Soil Basics Intro & Overview This first collection of links provides access to sites that offer broad and comprehensive background information about soil
-----------------------------------------Fundamental Concepts of Soil http://urbanext.illinois.edu/soil/index.html
Welcome to Claude the dirt clod's World! The Scoop on Soil site from NRCS &
Soil-related POWERPOINT from NRCS(PPT) Preview POWERPOINT slides (pdf)
Fundamental Concepts HANDOUT (pdf)
The Scoop on Soil Biology: Key Educational Messages
Click-through their "Soil Biology Primer," via Table of Contents for detailed narrative with photos and diagrams. Free online access, Table of Contents
or purchase primer in print for $16.
The Soil Food Web The Food Web & Soil Health Soil Bacteria Soil Fungi Soil Protozoa Soil Nematodes Soil Arthropods Earthworms Further Reading &Acknowledgments CITATION: Tugel, A.J., A.M. Lewandowski, eds. (February 2001 -- last update). Soil Biology Primer [online].
Available: www.statlab.iastate.edu/survey/SQI/soil_biology_primer.htm 05/24/2012.
Soil Science STUDENT GUIDE http://soils.missouri.edu/data/studentguide.pdf
This 125 page Student Guide to Soil Science (pdf) covers topics in simple to understand language and provides valuable field-related graphics. See also: Young Soil Scientist's Glossary.
NASA Soil Science Education
Web Site INDEX: Soil Science Education NASA
Why Study Soil? NASA Web Site
The Pedosphere as a Hub explained
The Five Soil Forming Factors
Dig It! Secrets of the Soil Exhibit & Educational Resources from the Smithsonian http://www.nacdnet.org/education/resources/soils
Secrets of the Soil Interactive media and educational materials from the original exhibit which appeared at the Smithsonian Natural History Museum in 2009, and is now out on tour to 10 US cities.
Begin with: curator-led movie.
See also: Dig It! exhibit map Another SAMPLE multimedia interactive:
(browse site for more)
Earth's Skin Types:The Twelve Basic Soil Orders
Related Educational resource sets available as DOWNLOADS
FREE The Dig It ! Educator's GUIDE. Or teachers, librarians, and presenters can order the same GUIDE in high interest minimal cost sets.
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Soil
Contents & Classifications
Soil formation, parent material, composition, and using profiles or surveys
-----------------------------------------Digging Deeper: "What is Soil?"
Note: While on individual topic pages, be sure to either scroll down or click on the sub-topic menu in the highlighted box in the upper right hand corner of that page.
Begin "What is Soil? TUTORIAL online
Soil Horizons explained (pg 2)
Soil Taxonomy: Classifying Soils & Soil Orders (pg 4)
Soil Textures pictures and triangle (pg 8)
TEACHING POSTERS: The 12 Orders of Soil Taxonomy (clickable
poster also opens individual pdf of each classification to descriptions and photo) Error! Hyperlink reference not valid.
Soil Orders with US MAP
Soil Survey Overview HANDOUT (pdf)
Soil Layers HORIZONS O, A, E, B, C (top to bottom)
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Soil
Science
Nature’s cycles & chemical processes. Interdependence of systems & cycles. Events that shape the Earth and shared energy
-----------------------------------------Cycles of Nature Related to Soil
Cycles Pictured and Explained (Missouri Soil Tutorial) The Hydrologic Cycle The Carbon Cycle The Nutrient Cycle
Nature's Cycles in simple terms from the Real Trees 4 Kids curriculum available online. Includes printable TEACHER'S GUIDE.
Click-through Energy TUTORIALS from the Flying Turtle Web Site http://www.ftexploring.com
The Flow of Energy Through Plants and Animals
Energy Changes Make Things Happen (ALL)
Conservation of Energy & laws of Thermodynamics Or, view the entire Flying Turtle SITE MAP
Cycles of Nature (Download the full PPT at IPNI.net)
Clearly drawn and labeled instructional graphics KEY: soil components in green, the inputs to the soil in blue, and the losses from soil in red.
Nitrogen Cycle
Phosphorous Cycle
Potassium Cycle
Sulfur Cycle
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Little Cities in the
Soil
Focus on basic biology of life microbes, insects and animals living underground, essential minerals, nutrients, and
-----------------------------------------The Microbe Zoo http://commtechlab.msu.edu/sites/dlc-me/zoo/zdmain.html
The Microbial Zoo, designed as an adventure park, takes a fun and quirky look at microbials. Be sure to visit Dirtland!.
Producers, Consumers & Decomposers
Backyard Biology: Composting
Worm Facts page & "Did you know all this about worms?" (PDF)
Composting Videos
Missouri Department of Natural Resources
Breaking It Down: Compost Connection VIDEO and TEACHER GUIDE (.pdf) grades 4-8
Life Underground ! Needs an INSERT ABOUT HERE
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Soil
Conservation & Stewardship
Wind & water erosion, pests, drought, pollution and other human impacts
-----------------------------------------Our Dynamic Planet & Processes that Shape the Earth
Intro to Erosion: Click-through with pictures
Weathering: Mechanical, Chemical & Biotic Weathering
Erosion by Water Click-through with pictures
Glencoe/ BrainPop Flash Movies: Weathering, Glaciers, Fossils
Human Impacts to Soil
Soil pollution background info
EPA Pesticides, Chemicals & Toxins Many Links
"Sprawl Hurts Us All," campaign from Sierra Club
Teaching Geomorphology in the 21st Century
http://serc.carleton.edu/sp/library/google_earth/examples.html
Teaching With Google EARTH-- List of Links DLESE Digital Library for Earth Systems Education NASA's Earth Observatory Real-time snapshots by satellite from around the world. Media SAMPLES of Visual & Audio Animations (Flash/Java)
Mineral Weathering
Life of a Glacier Simulation ARKive "the ultimate multimedia guide to the world's endangered species. Includes endangered species videos, photos, facts & education resources." TEACHING ACTIVITIES by age MODELS for studying soil, technology & tools, lab activities, inquiry, simulations, galleries, and moreworksheets & more
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Soil
as a Human Endeavor
-----------------------------------------Scientific Inquiry-- Simple Steps
Pictured Science Investigation Map
Elementary Globe
http://classic.globe.gov/fsl/html/templ.cgi?elemGLOBE&lang=en
Featured Activities:
Implementation Guide & Featured Overview of Modules Primary students grades K-4 hands-on study of Earth System Science (ESS)
GLOBE Storybook: "The Scoop on Soil"
Soil Module from Elementary GLOBE
GLOBE Storybook: "
Earth Module from Elementary GLOBE
Download All 6 Reading Books
What is Earth System Science? http://www.cotf.edu/ete/ESS/ESSmain.html
ESS explained by Center for Educational Technologies (CFET) Classrooms of the Future (CTF) at Wheeling Jesuit University. SAMPLE CFET/ CTF Online Learning Creations:
Earth Systems Card Sorting:
http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/k4/online/Eonline1.html
Google SEARCH IMAGES
soil images: pedone
Soil Horizons (java/Flash)
NRCS Soil Profiles Gallery
soil Texture Triangle (See also: TEACHER GUIDE)
Soil Models: Professional Soil Monoliths and "How to Make a Soil Monolith," for classrooms (includes photos)
Soil PH
Interactive PH scale activities Miami Science Museum
Understanding Soils & pH HANDOUT
Testing Soil PH: online LAB ASSIGNMENT & Worksheet
Biology in a Bottle
Making MODELS to study processes using a soda bottle:
Background on Decomposition
Kimchee Fermentation
Tools page & Instructions Step-by-Step
Simple Math Calculations for Soil & Water
Pictures, graphs, models and drawings demonstrate how to measure surface area of farm crops, flow rate of water, and many more soil and water related concepts.
Chapter 1: Basic Terms & Calculations
Chapter 2: Soil & Water
Studying on Ancient Soil
Paleontology Error! Hyperlink reference not valid.
Archeology for Kids with Dr. Dirt
National Park Service: Archeology for Kids Program Basics of Studying Life on Earth Across Time Explorations Through Time interactive modules explore history of life on Earth focused on science processes. Each module contains suggested lesson plans and an extensive teacher’s guide.
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Soil Just for Kids -----------------------------------------Environmental Education for Kids http://www.
Tons of ready-to-use TEACHER PAGES at the EEK tab:
Storytelling Nature's Recyclers CUTOUTS
Print the Nature's Recycler's coloring book to learn how "nature's own cleanup crew and recycling staff... take dead materials and turn them back into rich soil."
Read about vermiculture and composting with worms
Just for Kids: Soil Biological Communities http://www.blm.gov/nstc/soil/Kids/index.html
Introducing Soil Grades 1-4 Includes: fungi, bacteria, protozoa, nematodes, arthropods and more!
Adopt a Soil Critter
Food Web Explained with clickable pictures
Make your Own Earthworm Farm
Dig It Up-- Roman Town Interactive BBC Primary History GAME
Dig It Up: Romans with Dr. Amy Chan
Science4Kids Web Sites--
(http://www.biology4kids.com, www.geography4kids.com, http://www.chem4kids.com)
1. Biology4Kids 2. Chemistry4Kids PH Scale: Acid, Neutral, Base Environmental Chemistry
3. Geography4Kids + Earth Science Bio-Geo-Chemical Cycles TUTORIAL and QUIZ
I Dig Dirt!
ftp://ftp-fc.sc.egov.usda.gov/MT/www/about/IDigDirt4.pdf
Soil ACTIVITY BOOKLET about components of a healthy watershed: what is needed, how plants grow, and ways to manage soil erosion. Great visual vocabulary support. (Preview is recommended for age/grade/audience to fit your groups.)
Soil is Alive!
ftp://ftp-fc.sc.egov.usda.gov/MT/www/about/SoilAlive508.pdf
Soil ACTIVITY BOOKLET explores Soil Horizons, Soil Profiles, Parent Materials, Bugs in the Soil System and more. Biological contents of healthy soilformation.
Professional Resource Library
MUST HAVE THIS! Kid’s Books “Read to Lead” Booklist http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/parks/readtoleadbooks.html
Curriculum Resources Food, Land and People
Professional Research/Reference Books Food, Land and People