Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Determining the Density, P H and Water Content of Various Area Soils

For Teachers 9th - 10th
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...
Interactive
NC State University

Adventures of the Agronauts

For Students 3rd - 5th
Come along with the Agronauts and discover space in order to report back to Commander Spud Goodroot. Fun site provides all types of information about space science! Various missions include: 'What's In Our Sky?', 'The Root of the...
Lesson Plan
Utah Education Network

Uen: Sand, Clay and Humus

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders study the differences between humus, sand, and clay soil.
Activity
University of British Columbia

University of British Columbia: Soil Components

For Students 9th - 10th
Use this interactive website to learn everything you wanted to know about the four components of soil: minerals, organic, water, and air. Many links along the way assist with comprehension by allowing you to view photographs, charts, and...
Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Get Down and Dirty: How Does Soil Change With Depth?

For Students 6th - 8th
What covers less than 10% of the Earth's surface, yet is a vital natural resource for terrestrial life? What filters ground water and supports most of our food production, not to mention the production of building materials and paper?...
Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Getting Carried Away: Measuring Soil Erosion

For Students 6th - 8th
When you think of environmental challenges facing the world, the first things that come to mind might be global warming, or loss of biodiversity, since these are often in the newspapers. A serious problem that you may not have heard...
Handout
Other

What Is a Soil Test?

For Students 9th - 10th
The North Carolina Department of Agriculture explains soil testing, taking a soil sample, and analyzing the results.
Website
Enchanted Learning

Enchanted Learning: Soil Layers

For Students 3rd - 8th
Wonderful visual chart showing the six layers of soil. Also includes brief descriptions of the 12 types of soil and soil formation. Worksheet for students to label the layers of the soil is also included.
Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: How Diets Affect Earthworms and the Soil They Enrich

For Students 6th - 8th
In this environment-oriented experiment, you will mix it up with earthworms, soil, and various types of organic kitchen scraps. The basic idea is to set up small earthworm colonies to compost different types of food waste. You test the...
Lesson Plan
Other

Tech Museum: Building for the Big One [Pdf]

For Teachers 4th - 8th
This resource presents a project where students design and build structures that can withstand an earthquake. The project can include an extension where students look at the factors of soil type and proximity to fault in their design....
Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Porosity

For Students 9th - 10th
Soils are made of particles of different types and sizes. The space between particles is called pore space. Pore space determines the amount of water that a given volume of soil can hold. Porosity is the percentage of the total volume of...
Activity
Utah Education Network

Uen: Blowing and Flowing

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students make predictions about the erosion of three types of soil. The three soil types contain varying amounts of vegetation. This investigation requires the construction of an erosion table. The activity takes only 45 minutes, but the...
Activity
Kenyon College

Kenyon College: Soil Erosion

For Students 9th - 10th
Different types of erosion are discussed along with suggested ways to solve erosion problems on farms in this two-page article.
Unknown Type
Soft Schools

Soft Schools: Geology Quizzes: Soil

For Students 9th - 10th
Assess your understanding of the various ingredients and types of soil with this interactive multiple choice quiz. Immediate feedback is available.
Unit Plan
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Earth Science: Soil Formation

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] How soil is formed.
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Determining Bulk Density of Different Soil Samples and Data Analysis

For Teachers 9th - 10th
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...
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Rain Erosion: Does the Rate of Water Effect Erosion?

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
In this lab, students investigate whether the rate of water falling (rain) affects the amount of erosion (soil movement). This experiment could lead to further questions: how does grass or rocks effect soil erosion, does erosion lead to...
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Dissecting Soil

For Teachers 1st - 5th
In this soil study, students investigate a soil sample to discover what is inside the soil. Working in partners, they explore to see if there are any plants, animals, dirt, or other (water and air) in the soil.
Lesson Plan
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Set Your Table for a Sweet and Sticky Earthquake Shake

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Earthquakes can have different affects depending on their location. This week long exercise asks you to build a model house and a special table to shake it on, and see how different soil types can amplify shaking.
Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Engineering for the 3 Little Pigs

For Students 3rd - 5th
The purpose of this activity is to demonstrate the importance of rocks, soils and minerals in engineering and how using the right material for the right job is important. The students build three different sand castles and test them for...
Handout
Missouri Botanical Garden

Missouri Botanical Garden: Grasslands

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from the Missouri Botanical Gardens provides general information about different kinds of grasslands and the plants and animals of that type of region.
Article
NASA

Nasa Earth Observatory: Modeling Earth's Land Biosphere

For Students 9th - 10th
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.
Lesson Plan
ArtsNow

Arts Now Learning: Grade 3: Rock N Art

For Teachers 3rd
In this arts integrated unit, 3rd graders will explore Rocks and Soil. These projects focus on bringing multiple art forms to the Earth Sciences for third graders. Students will focus on comparing and contrasting the 3 types of rocks, as...
Unit Plan
Georgia Department of Education

Ga Virtual Learning: Geology: Surface Processes

For Students 9th - 10th
In this interactive tutorial, you will learn about the types of weathering and erosion that rocks and landforms undergo. This will lead to a discussion of soil and the types of soil. Lastly, you will learn about mass movements of soil,...

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