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.

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....

Slope failure is the downslope movement of rock debris and soil in response to gravitational stresses. Three major types of mass wasting are classified by the type of downslope movement. The types of movement, falls, slides, and flows...

This resource provides information on countries throughout the world, current news, and different types of maps.

A site containing a description of basic Eolian (wind) processes and how they effect various types of terrain. Includes many pictures which illustrate the presented concepts.

This hands-on activity explores five different forms of erosion (chemical, water, wind, glacier and temperature). Students rotate through stations and model each type of erosion on rocks, soils and minerals. The students record their...

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...

The purpose of this lesson is to introduce students to the basic elements of our Earth's crust: rocks, soils and minerals. They learn how we categorize rocks, soils and minerals and how they are literally the foundation for our...

Looks at types and sources of land pollution, the impact, soil contamination, what individuals can do to combat land pollution, and tips for recycling.

This lesson plan describes activities which allow young scholars to investigate four types of weathering and their relationship to soil formation. The four weathering forces investigated include wind, running water, plant roots and...

Students investigate the critical nature of foundations as they learn differences between shallow and deep foundations, including the concepts of bearing pressure and settlement. Using models representing a shallow foundation and a deep...

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.

A soil map from 1911 showing the four broad soil types of Long Island, keyed to show areas of stony loams and gravel, coarse sandy loams and gravel, sand (Norfolk), and sandy loams with beach sands or salt marsh.

This page discusses the mineral requirments needed for plants to grow successfully. The website focuses on the soil and the types of soil that creates a loam for individual plant types.

WormWatch is a Canadian program that uses volunteers to observe changes in the earthworms in their environments, and submit their observations. Monitoring earthworms provides valuable information about the health of local soils so that...

This is an outdoors, hands-on activity. Create a short race course to engage students in physical activity while drawing comparisons to the plant kingdom. This activity serves as an introductory to the impact small changes can have on...

Looks at the environmental and human impact of mountaintop coal mining, a practice which blasts the tops off mountains and distributes the displaced rocks and soils into the rivers and valleys below. The pros and cons of this type of...

How would you define an ecosystem? Check out this educational resource to learn more about the living and nonliving parts of different ecosystems.

Dirtmeister describes erosion, how it works, different causes, and types of weathering. Included are questions to help get you thinking about erosion in your area.

Archaeologists study artifacts and soil and they use post holes to determine just how old the layers of soil is. Based on the location of post holes, archaeologists can determine if they are finding a house, or a wall or even a fort....

Students investigate what types of materials biodegrade in the soil, and learn what happens to their trash after they throw it away. The concepts of landfills and compost piles will be explained, and the students will have an opportunity...

Young students are introduced to the complex systems of the Earth through numerous lessons on its natural resources, processes, weather, climate and landforms. Key earth science topics include rocks, soils and minerals, water and natural...

In this activity students build models of two types of watersheds, one urban and one rural. They will then simulate rain or the water cycle and observe what happens to the 'soil.' This activity leads to discussions about the water cycle,...

Overview of the types of natural resources and a list of natural resources found in India.