Curated OER
Grow Your Own Grub
Students study plant needs and growth by completing a gardening activity. In this plant study lesson, students watch a video and discuss plant growth needs. Students plant seeds in containers and water the plants. Students take photos of...
Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy: Gardens Activity Guide: Soil
For this lesson students conduct a soil analysis to understand soil types and explore the relationship between the garden and healthy, fertile soil. Soil is a natural resource that is crucial to life on Earth and when managed properly,...
American Geosciences Institute
American Geosciences Institute: Soils
Seven hands-on lessons module allows students to learn about soils. These inquiry-based investigations explore the kinds and arrangements of materials in soils, the amount of water that flows through soil, and how soil is eroded.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Soil Core Sampling
Students learn about one method used in environmental site assessments. They practice soil sampling by creating soil cores, studying soil profiles and characterizing soil profiles in borehole logs. They use their analysis to make...
Other
What Is a Soil Test?
The North Carolina Department of Agriculture explains soil testing, taking a soil sample, and analyzing the results.
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Humic Acid and the Optimum Soil for Plants
Humic acid is touted as an organic soil additive to improve plant growth by multiple means. Does it really work? Here's how you can find out.
Other
Der: Soil Technician Classification Specification [Pdf]
This site from the Wisconsin Department of Employment Relations provides a job description for soil technician with the State of Wisconsin, and it includes duties and qualifications. (2003)
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: 2 Day Investigating Soil Samples: Observing and Identifying Soils
This description of this activity is a 2-day instructional activity: Day 1, Field Lab, Day 2, and Classroom Investigation. In this field lab, children working in groups will collect 3 samples of soil from different locations. Each sample...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Investigating Soil Which Soil Help Plants Grow?
In this guided inquiry lab, students will investigate what type of soil let plants/grasses grow the best. Students will answer the question by conducting an experiment using five different soils found in our area, school soil, potting...
Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments: Forensics Case 8: Using Soil Characteristics to Link Suspects
In this activity, students measure pH, conductivity, and water absorbency of different samples of soil. They use these characteristic properties to identify soil samples. They use the physical and chemical characteristics of soil samples...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Determining the Density, P H and Water Content of Various Area Soils
In this chemistry field lab, students will determine the density, pH, and water content of 4 types of soil. Students compare class data and write a lab report describing their results and then analyze their findings to report on the...
Other
Linking Environment and Farming: Simply Sustainable Soils [Pdf]
With increasing pressure on the world's natural environment and resources it is essential that we develop farming systems that have a low impact on the environment, and are also highly productive in meeting the needs of a growing global...
American Geosciences Institute
American Geosciences Institute: Water and Other Chemicals in Soil
Learn why scientists use testing kits to study the soil, and find out what chemicals they test.
NC State University
Ncsu.edu: Adventures of the Agronauts
This site is an online science curriculum on how to grow plants on the Moon. There are six lessons that have a glossary also included. There are movies that demonstrate concepts, and teacher resources. The sites topics cover, the Earth,...
Other
Ed Hume Seeds: Testing Your Soil
Conduct a soil test to find out what nutrients your soil is lacking. This site gives directions on how to gather a soil sample and what nutrients you should test for to get the best soil.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Determining Bulk Density of Different Soil Samples and Data Analysis
A field based lab experiment where students work in groups to come up with a collection strategy and lab analysis to test differences in soil bulk densities. Students bring soil samples back to the classroom to conduct a test that...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Using Globe Data to Study the Earth System
This lesson guides students through the process of locating and graphing web-based environmental data that has been collected by GLOBE Program participants. The lesson provides opportunities for using GLOBE data to introduce basic...
Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments: Jason: Land Erosion Running Off With Soil
Rainforests at the Crossroads: Examine the relationship between rainfall and runoff on Barro Colorado Island (BCI) over a period of one year. Then examine the data and use the TI-73 Explorer to graph and analyze the values.
PBS
Pbs Teachers:destination Galapagos Islands: Testing the Earth, Soil Comparison B
Compare soil composition from different regions of the Earth, including the Galapagos Islands, and perform analysis of three important macronutrients found in regional soil.
Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments: Science Today 2004 Corn Crop Is a Bin Buster
With this resource, students will examine and evaluate data on the corn harvest in the United States over the past several years. Using the USA TODAY Snapshot "2004 corn crop is a bin-buster," data from the USDA Statistics Service...
NASA
Nasa Earth Observatory: Modeling Earth's Land Biosphere
Read this article to learn how scientists are using instruments to try and monitor our land biosphere. Scientists have learned two different types of models to help track data from our land.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Rock Cycle
Through five lessons, students are introduced to all facets of the rock cycle. Topics include rock and mineral types, material stresses and weathering, geologic time and fossil formation, the Earth's crust and tectonic plates, and soil...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Investigating the Stories of the Land
In this biology field investigation, students will use observation skills to describe different types of terrestrial landscapes and compare them with one another. They will utilize these data in order to begin to put together the stories...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: The Stress That You Apply
Students learn about contact stress and its applications in engineering. They are introduced to the concept of heavy loads, such as buildings, elephants, people and traffic, and learn how those heavy loads apply contact stress. Through...