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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Type
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Urban Stormwater Management

Curricular unit that introduces students to the hydrologic cycle and urban stormwater management. Final activity culminates in student teams constructing personal rain gardens for school or home use.



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Earth and Space Sciences
Core Idea: ESS2.C: The roles of water in Earth's surface processes
PreK-2
3-5
6-8
9-12
Activity
What's in Soil?

This exercise aims to introduce students to soils, specifically the concept of soils as natural bodies, and their scientific study



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Earth and Space Sciences
Core Idea: ESS2.A: Earth materials and systems
6-8
9-12
Activity
Soil Glue

Surface soil particles are held together by various organic substances. The gluing of soil particles together into aggregates helps maintain pores and channels in the soil for air and water to enter and move through it.



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Earth and Space Sciences
Core Idea: ESS2.A: Earth materials and systems
Activity
Color Changes in Soil Lab

Hands on activity where soil is soaked in water and allowed to change color.



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Physical Sciences
Core Idea: PS1.A: Structure of matter (includes PS1.C Nuclear Processes)
9-12
Activity
Soil Science Careers

This resource provides an activity about soil science careers to support the Australian Curriculum Science.



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Earth and Space Sciences
Core Idea: ESS3.A: Natural resources
3-5
6-8
Activity
Hands on Activity: Fence that Farmland!

Activity demonstrating the concept of perimeter and how this relates to civil engineering principles



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Engineering, Technology, and Applications of Scien
Core Idea: ETS1.A: Engineering Design
3-5
Activity
A Guide to Rain Garden Construction

Students learn about rain garden construction, and eventually student groups create personal rain gardens within surrounding community.



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Engineering, Technology, and Applications of Scien
Core Idea: ETS1.A: Engineering Design
6-8
Activity
Environmental Engineering

Curricular unit where students explore the various roles of environmental engineers, including: environmental cleanup, water quality, groundwater resources, surface water and groundwater flow, water contamination, waste disposal, and air pollution.



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Earth and Space Sciences
Core Idea: ESS3.A: Natural resources
6-8
Activity
Who Did it?

Students use forensics to hone science and lab skills in order to conclude who committed a crime.



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Physical Sciences
Core Idea: PS1.A: Structure of matter (includes PS1.C Nuclear Processes)
9-12
Activity
School Garden Lesson Plans

This guide contains 35 lesson plans with activities to engage your students in a fun and educational exploration of fruits, vegetables and healthy eating.



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Earth and Space Sciences
Core Idea: ESS2.A: Earth materials and systems
PreK-2
3-5
Activity
Journey 2050

A website with a virtual farm simulation that explores world food sustainability.



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Earth and Space Sciences
Core Idea: ESS3.A: Natural resources
6-8
9-12
Activity
Interactive Website
Life Beneath your Feet

In this activity, students will explore the variety of organisms that live in soils.



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Earth and Space Sciences
Core Idea: ESS2.E: Biogeology
Activity
Lab Experiment
Simple Soil Moisture Stations

In this activity, students investigate three different soil samples with varying moisture content. They use a soil moisture probe to determine the percentage (by volume) of water in each of the soil samples.



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Earth and Space Sciences
Core Idea: ESS2.A: Earth materials and systems
PreK-2
3-5
6-8
Activity
Lab Experiment
Digging Deep: Soil Health Curriculum for School Gardens K-8

The lesson set was designed as part of a greater effort to help connect Next Generation Science Standards to the school garden while promoting soil health education in schools and better soil health practices in school gardens.



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Earth and Space Sciences
Core Idea: ESS2.A: Earth materials and systems
PreK-2
3-5
6-8
Activity
Lab Experiment
Pedosphere (Soil)

Link to the GLOBE Program collection of soil instructional resources



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Earth and Space Sciences
Core Idea: ESS2.A: Earth materials and systems
PreK-2
3-5
6-8
9-12
Activity
Lab Experiment