The goal of this module is to introduce students to sustainable agriculture practices with a focus on improving soil health. In this unit, students will begin by learning the fundamentals of soils and how to analyze soil health properties. Students will then explore different mainstream agriculture practices and draw relationships between human population, food production, and decline of soil health. Finally, they will review regenerative agricultural practices before creating a project to prototype and communicate a solution in their community or a nearby farm.

Module Overview: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1TRdiA3BKdim_3EB-mztz1m3v7yLdBvj1hA6PD9H1S1A/edit?usp=sharing 

For the lessons that include slide decks, please make sure you check the notes at the bottom of individual slides for instructional recommendations and suggestions. 

In this lesson, students will begin to think about where their food comes from. The first activity consists of sampling fruits & veggies with observations. They then look at some data around where food is produced in the US and learn about where plants get their nutrients. They end with a discussion around if they think all soil is the same and will set up their MudWatt for a future lesson.

Lesson Plan: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1L8vM2bx8IdMkKYWvVP6LOqqE75_Cbyy2WXa_dPsNngI/edit?usp=sharing 

Slide Deck: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1kJrP8nI2Zs7Rxsrych_ynlZ-Mnv7FIyg/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=109711127367760275777&rtpof=true&sd=true 

Students will investigate 4 soil types, conduct soil tests and use soil tests to determine soil health. They will then plant some seeds to test their hypothesis about which soil is “healthiest.” 

Lesson Plan: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Nt4ybcaNAIzEfJJGghVU4hSd-VyVSb9AQ9mvLFfkqqU/edit?usp=sharing 

Slide Deck: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1q6n5FVNxMkSHgtQkAepkS_n9vZbffsk4xYi_JIeNoaM/edit#slide=id.g2594e27670e_0_69 

Students will learn about biodiversity and how it applies to soil. Students will check to see if there is a difference in the activity of their soil samples using the MudWatt they set up in lesson 1. Students will observe soil and make scientific illustrations of the different organisms interacting with soils (bacteria, nematodes, etc.) They will use dissection scopes to observe closely, then finish with a quick video.

Lesson Plan: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1oLECyO1TOodcFZv0WxqMetw03z71YLlT4ptzLLURtjk/edit?usp=sharing 

Slide Deck: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1hyjeH32iAd7QYlJqBtk5OG2DBCkJAb72/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=109711127367760275777&rtpof=true&sd=true 

Students will learn about how soil helps climate change through the drawdown of carbon. Students will revisit the soil health experiments they set up in lessons 1 and 2. 

• Optional Soil health web quest

Lesson Plan: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xEYDpI60GRZ86RRatqPFBQvDQjZmIyJRqhpLk6lj3l4/edit?usp=sharing 

Slide Deck: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1QAH0FkjzsQ6zbQvkxLW2cJgKXUIVwbHs2rPFox6UEjk/edit?usp=sharing 

Students review the types of biodiversity they learned about in lesson 3 before learning how traditional agricultural practices impact these types of biodiversity. 

Lesson Plan: https://docs.google.com/document/d/11mz3UzVirS1-j5FGebfvgy0l2_ByMwfft0LGZF7w-Uc/edit?usp=sharing 

Slide Deck: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1jQq4P9OWPJkhXivppGmM7jzWUSgqqdLSQh2Tc3PrVBA/edit?usp=sharing 

Students learn about the impact of conventional vs regenerative ranching practices on soil health. 

Lesson Plan:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1DabVnSAXDKvaF6MLY7nMBPITUoJtKQW5fLvFLWYpVG8/edit?usp=sharing 

Slide Deck: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1fVXHItcf-bbGtBqbIbkRu9n2QFpVQ61K6hUMaXh0e0E/edit?usp=sharing 

Students will use miniature secchi disks to determine how much sediment is in 4 samples. Then, students will make the connection between water infiltration and runoff. Students will brainstorm how to prevent soil from ending up in water sources.

Lesson Plan: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Je3MyYZBQnODHTipj33k9O_M1aheq-JiFrLwlcb4lDk/edit?usp=sharing 

Slide Deck: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1835up7PF0yb_uNwVtiVps2EN48MNPN3kyoPExWKkEkc/edit?usp=sharing 

Students will be introduced to the relationship between human population and food availability. Students will engage with text sets and data graphics to draw connections between limited food production and a growing global population.

Lesson Plan: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1nxCeFSIC7fGUXD6Z8m56-BDRn1q44quCkyExIab971g/edit?usp=sharing 

Slide Deck: None

Matching Activity + Graph Analysis: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_0Tb4fbvMWfRnmpnpiU2-9gdS9bJ6w9GKwQjumP-0ok/edit 

Students will participate in a simulation where they are cities collecting food in a society. As the years go by, the population will increase, and it will become increasingly difficult to succeed. The connection to be made is that as the population grows, it will be impossible to grow enough food with our current agricultural techniques.

Lesson Plan: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1CvZx5ruucN6jWfywtIBxur-AJPURka4k/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=109711127367760275777&rtpof=true&sd=true 

Slide Deck: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/12FJBhLqGx08CTCjlMsZdhKIYlmR5SIU7/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=109711127367760275777&rtpof=true&sd=true 

Students will review definitions of the agricultural practices they have studied, either directly or indirectly throughout the unit thus far. After reviewing definitions, they will then explore the farms and ranches around the bay area to see what regenerative agricultural practices are being done in some of the local farms. Students will take notes on these farms, as this data will help them out later on.

Lesson Plan:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1KPymLS5wf8sJ2ZEERfaDjAo_Bn6jcQhfIEmieoORgpc/edit#heading=h.kczfsxa7whps

Slide Deck: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1asNNern9bC4RjYMzqyTT5azzqBd6oILEapuXZf9wQCU/edit#slide=id.p  

Pictures and Definitions: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1VzGOiCkwNZifzvi5zF7jacieS_Qa-2fN/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=107055176330110601533&rtpof=true&sd=true  

Explore the Farms: https://www.thesanfranciscopeninsula.com/fresh-as-it-gets/local-farms/

In this lesson, students are designing a solution to the problem of the unit (the reduction of soil fertility due to human use). Students will review some of the major problems that were investigated during the unt. Then, students will review some of the solutions being implemented in the agricultural industry. Finally, students will use the design process to create a solution that can be implemented in their local environment.

Lesson Plan: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1TxYPUzjNgFEqLkB0VO7YjsI0PPnwlK342PkFW_SqAMo/edit?usp=sharing 

Slide Deck: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1ye95YqKiYyM_W4JDiUE3eZdE3vZFRnach6bXenQyzCE/edit?usp=sharing 

In this lesson, students are rating their solutions to the problem of the unit (the reduction of soil fertility due to human use). Students will create criteria and constraints to rate their 3 ideas they came up with, and help them choose which project they will be working on.

Lesson Plan: https://docs.google.com/document/d/10fwxjKBUniZK6Mys_u3m3PWSBFaTK_0bWkvXqn2Gd38/edit#heading=h.kczfsxa7whps

Slide Deck Day 1: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/17OSdt4pbqyWr_p-PWk4kG4dS1ZV4NdFLP6EO4J1xYyU/edit#slide=id.p

 Slide Deck Day 2: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/16Yl23yqb6ZFTaSIP30w2BfrP1HH7D59UTuPHKnsyvWA/edit?usp=sharing 

Project Checklist: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1XQDpOUuA3wiVcWW7e7TDpn3MNRmuc45tQF5v84j-VF0/edit?usp=sharing (not available)

Criteria and Constraints: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1RALmTauYEAkhakVSdaltBfzY9kWEc7Y-5M2Cz_viB5w/edit?usp=sharing 

In this lesson, students will end the solutions portion of the unit through their project presentations. Students will share their findings and final products to the class. After their presentations, students will talk with their project groups, reflect on how they think you did on their Soil Solutions Project. This lesson will lead into the final lesson of the unit where students will finish their project reflection and create an action plan on how to improve local soils. 

Lesson Plan: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1sc16BqKPEsUNvWf4KcgruAoPsBAygmA1HWWauay66AQ/edit?usp=sharing 

In the last lesson in the unit, students will reflect on all they have learned in this unit. Students will create an action plan on how you can advance regenerative agriculture in their community and improve soil health. Students will add specific action items they can achieve in their home/community to improve local soils. 

Lesson Plan: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1uwKyd8EpOEeThNAGg6Ouso3pXVHinIiu04n1LUx38B0/edit?usp=sharing 

Slide Deck: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1NbJtCSrzLYCnxlo8EH2dmbESailRbB_lj5neaj9mRd8/edit?usp=sharing 

Soil Solutions Project: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1cpp8RhkLZRb_4TDJFXWkLLAlUMN5R7CYdDYT08Iswwc/edit?usp=sharing