University of Waikato
Investigating Soil Moisture Content
Class members analyze the water content in soil samples by drying out the samples and taking measurements every minute until all the moisture is gone. Scholars compare the initial weight to the dried weight to calculate the percentage of...
NASA
Behavior Over Time: Analyzing Seasonal Soil and Air Properties
Moisture can affect air temperatures and so much more! An analysis of NASA soil moisture data allows pupils to make connections between climate and weather features. They first review general data and then select a specific location to...
Curated OER
Building Soil Nature's Way: Exploring decomposition and soil health
Students explore decomposition and soil health by creating their own garden. In this agriculture lesson, students build a "lasagna garden" with organic matter found in the area and plant perennials native to their region. Students are...
South Penquite Farms
Measuring Soil Temperatures
Using an auger, start-up soil scientists bore a core of soil. They examine the sample and record the temperature at three depths in the borehole. This is an attractive activity sheet that succinctly guides your earth science class...
Curated OER
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...
Curated OER
Soil's Secret
Students examine two types of soils in their area. They identify its texture and permeability to determine its origin. They share their results with the class.
Curated OER
Water in the Geosphere
Through a PowerPoint presentation and the embedded animation and video, earth science enthusiasts find out about the moisture in the soil beneath our feet. In the animation, follow a water molecule on its path through the water cycle. As...
Curated OER
Soil
In this soil activity, students read about soil and the attributes that determine how soil is formed. They then answer the 11 questions in the packet. The answers are on the last page of the packet.
Curated OER
Using GLOBE Data to Study the Earth System (College Level)
Students use the GLOBE Website to locate and study environmental data. They use the GLOBE Graphing Tool to display data. Students describe the role of solar energy in the annual fluctuations of soil moisture. They describe reservoirs and...
Curated OER
Environmental Requirements
All aspects of soil and its components are reviewed here. Your class will learn how certain organisms help the quality of the earth and support growth. Different ways to enhance the chemical make-up are described and will be valuable...
Curated OER
What's in Soil?
Students examine soil samples and make observations. In this soil lesson plan, students participate in experiments to determine the components (mineral matter, organic matter, water air) in the soil. Students analyze a pie graph on the...
Curated OER
HAPPY SOIL, SAD SOIL
Learners will be able to identify the characteristics of healthy soil and unhealthy soil.Take the class outside to an area of thick grass near trees, if available. Compare the
clothes people wear to the thin cover. Discuss the reasons...
Curated OER
The Effect of Moisture on Soil Temperature
Students analyze the relationship between soil moisture and its effect on soil temperature.
Curated OER
Chemistry in Soil-Plant Relationship
Young scholars apply the science of chemistry to soil and plant relationships. They define diffusion and indicate for which of these nutrient(s) would you expect diffusion to be the most important for movement to the plant root? Pupils...
Curated OER
Forest as a Filter
Students experiment using soil and water. In this forest as a filter lesson plan, students identify the role of forest cover, vegetation, and foliage impacts erosion and evaporation. Students conduct a simple experiment, form a...
Curated OER
WebQuest: The Growing Challenge in Senegal
Students examine the issue of soil infertility in Senegal. For this agriculture lesson, students follow the steps to complete the provided webquest that requires them to learn about the issue and create a 3-year plan for planting in the...
Curated OER
Soil Comparison and Analysis
High schoolers perform tests on different soil samples. In this earth science lesson plan, students classify the soil into groups according to test results. They write a lab report following a certain criteria.
Curated OER
Helping the Soil
In this soil conservation worksheet, students study and analyze two excellent ways to enhance soil conservation: compost heap and leaf-mould. Students review all the ingredients in making both.
Curated OER
Capillary Action
Students experiment with capillary action. Capillary action enables soil moisture to move in any direction within the soil as water moves from wet areas to drier areas. Capillary rise of water occurs especially in and regions where...
Curated OER
Keep it Active
Learners explore the active layer above permafrost and investigate various factors on the insulation value of the active layer. In this energy transfer instructional activity, students conduct and experiment to determine the effects of...
Curated OER
TE Activity: How Fast Can a Carrot Rot?
Students experiment to define which environmental factors favor decomposition by soil microbes. They decompose carrots in dirt, weigh the carrots periodically to determine how long it takes. They look at how engineers use this type of...
Curated OER
Isopod Behavior, of the Rolly Polly Lab
Learners investigate the behavior of isopods. In this isopod lesson plan, students make observations of an isopod and sketch the pillbug. They study the orientation of the isopods in relation to moisture in a chamber they construct from...
Curated OER
Light Plants and Dark Plants, Wet Plants and Dry Ones
Students plant sunflower seeds in plastic cups, and once germinated, these are exposed to different conditions of light levels and/or soil moisture contents. Students measure growth of the seedlings every few days using non-standard...
Curated OER
Science with Mud!
Eighth graders give some examples of chemical reactions they see everyday. In this chemistry lesson, 8th graders investigate how much water soil can hold. They collect data and compare results with others.