What's in soil? Young scientists study the pH levels of soil from their school yard. They observe the land and area the soil came from to decide if location has anything to do with acidity level.

Young scientists conduct a series of experiments to determine what type of soils produce the best results in roof-top gardens.

It takes a strong foundation to build a house and a stronger one for a bridge. This resource presents the effects of geology and soil on bridge foundations. Working in groups, the class investigates the interaction of shallow and deep...

Take your biology class' understanding of biodiversity to a whole new level! Ecology scholars use data to calculate three different diversity indices based on the organisms in the Gorongosa National Park. The four-part activity uses an...

This interactive website explores the various soil layers and introduces you to the lifeforms that live in those soil layers.

Soil scientists are interested in soil not just for agricultural purposes, but also for construction conditions. Read about the career and employment opportunities for soil scientists in this Science Buddies career profile. Find out the...

Students learn about one method used in environmental site assessments. They practice soil sampling by creating soil cores, studying soil profiles and characterizing soil profiles in borehole logs. They use their analysis to make...

In this activity, students examine soil. They choose a location and describe it. They then dig a hole, measure the depth of the topsoil and subsoil, take samples of each, and describe their composition and characteristics.

This set of activities introduces students to the basic properties and measurements of soil water, and how the global distribution of soil moisture is monitored.

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?...

A brief summary on the importance of soil, its' origin and composition.

In this experiment, students investigate what impact the composition of soil, its water content, and its location have on the soil's temperature, which in turn would have an effect on the rate of decomposition of organic matter in the soil.

Covers the composition and uses of liming materials in agriculture, as well as the lime codes of several states. Good definitions of terms: lime, calcitic limestone, calcite, dolomite, dolomitic limestone, aragonite, hi-cal lime, and more.

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...

Students conduct an experiment to determine how varying the composition of a construction material affects its strength. They make several adobe bricks with differing percentages of sand, soil, fibrous material and water. They test the...