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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Test Your Soil

Contributing Organization: Soil Science Society of America



Some things in soil can't be seen and can only be measured with tests. Learn how to use a soil test kit to find out how much of each types of chemical is in your soil.



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Life Sciences
Core Idea: LS2.B: Cycles of matter and energy transfer in ecosystems
6-8
9-12
Activity
Dig Into Soil

Contributing Organization: Soil Science Society of America



How to look at (dig) soil to view soil layers (horizons).



Next Generation Science Standards

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

Contributing Organization: Soil Science Society of America



How does climate help soil form? This activity demonstrates how soil temperature is affected by water content, plant or mulch cover, and aspect.



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Earth and Space Sciences
Core Idea: ESS2.A: Earth materials and systems
6-8
Activity
Soil, Plants, and the Energy Cycle

Contributing Organization: Soil Science Society of America



Soils are an importance part of the energy cycle. In this activity you will determine how much bio-fuel can be produced by different plants.



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Life Sciences
Core Idea: LS2.B: Cycles of matter and energy transfer in ecosystems
9-12
Activity
Mapping Your Soil

Contributing Organization: Soil Science Society of America



Soil surveys help us understand how soils differ and how they behave under various land management systems. In this activity, students will use the NRCS Soil Mapping Tool to determine what soil is around your school and how it can be used.



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Earth and Space Sciences
Core Idea: ESS3.A: Natural resources
6-8
9-12
Activity
Nitrogen Connection

Contributing Organization: Soil Science Society of America



All biological organisms require certain nutrients to live. In this activity, learn about nitrogen and use nitrate test strips to investigate some possible fates of nitrogen in soil.



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Life Sciences
Core Idea: LS2.B: Cycles of matter and energy transfer in ecosystems
9-12
Activity
Sustaining Living Soil with Composting

Contributing Organization: Soil Science Society of America



Composting is the decomposition of organic waste materials in the presence of water, air, and microorganisms to produce organic fertilizer. Learn how to construct a simple compost bin, creating the right environment for microbial decomposition.



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Earth and Space Sciences
Core Idea: ESS2.A: Earth materials and systems
3-5
6-8
Activity
Soil Science of Sports Fields

Contributing Organization: Soil Science Society of America



Soil plays a pivotal role in natural turfgrass sports fields. A goal is optimal soil moisture conditions for turfgrass growth while ensuring safety and playability. In this activity, compare the infiltration and water-holding capacities of two soils to determine which would be best for use on a sports field.



Next Generation Science Standards

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

Demonstration of ion movement in soils.



Next Generation Science Standards

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

Contributing Organization: Soil Science Society of America



In healthy soils, sand, silt and clay particles are held together by "soil glues", or glomalin. This activity demonstrates how these soil glues help aggregates hold together, especially when very wet.



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Earth and Space Sciences
Core Idea: ESS2.E: Biogeology
6-8
9-12
Activity
Lab Experiment
Soil Testing for Lead in Local Soils

Contributing Organization: Science Buddies



From Science Buddies: This project shows you how you can test soil in your neighborhood for lead contamination.



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Earth and Space Sciences
Core Idea: ESS3.C: Human impacts on Earth systems
6-8
9-12
Activity
Lab Experiment
Reading the Layers: Soil Horizon Mapping

Contributing Organization: Soil Science Society of America



Students will learn to identify and draw the major soil horizons as present in real horizons, describe observable differences among horizons, and explain in general terms how soil forming factors and processes lead to horizon formation and how different horizons form in various soil types.



Next Generation Science Standards

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