Hedgerows prevent soil erosion, capture pollutants running off fields, store carbon to help combat climate change, and provide homes for predators of many pest species. The biodiversity lesson begins with an activity that...

Using this thoroughly-written plan, you can have your junior ecologists exploring local biodiversity. They take a journal outdoors to tally the species that they see. An article is included along with comprehension questions. The author...

Second graders complete activities to observe the effects of erosion. For this erosion lesson, 2nd graders define erosion and learn the process. Students complete an erosion experiment.

Students investigate soil depth.  In this studying soils lesson, students visit South Penquite Farm and collect samples.  Students record their data and graph results. 

Third graders examine how the European Union countries conserve their soil. In groups, they describe ways in which humans can destroy soil and create a plan in which they can be involved to conserve soil in their community. They make...

Students dig soil pits in order to observe soil features and the factors of soil formation and soil forming process. Students also examine the relationships among different soils in a series of soil pits.

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.

Students classify different soil types. In this earth science lesson, students explain the factors that affect groundwater quality. They design and build a water treatment plant.

Students identify the major components of soil, and distinguish different soils based on physical characteristics. They examine various soil samples and record their observations.

In this soil worksheet, students help a mole get to soil school by following the correct path in a maze. Students color the words, "Soil is amazing!"

Young scholars conduct an experiment. They review how to use the scientific method to conduct an experiment with white carnations and food coloring. They create a hypothesis and test it to better understand how plants get nutrients,...

High schoolers explore one method for the detection of lead in soil. The detection of the presence of lead in soil can be determined sensitively using inexpensive swabs. Pupils collect several spoonfuls of soil from various parts of...

Looking at an image of plant systems with their roots in the ground, learners determine which would be the most or least difficult to pull. They write short sentences describing which plant they chose and why. Intended for 3rd or 4th...

If you are looking for how to introduce elementary environmentalists to the process of composting, here is a comprehensive outline for making it happen. The plan is to set this up at the beginning of a school year in order to observe the...

In 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!"

For this soil coloring worksheet, students color a picture of a cartoon-style mole. Students color the words "There are thousands of soil types."

Roll up your sleeves and get a little dirty with this elementary and middle school compost instructional activity. All you need is a large plastic container, a couple old newspapers, some organic waste, and a few hundred worms and...

In this erosion learning exercise, students will compare what happens to soil when water flows over soil with no vegetation and soil with vegetation. Then, students will complete four short answer questions.

Young scientists use food coloring and celery stalks to determine how water travels through plants. 

Salad dressings use a variety of different ingredients, but it's important to have a healthy balance of greens to create a delicious mix. Young chefs examine five types of herbs including chives, basil, dill, parsley, and thyme to...

Determining whether or not something is living can be more difficult than it seems. Put your young scientists to work defining their own criteria to identify life, then work with three samples to see if they are alive or...

This presentation gives a visual account of a class's experiment growing sprouts under different conditions. There are three containers with the same soil and the same seeds. One of the containers got water, but no light. One got light,...

Here is an ingeniously clever lesson on seed germination that's sure to be a hit with your kids. In it, learners create "egg people," out of eggs, egg cartons, potting soil, grass seeds, and markers. There is also a potato version and a...

Sixth graders collect soil samples and record the location of the samples by using GPS.