Title Description Grade Level Lesson Type Core Idea
Scoop! Teachers Guide

Teachers Guide for Soil! Get the Inside Scoop book. Site includes readings, slides, activities related to soil properties, and biomes.
  • 3-5
  • 6-8
  • 9-12
 Activity, Slides/Photos/Figures, Teacher's Guide ESS2.A: Earth materials and systems
Sediments and the Global Carbon Cycle

This is a series of exercises to introduce the role of sediments and sedimentary rocks in the global carbon cycle and the use of stable carbon isotopes to reconstruct ancient sedimentary environments.
  • 9-12
 Activity ESS2.A: Earth materials and systems
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.
  • 3-5
  • 6-8
  • PreK-2
 Activity, Lab Experiment ESS2.A: Earth materials and systems
Simulating Fire Impacts on Soil

Wildfires have a variety of impacts on soils, altering physical, chemical, and biological properties. In this activity, the impact of fire is simulated by heating soil in an oven, and the fungal community in the soil is observed based on growth of visible structures in the presence of a microbial food source.
  • 3-5
  • 6-8
  • 9-12
 Lab Experiment LS2.C: Ecosystem dynamics
Soil "Glue"

In healthy soils, sand, silt and clay particles are held together by "soil glues", or glomalin. This activity demonstrates how these soil glues help aggregates hold together, especially when very wet.
  • 6-8
  • 9-12
 Activity, Lab Experiment LS2.C: Ecosystem dynamics
Soil & The Environment

This reading identifies key roles soils provide our natural world and humans in the form of ecosystem services.
  • 6-8
  • 9-12
 Reading ESS2.A: Earth materials and systems
Soil and the Environment

This reading provides an overview of the numerous ecosystem services soils provide.
  • 3-5
  • 6-8
  • 9-12
 Reading ESS3.A: Natural resources
Soil Basics

Introductory content that sets the stage for deeper content found elsewhere on the Soils 4 Teachers website.
  • 6-8
  • 9-12
 Reading ESS2.A: Earth materials and systems
Soil Biology

The online Soil Biology Primer is an introduction to the living component of soil and how it contributes to agricultural productivity and air and water quality.
  • 9-12
 Reading ESS2.E: Biogeology
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
  • 3-5
  • 6-8
  • 9-12
 Activity, Slides/Photos/Figures, Teacher's Guide ESS2.A: Earth materials and systems
Soil Biology Movies

18 movies on the diversity of organisms found in the soil.
  • 3-5
  • 6-8
  • 9-12
 Video LS2.A: Interdependent relationships in ecosystems
Soil Career Brochure

Information about being a soil scientist
  • 3-5
  • 6-8
  • 9-12
 Reading ESS3.A: Natural resources
Soil Career Poster

Information about being a soil scientist
  • 3-5
  • 6-8
  • 9-12
 Reading, Slides/Photos/Figures ESS3.A: Natural resources
Soil Career Profile

Introduction to a variety of soil scientists
  • 3-5
  • 6-8
  • 9-12
 Reading ESS3.A: Natural resources
Soil Catcher

This fun game brings soil facts to a "soil catcher."
  • PreK-2
 Activity ESS2.A: Earth materials and systems

 

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