science by comparing the settlement of...
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Independent Plant Growth Experiment
This is an awesome lesson filled with tons of engaging learning activities. Over a period of weeks learners will make observations, collect plant and analyze plant data, read and review agricultural articles, design and conduct an...
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Layering the Soil
Young scholars study and classify soil. In this soil science lesson, 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 permafrost....
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Worming Your Way Through the Soil
Students study soil, living and non-living particles in the soil, and learn about composting. In this soil study lesson, students study soil samples and discuss the living and non-living components of the soil. Students classify the...
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How Can You Test Your Soil?
Students investigate chemicals in soil samples. For this soil science lesson, students test local soil to measure the pH, nitrate, phosphate, and potassium content.
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Science in the Garden
Students examine soil from their local environment. In this garden activity, students recognize the importance of soil in the garden. Students explore the contents of the local soil.
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Investigating Planetary Soils
Learners study soil characteristics and identify properties of soils from different parts of the solar system. In this soil lesson students divide into groups, read soil descriptions, test and record soil samples.