Lessons and Activities

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.

Describe a watershed and delineate a watershed on a map; Identify the key factors in a watershed that impact runoff and sediment yield, describe how increased storm-water runoff affects landscapes (e.g., erosion, channel incision, sedimentation) and describe how those factors are impacted by human development;

This activity provides an introduction to the concepts of antibiosis, hormesis, and microbial ecology; and the types of microbe-microbe interactions, the history of the discovery of antibiotics, and the need for new antibiotics.

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.

A time-lapse video that shows bioturbation by 3 earthworms species.

Using green infrastructure, like rain gardens to capture rain in soil instead of letting it overburden sewer systems.

Very brief discussion of volcanic soils or soils of the Andisol order.

A guide to monitoring wetlands. For advanced students and teachers looking for a long term project.

Kinetic activities, crackers, vinegar and baing soda will help students learn about weathering.

This collection provides a comprehensive assortment of hundreds of classic cases of crop nutrient deficiency documented from research plots and farm fields located around the world.

Web Soil Survey (WSS) provides soil data and information produced by the National Cooperative Soil Survey.

Soil is so much more than what food is grown in, we walk on, or move out of the way to build houses or buildings on. It's complex, life-giving, and is critical for a balanced ecosystem. Our three presenters will provide a background on each (what it is, why it's important, and ideas for classroom activities). We'll wrap-up with additional resources and learn a bit about careers in these three areas. This webinar is presented by members of the Soil Science Society of America.

Soil-Net.com (developed by Cranfield University's National Soil Resources Institute) is a free and compelling environmental Internet resource providing teachers and students extensive curriculum-based information about soil. Includes a photo library. Flash is not necessary to access website content

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!

Wetland soils, following ClORPT, are not limited to geography, found everywhere, but the major defining feature being persistence of moisture in upper profile.