Title Description Grade Level Lesson Type Core Idea
Soil Characteristics Lab

Virtual lab can be modified to suit the users region.
Identify various aspects of soils in different regions and compare to soils in the local area.
  • 3-5
  • 6-8
  • 9-12
 Activity, Lab Experiment ESS2.A: Earth materials and systems
Soil Charge Demonstration

Demonstration of ion movement in soils.
  • 9-12
 Activity PS1.A: Structure of matter (includes PS1.C Nuclear Processes)
Soil Chemistry

This reading provides a quick overview of soil chemistry and why it is important to soil processes.
  • 6-8
  • 9-12
 Reading PS1.A: Structure of matter (includes PS1.C Nuclear Processes)
Soil Colors Continental US

Downloadable GIF files of soil colors by state
  • 9-12
 Reading, Slides/Photos/Figures PS1.A: Structure of matter (includes PS1.C Nuclear Processes)
Soil Conservation Site Media Gallery

The media library is focused on conservation happening on the ground. It includes over 500 professional photos of farmers and landowners who are in the process of installing these practices.
  • 3-5
  • 6-8
  • 9-12
 Reading, Slides/Photos/Figures, Video ESS3.A: Natural resources
Soil Crayons

Discover the beauty of soil colors in natural landscapes, pottery, bricks, etc. and how the pigments in soil colors can add natural beauty to artwork by making soil crayons.
  • 3-5
  • 6-8
  • 9-12
  • PreK-2
 Activity PS1.A: Structure of matter (includes PS1.C Nuclear Processes)
Soil Fertility

Information on the importance and function of soil nutrients and their impact on crop production.
  • 6-8
  • 9-12
 Reading PS1.A: Structure of matter (includes PS1.C Nuclear Processes)
Soil Food Web

NRCS Soil Food Web and Soil Biology Primer. This information has been archived but is still valuable. It provides information on the soil food web and the importance of soil organisms for soil health.
  • 6-8
  • 9-12
 Reading LS2.A: Interdependent relationships in ecosystems
Soil Formation

Soils differ because where and how they are formed
  • 3-5
  • 6-8
  • 9-12
 Reading ESS3.A: Natural resources
Soil Formation and Classification

Information on the basis of soil classification, including the soil forming factors, levels of taxonomy from series to order, and word origins for order, suborder, and great group classifications.
  • 9-12
 Reading ESS2.A: Earth materials and systems
Soil Formation Processes

Multimedia website demonstrating that each soil forms as a unique expression of five soil-forming factors (climate, vegetation, topography, parent material, and time) that work through soil processes.
  • 9-12
 Reading ESS2.A: Earth materials and systems
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.

 Activity ESS2.A: Earth materials and systems
Soil Has a Charge!

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.
  • 3-5
  • 6-8
  • 9-12
 Activity ESS2.A: Earth materials and systems
Soil Health Scavenger Hunt

Career exploration in soil science and relation to medicine and health
  • 3-5
  • 6-8
 Activity ESS2.A: Earth materials and systems
Soil Hydrophobicity

Hydrophobic soils are water-repellent and form as a result of fires. In this activity, the degree of hydrophobicity will be determined by the amount of time it takes a drop of water to infiltrate the soil.
  • 6-8
  • 9-12
 Lab Experiment ESS3.B: Natural hazards

 

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