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USDA Soil Education Resources Collection

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27 items

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service provides educational materials on soil science and includes lesson plans, videos and access to the world's largest database on soils.

Postsecondary Elementary High School Middle School

Resources in “USDA Soil Education Resources” Collection

Title Resource Type
adopt_a_soil.pdf

Students observe, via Web Soil Survey or SoilWeb, the soil mapped nearest them or some other favorite location. Then, they can go to the Official Series Description to read more about their adopted soil.

PDF File
Chemical_Movement_and_Retention_in_Soils.pdf

This educational activity uses a simple classroom demonstration designed to introduce the basics of chemical movement and retention in soils.

PDF File
Making_a_Soil_Profile_Card.pdf

This educational activity is designed to introduce the concept of soil profiles and horizons.

PDF File
Making_Soils_Fun_Experiments.doc

Variety of simple classroom experiments that help demonstrate soil concepts.

DOC File
National Soil Survey Center Videos and Webinars

Educational videos and webinars on soil science and soil survey.

Web Page
Soil_Aggregate_Stability_Classroom_Activity.pdf

This educational activity used a simple classroom demonstration designed to introduce the aggregate stability concept. Effects of organic matter, pore space, and biological activity are dramatically demonstrated. This can lead to a discussion of soil structure, nutrient and water availability, infiltration, and erosion susceptibility.

PDF File
Soil_Color_and_Structure.ppt

Classroom lesson on soil properties of color, structure and consistence.

PPT File
Soil_Drainage_Classes.ppt

Classroom lesson on understanding soil drainage classes.

PPT File
Soil_Education_Activity_Soil_Charge.pdf

This educational activity uses a simple demonstration designed to introduce the concept of soil charge.

PDF File
Soil_Education_Activity_Soil_Permeability.pdf

This educational activity uses a simple classroom demonstration designed to introduce the concept of soil permeability. Soil texture, the relative proportion of sand, silt, and clay particles in a soil, is a key factor affecting soil permeability.

PDF File
Soil_Education_Activity_Soil_Slake_Test.pdf

This educational activity uses a simple classroom demonstration designed to introduce the concept of identification of cemented soil materials.

PDF File
Soil_Education_Bean_Plant_Necklace_Activity.pptx

Activity where students make their own bean plant necklace.

PPTX File
Soil_Education_earthworm_activity.pdf

This educational activity uses a simple demonstration designed to enhance awareness of beneficial soil organisms and their role in the soil ecosystem and the environment.

PDF File
Soil_Education_From_the_Surface_Down.pdf

Publication providing an introduction to soil surveys for agronomic use.

PDF File
Soil_Education_Lesson_on_Soil_Horizons.ppt

Classroom lesson on the horizons or different layers of soils.

PPT File
Soil_Education_Lesson_Redoximorphic_Features.ppt

Classroom lesson on soil redoximorphic features.

PPT File
Soil_Education_State_Envirothon_Intro_to_Soils.pptx

Classroom lesson providing an introduction to soil science.

PPTX File
Soil_Education_Understanding_Soils.pdf

Ten key messages for understanding soils.

PDF File
Soil_Erosion_and_Sedimentation.pdf

This educational activity uses a simple demonstration designed to illustrate soil erosion and sedimentation and also presents concepts of using soil cover and minimum tillage to decrease.

PDF File
Soil_Fauna_Extraction_Activity.pdf

This simple method is designed to extract live soil micro- and meso-fauna from an undisturbed soil sample using heat.

PDF File
Soil_Permeability_Experiment.pdf

This educational activity uses a simple classroom demonstration designed to introduce the concept of soil permeability. Soil texture, the relative proportion of sand, silt, and clay particles in a soil, is a key factor affecting soil permeability.

PDF File
Soil_Risks_and_Hazards.pdf

This publication is an introduction to soil conditions that can be risks or hazards for many land uses.

PDF File
Soil_Science_Links_for_Teachers.pdf

List of USDA's online resources for teachers and students learning about soil science.

PDF File
Soil_Texture_and_Rock_Fragments.ppt

Classroom lesson on soil texture and rock fragments.

PPT File
Soil_Texture_Lesson_Plan.pptx

Classroom lesson on the importance of soil texture.

PPTX File
Understanding_Soil_Health_and_Watershed_Function_A_Teachers_Manual.pdf

This manual focuses on soil biology’s role in the water cycle: specifically, how soil organisms take sand, silt, and clay particles and use them to form a living sponge that soaks up, stores, filters, and slowly releases the water that is necessary for life on land.

PDF File
Wetlands__Hydric_soils.ppt

Classroom lesson on wetlands and hydric soils.

PPT File