Lessons and Activities Search


We've curated a collection of lessons, hands-on activities, labs, readings, and more - all about soils and topics related to soils – in this searchable database. Some are posted directly by SSSA others we have reviewed and recommend. While they are not officially endorsed, we found them to have high quality materials for lessons and activities at different grade levels. And, you can save items of interest to a custom binder (you’ll need to create an account to access this feature).

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Next Generation Science Standards
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Soils Challenge Badge from FAO

A booklet packed with activities that help you learn about soil, how it is formed, the creatures that live in it, and just how important it is in our everyday lives.



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Earth and Space Sciences
Core Idea: ESS3.A: Natural resources
3-5
6-8
9-12
Activity
Soils and Golf

This activity, created by FirstGreen, takes students out to the golf course to learn about the components of soil, soil nutrients, and soil pH.



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Earth and Space Sciences
Core Idea: ESS3.A: Natural resources
9-12
Activity
Color of Soil Worksheet

Simple student worksheet explaining the munsell color system.



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Physical Sciences
Core Idea: PS1.A: Structure of matter (includes PS1.C Nuclear Processes)
6-8
Activity
Can we feed a growing population?

In this module, students explore the resources that make up our agricultural system in order to answer the question: can we feed the growing population?



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Earth and Space Sciences
Core Idea: ESS3.A: Natural resources
6-8
9-12
Activity
Soil Charge Demonstration

Demonstration of ion movement in soils.



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Physical Sciences
Core Idea: PS1.A: Structure of matter (includes PS1.C Nuclear Processes)
9-12
Activity
The Dirt About Desert Soils-Indiana Public Media

An audio track talking about deserts



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Life Sciences
Core Idea: LS2.A: Interdependent relationships in ecosystems
3-5
6-8
9-12
Activity
The Soil-Air Connection

What is the relationship between soil and the Earth’s atmosphere? Students will explore the connection between what happens below and above the ground. They will learn about the vital role soil plays in the carbon cycle.



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Earth and Space Sciences
Core Idea: ESS2.A: Earth materials and systems
9-12
Activity
The Plant-Soil Relationship

In this lesson students investigate the relationship between plants and soil.



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Life Sciences
Core Idea: LS1.C: Organization for matter and energy flow in organisms
3-5
Activity
Chemistry, Fertilizer, and the Environment

This five-lesson unit for grades 8-12 uses agriculture to introduce chemistry and environmental science concepts in a way that is relevant to students’ lives.



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Earth and Space Sciences
Core Idea: ESS3.A: Natural resources
6-8
9-12
Activity
Crisis in the Horn of Africa- New York Times

An activity to understand how desertification affects people, causes famine, displacement, and conflict



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Earth and Space Sciences
Core Idea: ESS3.C: Human impacts on Earth systems
9-12
Activity
Nourishing the Planet in the 21st Century

Nourishing the Planet High School Materials Includes Teacher Background, activity masters, support materials.



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Earth and Space Sciences
Core Idea: ESS3.A: Natural resources
6-8
9-12
Activity
Unit 7.1 Model My Watershed

Describe a watershed and delineate a watershed on a map; Identify the key factors in a watershed that impact runoff and sediment yield, describe how increased storm-water runoff affects landscapes (e.g., erosion, channel incision, sedimentation) and describe how those factors are impacted by human development;



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Earth and Space Sciences
Core Idea: ESS2.A: Earth materials and systems
9-12
Activity
Unit 3: Natural and Agricultural Erosion Rates

Students identify their perceptions of erosion by examining images of mountain and agricultural landscapes and discussing which environment is more erosive.



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Earth and Space Sciences
Core Idea: ESS2.C: The roles of water in Earth's surface processes
9-12
Activity
The Soil Chain

Students will recognize their relationship to soil and model the connections between common objects and the soil through three activities.



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Earth and Space Sciences
Core Idea: ESS3.A: Natural resources
3-5
Activity
Color in the Garden

Students use the art of soil painting to explore science and the natural world while learning about the color wheel, the importance of soil to agriculture, and why soils have different colors.



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Physical Sciences
Core Idea: PS1.A: Structure of matter (includes PS1.C Nuclear Processes)
3-5
Activity