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Soil, Designer Soil: From Rainforests to the Prairie
Students explore the role and importance of soil in the ecosystem. In this Science and Social Studies instructional activity, students complete an experiment using various kinds of soil and clay and then examine how soil has a direct...
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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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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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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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Soil Composition
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.
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Soil Soakers
Students work together to discover the relationship between water holding and drainage characteristics of soils. They record their observations and discuss the results. They examine particle size and pore sizes as well.
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Water Cycle and Its Movement in the Soil
Students 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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Fieldwork: Horizons Under Ground: Digging Through Wetland Soil
Learners 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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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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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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A World of Soils
In this word search worksheet, students 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
Learners examine soils and the components that make them up. In this hands-on soil science lesson, students receive soil samples and must identify the various aspect which make up soil.
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Soil Porosity, Moisture Content, pH, and Density
This lab activity does not have to be done with AP environmental scientists. It can also be done with middle to high school earth scientists. The procedures aren't complex. Learners determine the density of dry and wet sand in order to...
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What is Soil?
Students study living and non-living materials that are found in soil. They study the things required by plants and animals to remain healthy. They design a collage of sand, stones, leaves and other natural items.
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Soil Porosity Lab
In this soil porosity worksheet, students experiment with four types of soil. They fill separate cups with each soil type and pour water in measuring the amount it takes to saturate the soil. They make observations and compare their data...
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Soil Structure
Sixth graders examine how different soils are made up of varying proportions of clay, silt, and sand. They compare soil samples, conduct Internet research, and create a model to demonstrate the relative sizes of grains of clay, sand, and...
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Creating Sand Dunes
Students explain how sand dunes are formed, the different circumstances that effect the movement of or formation of sand dunes, and relate the information gathered to soil conservation. In this sand dunes lesson, students use pans of...
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Puddles and Soil
Students determine which of several soil samples (sand, soil, and slit) produces puddles, providing insight into the permeability of these different soils. This task assesses students' abilities to make simple observations, collect,...
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Erosion in Different Soils
Fourth graders observe and identify the effects of weathering and geological activities. They take part in an excellent hands-on group activity called "Erosion Race," in which each group tries to simulate erosion of soil in the quickest...
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Life In the Soil: Home Sweet Home: Red Worms
In this soil worksheet, students complete 2 pages about the importance of soil in plant growth. Students read about red worms and answer 2 questions about composting. Students fill out a chart with their observations of plants planted in...
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Soil Erosion
Students examine how erosion is affected by the composition of the soil and the slope of the land. They look at plant roots, rocks and land slope as experimental factors. They complete the associated worksheets before discussing their...
Virginia Department of Education
Permeability and Porosity
Covering both permeability and porosity, scholars perform a hands-on experiment testing various soil types. The material includes a pre-lesson worksheet to help focus pupils on the task at hand.
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Measuring Permeability of Soil, Sand and Gravel
Students investigate the different materials in their environment. In this geology lesson, students collaborate in groups to examine the differences in sand, soil and gravel. Students utilize a magnifying glass or microscope and record...
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Soils and Particle Size
In this soil worksheet, students are given a "Textural Triangle" showing the percent of clay, sand and silt in soil as well as measurements of the particles found in soil.