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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The Color of Soil

Contributing Organization: University of Tennessee



Students will learn about what makes soils different colors and will practice classifying soils with a simplified color chart. Soil art project suggestions (soil paints, dirt shirts) are included at the end.



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Earth and Space Sciences
Core Idea: ESS2.A: Earth materials and systems
3-5
6-8
9-12
Activity
Decomposer Tag

Contributing Organization: University of Tennessee



This activity focuses on the function of decomposers in food webs using a modified game of tag that simulates the role of decomposers in converting dead plants/animals (organic matter) to nutrients for living plants/animals in an ecosystem. This is a modified game of tag, where students play different functional groups in the ecosystem: decomposers, living plants and animals, and dead plants and animals (organic matter). Different rounds with slightly different roles and rules illustrate key concepts about decomposers.



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Life Sciences
Core Idea: LS2.A: Interdependent relationships in ecosystems
3-5
6-8
Activity
Welcome to the Log Hotel: The Delightful Decomposers that Disassemble Dead Things

Contributing Organization: University of Tennessee



In this activity, students learn the importance of decomposers in terms of breaking down dead organic matter and their broader importance in food webs in terms of nutrient recycling and bioturbation. After discussing decomposers and their importance in the soil food web and terrestrial ecosystem, students can create a log hotel, which is a terrarium habitat for common backyard decomposer organisms. Once they create their habitat, they can find decomposers in their yard or local park to add and observe. Decomposers are easy pets to keep and the log hotel can be kept indefinitely!



Next Generation Science Standards

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

Contributing Organization: Soil Science Society of America



This models uses a household sponge to demonstrate several characteristics of the relations of soil and water.



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Earth and Space Sciences
Core Idea: ESS2.C: The roles of water in Earth's surface processes
3-5
6-8
Activity
Soil is a Filter

Contributing Organization: Soil Science Society of America



Activity that demonstrates how soil can filter impurities from water, both physically and chemically.



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Physical Sciences
Core Idea: PS1.A: Structure of matter (includes PS1.C Nuclear Processes)
PreK-2
3-5
6-8
9-12
Activity
Erosion and Ground Cover Models

Contributing Organization: Soil Science Society of America



This demonstration shows the effect ground cover has on Soil Erosion.



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Earth and Space Sciences
Core Idea: ESS2.A: Earth materials and systems
3-5
6-8
Activity
Quicksand: A Case of Liquefaction

Contributing Organization: Soil Science Society of America



This activity demonstrates the principles of liquefaction and what happens when soil begins to act more like a liquid than a solid.



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Earth and Space Sciences
Core Idea: ESS2.A: Earth materials and systems
6-8
9-12
Activity
Lab Experiment
Soil Has a Charge!

Contributing Organization: Soil Science Society of America



How does soil keep fertilizers from leaching out of the plant root zone? Clay and organic matter with varying amounts of negative surface charge. Determine if soil has a positive or negative charge with this experiment.



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Earth and Space Sciences
Core Idea: ESS2.A: Earth materials and systems
3-5
6-8
9-12
Activity
Magical Microbes

Contributing Organization: Soil Science Society of America



Could Shewies, a funky bacteria, be a sustainable future clean energy source? This lesson provides an overview of the electrical current created by "Shewies" and how you can use a MudWatt to create a Microbial Fuel Cell.



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Life Sciences
Core Idea: LS1.A: Structure and function
6-8
9-12
Activity
How to Make Dirt Shirts

Students learn whether or not soil can be used as a natural dye.



Next Generation Science Standards

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

This SSSA video describes the soils of various biomes and the role they play to support the life in those biomes.



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Earth and Space Sciences
Core Idea: ESS3.C: Human impacts on Earth systems
PreK-2
3-5
6-8
Video
Soils Sustain Life

This SSSA video provides an overview of soils as the upper part of land surface and created from weathered rocks. It also points to the ecosystem services provide by soil.



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Earth and Space Sciences
Core Idea: ESS2.A: Earth materials and systems
PreK-2
3-5
6-8
Video
Soils Clean and Capture Water

This SSSA video introduces the role of water in the vitality of soils, its distribution across and into soils, and green infrastructure for stormwater management.



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
Video
Soils Support Urban Life

This SSSA video goes into the importance of soil to urban environment, and urban gardening.



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Earth and Space Sciences
Core Idea: ESS3.C: Human impacts on Earth systems
PreK-2
3-5
6-8
Video
Soils Support Buildings/Infrastructure

In this SSSA video, the role of soil in making and supporting infrastructure is introduced through the lens of engineering. It also discusses erosion, mudslides, and structural failures.



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Earth and Space Sciences
Core Idea: ESS3.A: Natural resources
PreK-2
3-5
6-8
Video