Engineering and Urban Development

Almost all human structures (roads, houses, cities, energy and water supply structures…) are built on and in soil. Some are described here.

Discipline

Earth and Space Sciences

Grade Level

3-5

6-8

9-12

Lesson Area

Soils in Urban Environments

Lesson Type

Reading

Lesson Keywords

Construction

Septic Systems

Urban Soils

Human Impact

Culture

Soil Engineering

Soils in Urban Environments

Next Generation Science Standards

Grade	Discipline	Core Idea
3-5	ESS3.A: Natural resources	Energy and fuels humans use are derived from natural sources and their use affects the environment. Some resources are renewable over time, others are not.
3-5	ESS3.C: Human impacts on Earth systems	Societal activities have had major effects on the land, ocean, atmosphere, and even outer space. Societal activities can also help protect Earth's resources and environments.
6-8	ESS3.A: Natural resources	Humans depend on Earth's land, ocean, atmosphere, and biosphere for different resources, many of which are limited or not renewable. Resources are distributed unevenly around the planet as a result of past geologic processes.
6-8	ESS3.C: Human impacts on Earth systems	Human activities have altered the biosphere, sometimes damaging it, although changes to environments can have different impacts for different living things. Activities and technologies can be engineered to reduce people's impacts on Earth.
9-12	ESS3.A: Natural resources	Resource availability has guided the development of human society and use of natural resources has associated costs, risks, and benefits.
9-12	ESS3.C: Human impacts on Earth systems	Sustainability of human societies and the biodiversity that supports them requires responsible management of natural resources, including the development of technologies.