Curated OER
Professor Profile looks over the horizon
Students are introduced to the differences that exist in soil properties with depth. They are introduced to the factors that influence a soil's development (soil forming factors). Pupils are introduced to the impact of soil of soil...
Curated OER
Properties of Soil: Original Lesson Plan
This lesson is an investigation of soil properties, particularly texture, color and space for air and water. Student inspect soil samples found in their locale, perform several tests to determine different properties, and involves a ...
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: What Is Soil?
Have you ever played in dirt from your yard? You were actually playing with one of the most important natural resources on earth - soil. Watch a short video on soil and a second video showing the phases of plant development using...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Are We Alone?
The year is 2032 and your class has successfully achieved a manned mission to Mars! After several explorations of the Red Planet, one question is still being debated: "Is there life on Mars?" The class is challenged with the task of...
Discovery Education
Discovery Education: The Dirt on Soil
This interactive website explores the various soil layers and introduces you to the lifeforms that live in those soil layers.
Other
University of Western Australia: Soil Health: Fertility of Soil
Explains what soil fertility and soil biological fertility are. Then lists the ten key principles of soil biological fertility, and the land management guidelines for these principles.
American Geosciences Institute
American Geosciences Institute: Earth Science Week: Soil Color and Redox Chemistry
Students use chocolate candies to simulate the process that occurs in saturated soil when Fe3+ is reduced to Fe2+ due to a microbial mediated redox reaction.
Other
Physical geography.net: Introduction to Soils
A detailed primer on the composition of soil, its color, pH, texture, and its profile.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Determining Bulk Density of Different Soil Samples and Data Analysis
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...
American Geosciences Institute
American Geosciences Institute: Earth Science Week: Finding Slope
A lesson plan that explores the importance of the slope of the soil to a soil's property. Understand how the soils slope affects many aspects of the property from the flow of water to planting.
The Field Museum
Field Museum: Exhibits: Underground Adventure
The Chicago Field Museum provides a comprehensive soil education project covering topics such as soil structure and organisms living underground. Students can use the site for research or do the full-blown project, where they establish a...
NASA
Nasa: What's the Scoop on Soil?
A brief summary on the importance of soil, its' origin and composition.
Michigan Reach Out
Michigan Reach Out!: Digging the Earth's Crust
Lesson plans from Michigan Reach Out! to help learners understand the different soil types and what uses they would be good for.
Other
Conserve Energy Future: What Is Soil Pollution?
Students learn about the natural resource, soil, and explore the ways it can become polluted.