This page includes links to resources and activities to go along with my Soil Science Unit! Find the Soil Science Unit and other nature-based learning materials in my Shop!
1.) Free Soil Lesson Plans and Activities (external links)
- Jar Test by A. Jeffers from the Home & Garden Information Center (grade not specified)
- Soil Texture Labs that can be done at home (with videos) by K. Schertz from Teaching AP Science (high school)
- Lesson Plan on Soil Profiles from McGill University (Grades7-8)
- Create your own soil profile activity from My NASA Data (Grades 3-8)
- Soil Formation and Edible Soil Horizons from National Agriculture in the Classroom (grades 3-5)
- Edible Soil Profiles from South Dakota State University (not grade specific)
- Porosity and Permeability Demo (YouTube Video) by Mr. Trunkely’s Science and Robotics
- Exploring Groundwater activity – from NOAA National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (Grades 5-12)
- Hydrogen Peroxide and Soil (YouTube Video) by funsciencedemos
- Why does organic matter matter? Activity, Compost Lab, and more, from University of Georgia Extension (6th grade)
- Soil in Your Community – Curricula Resources, including My Soil’s Better than Your Soil activity, from Garden Earth Naturalist
- Explore Describing Soil – from Soil Science Society of America (grade not specified)
- Soil Lesson Plans from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Center (grade not specified)
- What Does An Environmental Soil Scientist Do? [Career Guide] by J. Howard from NC State University
2.) References (external links)
These include reference websites, books, and materials I used to fact-check the information within the Soil Science Unit as well as other websites you may find helpful in planning your lessons. Use the links below to enjoy the wealth of information these resources have to offer!
- C.C. Plummer, D.H. Carlson, and L. Hammersley (2019). Physical Geology. McGraw-Hill Education. (Chapter 5)
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (n.d.). Why do soil microbes matter? Available: https://www.ceh.ac.uk/why-do-soil-microbes-matter
- Michigan Geological Survey (2023). The Fundamentals of Porosity and Permeability. YouTube Video. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjEmxgr0TR8
- Needelman, B. A. (2013) What Are Soils? Nature Education Knowledge 4(3):2. Available: https://www.nature.com/scitable/knowledge/library/what-are-soils-67647639/
- Pokorny, K. (2021). Sand, silt or clay? Texture says a lot about soil. Oregon State University. Available: https://today.oregonstate.edu/news/sand-silt-or-clay-texture-says-lot-about-soil
- Queensland Government (2013). Soil Texture. Available: https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/land/management/soil/soil-properties/texture
- Soil Science Society of America (n.d.). Physical Properties of Soil. Available: https://www.soils4teachers.org/physical-properties/
- USDA-NRCS (2012). Soil Textural Triangle.jpg. Public Domain Image accessed via WikiMedia Commons. Available: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Soil_Textural_Triangle.jpg
- USDA – NRCS (n.d.). What is Soil? Available: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/resources/education-and-teaching-materials/soil-facts
- [WRB] World Reference Base for Soil Resources. 1994. World soil resources reports, Appendix 1, Rome, 1998, ISBN 92-5-104141-5. Available: https://www.fao.org/3/W8594E/w8594e00.htm
3.) More units from Wild Earth Lab
If you loved my Soil Science Unit, I think you will enjoy these units too!
