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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Who Did it?

Students use forensics to hone science and lab skills in order to conclude who committed a crime.



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Physical Sciences
Core Idea: PS1.A: Structure of matter (includes PS1.C Nuclear Processes)
9-12
Activity
School Garden Lesson Plans

This guide contains 35 lesson plans with activities to engage your students in a fun and educational exploration of fruits, vegetables and healthy eating.



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Earth and Space Sciences
Core Idea: ESS2.A: Earth materials and systems
PreK-2
3-5
Activity
Journey 2050

A website with a virtual farm simulation that explores world food sustainability.



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Earth and Space Sciences
Core Idea: ESS3.A: Natural resources
6-8
9-12
Activity
Interactive Website
Life Beneath your Feet

In this activity, students will explore the variety of organisms that live in soils.



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Earth and Space Sciences
Core Idea: ESS2.E: Biogeology
Activity
Lab Experiment
Simple Soil Moisture Stations

In this activity, students investigate three different soil samples with varying moisture content. They use a soil moisture probe to determine the percentage (by volume) of water in each of the soil samples.



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Earth and Space Sciences
Core Idea: ESS2.A: Earth materials and systems
PreK-2
3-5
6-8
Activity
Lab Experiment
Pedosphere (Soil)

Link to the GLOBE Program collection of soil instructional resources



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Earth and Space Sciences
Core Idea: ESS2.A: Earth materials and systems
PreK-2
3-5
6-8
9-12
Activity
Lab Experiment
Tea for Science

Experiment to better understand the decomposition of organic matter.



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Life Sciences
Core Idea: LS2.B: Cycles of matter and energy transfer in ecosystems
6-8
9-12
Activity
Lab Experiment
Perkin Through the Pores

Students determine the water holding and draining capacities of different soils and will investigate how organic matter increases the amount of water soil will hold.



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Earth and Space Sciences
Core Idea: ESS2.C: The roles of water in Earth's surface processes
3-5
Activity
Lab Experiment
Unit 5: Predicting the Effects of Climate Change on Soil Loss

Students investigate how the factors that influence erosion work together to produce an overall erosion rate. In agricultural areas, these factors are rainfall-runoff erosivity, soil erodibility, slope characteristics, and agricultural practices. Students analyze changes in precipitation predicted by climate change models to consider how a changing climate could influence erosion rates in agricultural areas.



Next Generation Science Standards

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

Teachers Guide for Soil! Get the Inside Scoop book. Site includes readings, slides, activities related to soil properties, and biomes.



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Earth and Space Sciences
Core Idea: ESS2.A: Earth materials and systems
3-5
6-8
9-12
Activity
Slides/Photos/Figures
Teacher's Guide
Desert Soils

Deserts cover 1/5 of the worlds land. Over 1 billion people try to make a living out of the desert soils. These soils are dry, getting less than 10 inches of rain a year, and often are not very high in organic matter. Includes slides and activities



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Earth and Space Sciences
Core Idea: ESS2.A: Earth materials and systems
3-5
6-8
9-12
Activity
Slides/Photos/Figures
Teacher's Guide
Forest Soils

Forest soils form where it is not too hot, and not too cold. The type of soil that forms depends on what type of vegetation grows. Includes slides and activities



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Earth and Space Sciences
Core Idea: ESS2.A: Earth materials and systems
3-5
6-8
9-12
Activity
Slides/Photos/Figures
Teacher's Guide
Soil is Not Dirt

This section provides an overview about the importance of soils to the human world, history, and housing. Slides and activities



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Earth and Space Sciences
Core Idea: ESS2.A: Earth materials and systems
3-5
6-8
9-12
Activity
Slides/Photos/Figures
Teacher's Guide
Prairie Soils

These soils are some of the most fertile soils in the world. Includes slides and activities



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Earth and Space Sciences
Core Idea: ESS2.A: Earth materials and systems
3-5
6-8
9-12
Activity
Slides/Photos/Figures
Teacher's Guide
Soil Biology (Yikes, It's Alive!)

There is a lot of life above the earth. But in most systems, there is more life BELOW the soil than above it. Slides and activities



Next Generation Science Standards

Discipline: Earth and Space Sciences
Core Idea: ESS2.A: Earth materials and systems
3-5
6-8
9-12
Activity
Slides/Photos/Figures
Teacher's Guide