SESI Workshop: Soil and Erosion

Soil and Erosion

This workshop is designed to help students understand methods of land use and management and recognize its effects on land fertility, including soil erosion and land loss.

*Teacher Lesson Plan can be found at the bottom of this page*

**Links work best when signed into a Google Account. Student worksheets are forced copied so students can work directly on the respective Google Documents**

Test Your Knowledge!

Take the Pre-Quiz by clicking on the link:

*Students from Cathedral, Del Valle or Horizon HS use the

correct link for your school*

Importance of desert soil

This video from the National Park Service Sonoran Desert Network will showcase the importance of desert soils, what it's made of, and how to protect it.

1) Soil Erosion Introduction.mp4

Soil: erosion and conservation

Follow along with this presentation that gives an introduction to soil, discusses soil erosion in desert landscapes, and provides examples of soil erosion mitigation efforts.

Show what you've learned!

This student activity will challenge you to utilize what you have learned about soil, soil erosion and ways to prevent/address soil loss.

Elaborate on your knowledge!

Teachers are encouraged to lead a discussion on the differences between soil and dirt. Students should consider things like nutrients, ability to grow food, and substrate retention. The video will help students understand how plants can help stabilize the soil. Students are encouraged to think about desert plants specifically, and how they help the desert soil.

Conclusion/Review

After completing this workshop, students should understand the role of soil in an ecosystem and for humans. They should have learned the difference between healthy soil and dirt and why soil is so important. Students will be able to explain the process of erosion in an arid landscape like the Chihuahuan Desert, and the ways in which soil can be conserved.

Retest Your Knowledge!

Take the Post-Quiz by clicking on the link:

*Students from Cathedral, Del Valle or Horizon HS use the

correct link for your school*

Teacher Corner

Workshop Lesson Plan, TEKS and Instructions can be found here:

For guest speaker opportunities contact Jennifer Ramos-Chavez,

Insights Environmental Education Coordinator: jennifer@insightselpaso.org

This workshop was produced thanks to funding provided by EPA grant #NE-01F54901-0.

Thanks to the Frontera Land Alliance and West Texas Urban Forestry Council for their contribution to the development of this workshop.