Soil Science: STEM unit with 5 hands-on lab activities

Description

Why Choose Wild Earth Lab?

Drawing on my environmental science background, I create accurate, engaging resources that make teaching easier. Original, thoughtfully designed visuals and hands-on activities help bring the real experience of being a scientist into your classroom.

Age Range

Designed with flexibility in mind, these materials can be adapted for learners from middle school through high school, making them suitable for mixed-age groups.

What’s Included?

(64-page PDF file)

• PART 1: INTRO:
  • • Introductory reading
    • Parts of soil handout
    • Information cards with key vocab, measurements, and tools for this unit
    • Parts of soil matching worksheet
    • Soil science tools matching worksheet
    • Reading comprehension questions
    • Soil science tools decorations (cut-outs)
    • Word search
• PART 2: SOIL HORIZONS:
  • • Soil horizons reading
    • Soil horizons diagram
    • Unlabeled diagram for practice
    • Matching worksheet
    • Activity: make your own mnemonic devices for soil horizons
    • Snack-tivity: soil horizon parfait snack activity!
• PART 3: POROSITY, PERMEABILITY, & DENSITY:
  • • Porosity, permeability, and density reading
    • Pre-lab worksheet & predictions
    • Porosity Lab Activity:
      • • Instructor guide
        • Student directions handout
        • Student lab worksheet
    • Permeability Lab Activity
      • • Instructor guide
        • Student directions handout
        • Student lab worksheet
        • Graphing activity & graph interpretation questions
    • Density Lab Activity
      • • Instructor guide
        • Student directions handout
        • Student lab worksheet
    • Post-lab reflection questions – evaluate your pre-lab predictions and apply your findings to real-world situations
• PART 4: SOIL TEXTURES & ORGANIC MATTER:
  • • Soil textures reading
    • Soil Textures Lab Activity
      • • Instructor guide
        • Student directions handout
        • Student lab worksheet
        • Soil textures triangle diagram
        • Reflection questions – apply your findings to real-world situations
    • Organic Matter Lab Activity
      • • Instructor guide
        • Student directions handout
        • Student lab worksheet and reflection questions
• Teacher materials: directions and answer keys included
• Access to additional online materials: background information and more ways to expand on this topic.

Good to Know

• Single-classroom use: Materials are for personal and single-classroom use only and may not be shared or distributed. Contact me about multiple licenses for schools or organizations.
• Digital product: This is an instant PDF download, designed for printing on standard 8.5 × 11-inch paper. Due to the nature of digital products, purchases are non-refundable.
• Adult supervision: Activities should be completed with appropriate adult supervision.
• Terms & Conditions: See the full terms & conditions.