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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Tea for Science

Experiment to better understand the decomposition of organic matter.



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Life Sciences
Core Idea: LS2.B: Cycles of matter and energy transfer in ecosystems
6-8
9-12
Activity
Lab Experiment
Perkin Through the Pores

Students determine the water holding and draining capacities of different soils and will investigate how organic matter increases the amount of water soil will hold.



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Earth and Space Sciences
Core Idea: ESS2.C: The roles of water in Earth's surface processes
3-5
Activity
Lab Experiment
Unit 5: Predicting the Effects of Climate Change on Soil Loss

Students investigate how the factors that influence erosion work together to produce an overall erosion rate. In agricultural areas, these factors are rainfall-runoff erosivity, soil erodibility, slope characteristics, and agricultural practices. Students analyze changes in precipitation predicted by climate change models to consider how a changing climate could influence erosion rates in agricultural areas.



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Earth and Space Sciences
Core Idea: ESS2.A: Earth materials and systems
9-12
Activity
Slides/Photos/Figures
Scoop! Teachers Guide

Teachers Guide for Soil! Get the Inside Scoop book. Site includes readings, slides, activities related to soil properties, and biomes.



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Earth and Space Sciences
Core Idea: ESS2.A: Earth materials and systems
3-5
6-8
9-12
Activity
Slides/Photos/Figures
Teacher's Guide
Desert Soils

Deserts cover 1/5 of the worlds land. Over 1 billion people try to make a living out of the desert soils. These soils are dry, getting less than 10 inches of rain a year, and often are not very high in organic matter. Includes slides and activities



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Earth and Space Sciences
Core Idea: ESS2.A: Earth materials and systems
3-5
6-8
9-12
Activity
Slides/Photos/Figures
Teacher's Guide
Forest Soils

Forest soils form where it is not too hot, and not too cold. The type of soil that forms depends on what type of vegetation grows. Includes slides and activities



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Earth and Space Sciences
Core Idea: ESS2.A: Earth materials and systems
3-5
6-8
9-12
Activity
Slides/Photos/Figures
Teacher's Guide
Soil is Not Dirt

This section provides an overview about the importance of soils to the human world, history, and housing. Slides and activities



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Earth and Space Sciences
Core Idea: ESS2.A: Earth materials and systems
3-5
6-8
9-12
Activity
Slides/Photos/Figures
Teacher's Guide
Prairie Soils

These soils are some of the most fertile soils in the world. Includes slides and activities



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Earth and Space Sciences
Core Idea: ESS2.A: Earth materials and systems
3-5
6-8
9-12
Activity
Slides/Photos/Figures
Teacher's Guide
Soil Biology (Yikes, It's Alive!)

There is a lot of life above the earth. But in most systems, there is more life BELOW the soil than above it. Slides and activities



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Earth and Space Sciences
Core Idea: ESS2.A: Earth materials and systems
3-5
6-8
9-12
Activity
Slides/Photos/Figures
Teacher's Guide
Soil Formation

Soil Formation – Processes details how new soil can appear in a new location, and how soil looks change over time. Slides and activities



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Earth and Space Sciences
Core Idea: ESS2.A: Earth materials and systems
3-5
6-8
9-12
Activity
Slides/Photos/Figures
Teacher's Guide
Soil Properties

Every soil sample that you touch is different from all others. Slides and activities



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Earth and Space Sciences
Core Idea: ESS2.A: Earth materials and systems
3-5
6-8
9-12
Activity
Slides/Photos/Figures
Teacher's Guide
Soil, Food and Health

Everything that we eat has nutrients. Nutrients get into the soil many different ways: from decomposed animal waste and dead plants, the atmosphere, weathering of rocks and bacteria conversions. Slides and activities



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Earth and Space Sciences
Core Idea: ESS3.A: Natural resources
3-5
6-8
9-12
Activity
Slides/Photos/Figures
Tropical Soils

In the hot, wet areas of the world, large jungles can form, with lots of different trees, animals, and flowers. Not all tropical soils are jungles. Includes slides and activities



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Earth and Space Sciences
Core Idea: ESS2.A: Earth materials and systems
3-5
6-8
9-12
Activity
Slides/Photos/Figures
Teacher's Guide
Tundra Soils

Far north in the land of northern lights and the midnight sun, soils form that are partially frozen year round. Includes slides and activities



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Earth and Space Sciences
Core Idea: ESS2.A: Earth materials and systems
3-5
6-8
9-12
Activity
Slides/Photos/Figures
Teacher's Guide
Wetland Soils

Wetlands are not wastelands full of mosquitoes and ooze. They are a valuable filter of nutrients, and provide beneficial flood control and purification. Wetland soils are often wet for most of the year. Includes slides and activities



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Earth and Space Sciences
Core Idea: ESS2.A: Earth materials and systems
3-5
6-8
9-12
Activity
Slides/Photos/Figures
Teacher's Guide