ESS3.B: Natural hazards

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.

This activity demonstrates the principles of liquefaction and what happens when soil begins to act more like a liquid than a solid.

his activity uses a qualitative nitrate test to observe results of some conversions and transformations in the nitrogen cycle.

How does the type of soil affect how much a house will sink or shift during an earthquake? Conduct this experiment to test it out.

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

The article briefly reviews the history of forensic soil science and the reasons why soil materials are considered ideal pieces of contact trace evidence. It also provides an excellent example of forensic soil science in solving a murder case.

Students design and build their own model levees.