Soil Horizons
Overview
Grade: 6th
Topic: EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE (ESS) Rocks, Minerals and Soil
Standard: 6.ESS.4: Soil is unconsolidated material that contains nutrient matter and weathered rock.
6.ESS.5: Rocks, minerals and soils have common and practical uses.
Students will investigate the different soil horizons while comparing the different characteristics of those horizons. They will realize our need for soil conservation.
Format
Watch Soil Horizons presentation (14:01))
Create a Soil Profile Activity
Extensions
Materials
A piece of blank paper, construction paper, or card stock
Black pen or marker
Colored pencils or fine tip markers (need green, dark brown, light brown, tan and grey)
Lesson
Watch Soil Horizons Presentation (14:01)
(Prezi Video presentation can be shared directly into Google Classroom)
*Option for teachers- Instead of viewing the recorded presentation, you can choose to present this power point to your students yourself during class. Here is the PPTX with presenter notes to download for use.
Activity
Students focus on the layers found in soil and draw their own soil profile explaining the different soil horizons.
Schedule a follow up virtual Q&A with your county educator to answer further student questions! County SWCD educators may have soil samples that can be loaned as well for hands on use in the classroom
Extensions
Lessons
Create Your Own Soil Profile Activity - Lesson from My NASA Data
Reading These readings about soil are free with registration on ReadWorks, a nonprofit that provides Common-Core-aligned readings. All readings include comprehension questions.
Biochar -Read about a soil enhancement research project
Developing Possible Solutions - Paired Text with Biochar reading
Video
Questions
Questions? Please contact your county SWCD educator