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Carver’s Soil Lab transforms every fourth‑ and fifth‑grade student into an authentic soil scientist, immersing them in hands‑on field investigations across our 50‑acre campus. Through thirty meticulously sequenced units, learners employ professional‐grade tools and protocols to characterize soil texture, structure, chemistry, and biology—measuring pH in the bioswale, quantifying infiltration in the constructed wetland, and surveying macroinvertebrate diversity in the forest floor. Rooted in place‑based inquiry, the Soil Lab weaves together NGSS 3‑D science practices with citizen science contributions to iNaturalist and GLOBE, empowering students to ask their own questions, collect and analyze data, and craft evidence‑based arguments. Each investigation culminates in interactive StoryMaps and stewardship proposals where students design erosion control measures, native plant trials, or soil restoration plans to apply their findings toward real improvements on campus. In doing so, Carver’s Soil Lab not only deepens scientific understanding and technical skills but also nurtures lifelong environmental stewardship.
Rooted in GLOBE protocols and aligned to NGSS and Georgia Standards of Excellence, students engage in authentic fieldwork in the Soil Lab.
Carver’s Soil Lab Student Outcomes
Identify and classify the major soil types on campus (Pooler and Ogeechee series) by texture, structure, color, and horizon development
Describe the processes of soil formation and the factors (parent material, climate, organisms, topography, time) that shape soil composition and properties
Conduct and interpret data from GLOBE soil protocols—including Soil Characterization, pH, Bulk Density, Infiltration, Moisture (gravimetric and SMAP), Temperature, and Particle Size Distribution—using proper field tools and journals
Use accurate soil‐science terminology (e.g., porosity, permeability, bulk density, horizons, nutrient cycling, cation exchange capacity) when describing observations and analyses
Investigate soil as a living habitat by surveying macroinvertebrates and microorganisms with techniques such as Berlese funnels, Baermann funnels, and Berlese-Tullgren assays, and map organism distributions using iNaturalist and ArcGIS
Analyze the effects of physical and chemical changes—such as erosion, compaction, pH shifts, and nutrient amendments—on soil health and ecosystem services
Design and implement evidence‑based stewardship projects (e.g., erosion control demonstrations, native planting trials, soil restoration proposals) to protect and restore campus soils
Retrieve, evaluate, and integrate information from scientific literature, historical and cultural sources (e.g., Indigenous pottery traditions, Civil War brickmaking), and digital platforms (GLOBE, Soil Life, USDA) to inform land‑use and soil‐management decisions
Communicate soil‐science findings and recommendations through claim‑evidence‑reasoning (CER) arguments, data visualizations, interactive StoryMaps, and oral presentations to foster community engagement
Explain how soil properties and management impact plant growth, water quality, carbon storage, and everyday decisions such as garden design or site development on campus
Student activities are written and supported by the Soil Science Society of America, American Museum of Natural History, The Soil and Water Conservation Society, The Nature Conservancy, NatGeo, the Xerces Society, Soil Life, Kiss The Ground, Soil Health Institute, and the USDA. Our field investigation protocols are written and supported by the NASA GLOBE program.
The Carver Soil Lab Focuses on 5 Overarching Themes
Dig into soil and find out what it’s made of!
Understanding the composition, formation, and physical properties of soil.
Discover how people use soil in farming, building, and culture.
Investigating how humans use soil for food, shelter, culture, and art.
Search for life in the soil—and discover its secret biodiversity!
Exploring biodiversity, food webs, and decomposers in soil ecosystems.
Follow soil as it erodes, compacts, or disappears in water!
Observing soil movement, loss, and changes across space and time.
Take action to protect and restore the soil at Carver.
Taking stewardship action to protect and restore soil.
The Carver Soil Lab is a yearlong, flexible, student-driven program that empowers 4th and 5th grade students to explore the science, ecology, and cultural importance of soil. Rooted in GLOBE protocols and aligned to NGSS and Georgia Standards of Excellence, students engage in authentic fieldwork in the Soil Lab.
Key Features of the Carver Soil Lab:
5 Arching Themes: Students investigate soil through hands-on, standards-based themes: What is Soil, What Lives in Soil, Who Uses Soil, Where is Our Soil Going?, and How Can We Care For Soil?
Student-Led Inquiry: No set pacing. Students choose investigations based on curiosity, relevance, and readiness.
Field Journaling & Data Collection: Students use real tools—pH kits, moisture meters, iNaturalist, soil sieves—to gather and analyze field data.
GLOBE Soil Protocols: Including Soil Characterization, pH, Bulk Density, Infiltration, Moisture, and Temperature.
Cultural & Historical Connections: Clay pottery traditions, Civil War brick making, and Dust Bowl erosion are embedded into soil narratives.
Capstone Projects: Students publish findings, create StoryMaps, and lead community presentations at Science Night.
Our activities are written by the Soil Science Society of America, The Soil and Water Conservation Society, and the USDA
Our field investigation protocols are from the NASA GLOBE program
SOIL SERIES
One of the most fascinating and exciting features of our schoolyard and "The Yard" (the location of our Soil Lab) is that it is split down the middle with two soil types: The Ogeechee Series and the Pooler Series.
CLAY
CLAY
The clay horizon has no sand or loam.
LOAM
LOAM
We have loamy sand and sandy loam.
IRON
IRON
Our soil is rich in iron.
The Soil Lab is next to the future rain garden.
The future rain garden is located in "The Yard" and is a circular feature around a stormwater drain.
The soil is compacted from foot traffic. The top layer is very sandy. The area gets full sun to partial shade from a nearby tree.
The Yard is a located at the lunchroom picnic tables, is used by our Outdoor Education class as an Outdoor Classroom and houses our recreation playing field and Soil Lab.
POOR DRAINING SOIL
We have poor draining soil because of its clay content.
Students conduct permeable soil tests.
Students conduct four soil permeability tests.
After discussing how a test is conducted, two student leaders direct two teams in digging the soil permeability sites. Students take turns overseeing the site to make sure that "we aren't just digging a hole but it is following the site specifications."
Students are focused on precision so they can collect accurate data.
Students use rulers to measure the test sites.
Students learn how to hold soil in their hand and "make a ribbon, make a ball." They have learned how to identify sand and clay by feeling it in their hands.
Camp Wildcat conducts a soil jar test with the Richmond Hill Garden Club to determine the percentage of clay, sand, and silt of our soil.
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