Curated OER
Permeability of Earth Materials
Students observe and classify the permeability of a variety of materials.
Curated OER
Worms in a Bottle
Students gain a better understanding of the worm and its role in the recycling of organic materials into simpler forms by constructing worm bottles and observing for 60 to 90 days.
Michigan State University
Michigan State University: Digital Learning Center for Microbial Ecology: Microbe Zoo: Ag Acres
A simple overview of the important roles microbes play in agriculture. You'll learn how some microbes can be hazardous to plants while others help fertilize and build soil, and kill insects.
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Soil Compaction
Have you ever had to dig a hole in really hard dirt? It is a lot of work. In this experiment you can make an instrument to test the soil and find out how compacted it is, before you dig.
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Soil Color and Moisture
When you step in mud it can be very messy. How can you tell if soil is wet or dry before you step in it? In this experiment, you can see if color can help you figure it out.
US Department of Agriculture
Nrcs: Helping People Understand Soils
Comprehensive resource for the study of soil regions. Special information for teachers and students include soil facts, resources, state soils, urban soil issues, state of the land, and more. Be sure to click on their special...
Other
Classroom Activities, Stories and Facts: Hydroponics
A list of stories, activities, facts and questions all pertaining to hydroponics. Includes information on building your own classroom hydroponic system.
American Geosciences Institute
American Geosciences Institute: Soils
Seven hands-on lessons module allows learners to learn about soils. These inquiry-based investigations explore the kinds and arrangements of materials in soils, the amount of water that flows through soil, and how soil is eroded.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Engineering for the 3 Little Pigs
The purpose of this activity is to demonstrate the importance of rocks, soils and minerals in engineering and how using the right material for the right job is important. The students build three different sand castles and test them for...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: How Fast Does Water Travel Through Soils?
Students measure the permeability of different types of soils, compare results and realize the importance of size, voids and density in permeability response.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Soil Investigations
Learners learn the basics about soil, including its formation, characteristics and importance. They are also introduced to soil profiles and how engineers conduct site investigations to learn about soil quality for development,...
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.
US Geological Survey
U.s. Geological Survey: Introduction to Soils
This unit teaches students how soils develop and provides links between soils, climate, vegetation, and geology. It includes a field exercise where students can sample and characterize their local soil and relate different soil processes...
eSchool Today
E School Today: Your Revision Notes All About Soils
Learn what soils are and why they are important. Discusses soil profiles, types of soils, soil conservation, soil ecosystems, and soil formation.
Exploratorium
Exploratorium: The Dirt on Dirt
What is dirt, and what makes some dirt superior for gardening? Find out in this virtual soil exploration.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: How Cities Affect Their Local Climate
Students explore the urban heat island effect with My World GISTM and GLOBE Program surface temperature student data. After completing this chapter, students will be able to successfully download GLOBE Program datasets in the...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Earth Rocks!
The purpose of this lesson plan is to introduce young scholars 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...
Geography 4 kids
Geography4 Kids: Biosphere: Soils
Get the full picture of what soil is offered by Geography4Kids.
Scholastic
Scholastic: Dirtmeister's Science Lab: Erosion
Step into Dirtmeister's Science Lab and discover how rain shapes the Earth. Learn about erosion then do the experiment.
Other
National Association of Conservation Districts: Dig Deeper:mysteries in the Soil
A collection of facts, lesson resources, and links for teaching the science of soil. The teacher's guide includes overviews for each grade level booklet, next generation science standards, activities, vocabulary words, literature...
Other
Seafriends: Soil Dependence
This website looks at our dependence on soil and what it produces. It includes text, graphs, charts, illustrations and important statistics. Hosted by the Seafriends Marine Conservation and Education Center.
McGraw Hill
Mc Graw Hill: Plant Nutrition and Soils
Take this test to find out what you know about plant nutrition and soils.
McGraw Hill
Mc Graw Hill: Chapter 39: Plant Nutrition and Soils
Take this pre-test to find out what you know about plant nutrition and soils.