For Teachers
Educating children about the importance of soil is easy and very fun (for them and you).
Soil is fascinating! There are incredible creatures that live in soil (some are cuddly and some you don’t want to meet in a dark pore at night), sticky oozes and glue, plant roots stronger than the Hulk, and fun and fantastic fungi. It is also really fun to play with soil. Different soils feel different, are very colorful, and have all kinds of smells.
What is soil?
The earth is covered by a thin layer of soil, composed of minerals, organic matter, water, air, and living organisms. Within this layer is a record of the area’s geological and climatic history, as well as information about the suitability of future use of the soil. Soils affect many areas of our lives; we depend on the soil to grow our food and support the buildings we live and work in. Soils form an essential element in the ecosystem. Human activities that damage soils threaten to disrupt the delicate balance that sustains life. It is important to have a basic understanding of the formation and properties of soils to determine their future uses and to manage soils wisely—Agronomy Facts 35.
Here you will find soil educational materials and activities for pre-school - 12th grade teachers. Some we have designed and in some cases we will point you to great resources on the Internet.
- Do you Dig Dirt?
- Soil Science Society of America: Soils Sustain Life Educational WWW site
- Pennsylvania Envirothon “Envirothon combines in-class high school level curriculum and outdoor training helping students to learn more about Aquatic Ecology, Forestry, Soil & Land Use, Wildlife, and Current Environmental Issues.”
- NRCS Soil Education WWW site
- NASA Soil Education WWW site
Soils, Landscapes and Effluent Disposal
Basic soil information is vital for many homeowners and landowners in Pennsylvania. In 1989, Dr. Ed Ciolkosz and Dr. Dan Fritton worked to create the following video helping landowners and sewage enforcement owners understand some of the basics of soils, landscapes and how they are important in disposing of effluent from septic systems. The video is targeted to the Ridge and Valley province of Pennsylvania, but provides very useful base knowledge of soils and landscapes
