The lessons in this Soils Overview Unit provide students with a basic understanding of the fundamentals of soil science through the integration of disciplinary core ideas, science and engineering practices, and crosscutting concepts. The unit includes six sections, each containing learning objectives, background information, student information, selected resources, and ties to the NGSS standards
Learn the basics of soil - for teachers and students. This hour-long recorded webinar teachers what soil is, how it forms, and how it affects our lives every day through hands-on activities for the classroom. The webinar was presented by professional members of the Soil Science Society of America, and hosted by NESTA.
This SSSA poster provides an overview of soil - what it is (and isn't), why it's important, soil horizons, texture, soil triangle, formation, and processes. This unique poster is two-sided with side A being designed for the middle-school grades while side B is for the more advanced levels (typically high school).
This poster is rich with information on the 12 orders of soil taxonomy - including images of each. The reverse side provides information on what is the soil taxonomy, a cool map of the US with the soil orders, information on how soils are mapped, soil surveys, and why soils are different. This is designed for the high school, college, and technical level.
This SSSA video provides an overview of soils as the upper part of land surface and created from weathered rocks. It also points to the ecosystem services provide by soil.
Travel underground for an up-close look at the ants, amoebas, and bacteria that maintain healthy soil. Glimpse this microscopic world and learn about the symbiotic relationship between fungi and tree roots.
