+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Soil Layers

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders identify the different layers of soil. For this earth science lesson, 9th graders explain how limestone layers are formed. They identify the different parts of the coral colony.
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Dirt on Soil

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students classify different soil types. For this earth science lesson, students explain the factors that affect groundwater quality. They design and build a water treatment plant.
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Soil Sample Lab 2

For Teachers 9th - 11th
Students examine each soil sample and record observations. In this biology lesson, students design an experiment to test soil flow rate. They write a lab report about the experiment.
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Formation of Soil

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students identify the different components that make up soil. In this earth science lesson, students create a pamphlet for next year's class. They analyze how erosion and weathering shape the Earth.
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sand Castles: Pre-engineering 101

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students examine how soil holds together and what the effect of particle size and water content is on soil.  In this engineering lesson students complete a lab, record their observations and discuss what they learned. 
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Soil Slope

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers study how to measure the soil slope of an area.  In this soil instructional activity students work in groups and complete an activity that allows them to find the slope of a given area. 
+
Activity
Curated OER

Hide the Acorns

For Teachers Pre-K
Students search for acorns. In this art lesson students imagine they are squirrels finding and storing acorns. The students dig through a water table filled with sand or soil looking for acorns that have been buried.
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Flood!

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students examine different types of soil have different capacities for retaining rainwater. For this science lesson, students determine that if the soil in an area will not hold enough rainwater there may be a flood. Students experiment...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cows, Worms, and Compost

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students study decomposition. For this decomposition lesson, students discuss the background information about decomposition. Students then complete the 'Chew It Twice' worksheet.
+
Worksheet
Curated OER

Coloring: Mole (Soil Study Unit)

For Students 2nd - 3rd
In this soil coloring activity, students color a picture of a cartoon-style mole. Students color the words "There are thousands of soil types."
+
Worksheet
Curated OER

Soil Is Under All Our Feet..

For Students 1st - 3rd
For this soil coloring worksheet, students color a picture of a cartoon style worm. Students color the words "Soil is under all our feet ... You just have to look!"
+
Worksheet
Curated OER

Help Mole Get to Soil School!

For Students 1st - 3rd
In this soil instructional activity, students help a mole get to soil school by following the correct path in a maze. Students color the words, "Soil is amazing!"
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

S-O-I-L Soil

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders research soil, its nutrients, and plant growth. In this soil activity, 5th graders create soil journals, trace flowers, and include nutrient information on each petal. Students read an excerpt from "McBroom Tells the...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Creating Gardens

For Teachers Higher Ed
Students are shown that numeracy is all around them. They use volume, and calculate the quantity of soil required to make a garden to given instructions. Students are asked how to calculate the amount of soil required for the garden.
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Soil Analysis

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students examine zip lock bags of clay, silt, and sand to determine its origin. They rotate through stations to compare different soils and perform oil separation and Tullgren funnel tests.
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Effects of Color on Heat Absorption And Climate

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Learners conduct an experiment to determine the effects of soil color on its day and night time temperatures. In small groups, they prepare dishes of black soil, brown peat moss, and white sand. They record the temperature changes when a...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Save Our Soil

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students gain an understanding of the small amount of soil available to sustain humans on earth and complete an appropriate graph or chart from their collected data. They locate some of the countries they have heard about where people do...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Herb is the Word

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners conduct an experiment to determine how different soils affect plant growth over a six-week period. After determining the physical properties of different types of soil, students plant various types of seeds into the soil...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Am I Neutral? pH Properties in Soil

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers participate in a science lab to determine the pH of three different soil samples. Students conduct an experiment by creating a question, a hypothesis and then an investigation of soil samples. Then they compare colors...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Is Soil Alive?

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders observe soil samples. They then form hypotheses as to whether or not soil is alive. Students read and discuss information about soil and components of soil. They state wheter or not they believe soil is alive and list...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Oolitic Sand: An Introduction

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders investigate the characteristics of different types of sand. They compare and contrast the types of sand by making observations with a dissecting microscope. Then students draw what is seen and include shape, color, and...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earth's Valuable Soil

For Teachers K - 4th
Students investigate the concept of how the earth is segmented into different parts. They use an apple as a model to display the different layers. The apple is divided into different fractions by being cut into different size pieces.
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Activity #5 Soils-Permeability and Impurity Removal

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers predict which types of soils would work best for keeping contaminants contained. They comprehend that in the past, landfills have been one major source of groundwater contamination. Pupils comprehend that placing and...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Save Our Soil

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore the need for good farm land and reasons for the disappearance of agricultural areas. They brainstorm environmental friendly decisions and soil conservation. In their community, students explore new land developments...