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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Grade
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The Soil Management Farming Game

This game investigates the ways in which the choices farmers make can influence both crop yields and greenhouse gas emissions.



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Earth and Space Sciences
Core Idea: ESS3.A: Natural resources
3-5
6-8
Activity
Make and Share Soil Crayons

In this activity, students make soil crayons to explore the various colors of soils.



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Earth and Space Sciences
Core Idea: ESS3.A: Natural resources
3-5
6-8
Activity
Making Soil

Making soil using food waste and composting techniques.



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Earth and Space Sciences
Core Idea: ESS3.A: Natural resources
PreK-2
3-5
6-8
9-12
Activity
Relax with a Mud Mask

A simple recipe for homemade facial masks from clay.



Next Generation Science Standards

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

By dividing the soil environments into a model of an apartment building--with inhabitants on the basement, ground level, and upper levels--students learn what animals make homes in each soil habitat.



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Life Sciences
Core Idea: LS2.C: Ecosystem dynamics, functioning, and resilience
PreK-2
3-5
6-8
Activity
Paint with Soil!

Students collect soil samples in a variety of colors, and use to create paints.



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Earth and Space Sciences
Core Idea: ESS3.A: Natural resources
PreK-2
3-5
6-8
Activity
Root-Nematode-Weevil Game

A fun activity to understand how soil organisms communicate with each other and to know at least some reasons why they would want/need to communicate



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Life Sciences
Core Idea: LS2.C: Ecosystem dynamics, functioning, and resilience
PreK-2
3-5
6-8
9-12
Activity
Soil Health Scavenger Hunt

Career exploration in soil science and relation to medicine and health



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Earth and Space Sciences
Core Idea: ESS2.A: Earth materials and systems
3-5
6-8
Activity
Soils are Everywhere

A critical thinking exercise using multiple entry points introducing soils



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Earth and Space Sciences
Core Idea: ESS2.A: Earth materials and systems
9-12
Activity
Urban Stormwater Management

Curricular unit that introduces students to the hydrologic cycle and urban stormwater management. Final activity culminates in student teams constructing personal rain gardens for school or home use.



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
9-12
Activity
Soil Glue

Surface soil particles are held together by various organic substances. The gluing of soil particles together into aggregates helps maintain pores and channels in the soil for air and water to enter and move through it.



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Earth and Space Sciences
Core Idea: ESS2.A: Earth materials and systems
Activity
Color Changes in Soil Lab

Hands on activity where soil is soaked in water and allowed to change color.



Next Generation Science Standards

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

This resource provides an activity about soil science careers to support the Australian Curriculum Science.



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Earth and Space Sciences
Core Idea: ESS3.A: Natural resources
3-5
6-8
Activity
Hands on Activity: Fence that Farmland!

Activity demonstrating the concept of perimeter and how this relates to civil engineering principles



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Engineering, Technology, and Applications of Scien
Core Idea: ETS1.A: Engineering Design
3-5
Activity
A Guide to Rain Garden Construction

Students learn about rain garden construction, and eventually student groups create personal rain gardens within surrounding community.



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Engineering, Technology, and Applications of Scien
Core Idea: ETS1.A: Engineering Design
6-8
Activity