Agriculture: Soil
These sites have information about various types of soil. Learn about the components of soil such as sand, clay, silt, and humus, and read how soil is formed and why it is useful to us. There are hands-on activities and science experiments. Includes links to eThemes Resources on erosion, recycling, earthworms, and rocks and minerals.
Grades
- 3,
- 4,
- 5,
- 6
Links
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EPA: What on Earth is Soil?
This page has a bulleted list of facts about soil.
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The Great Plant Escape: Case #2: Soiled Again
Be a detective and solve the soil case while learning more about soil. This is a good site for younger students.
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Microbe Zoo Dirtland
Explore this fun site to learn more about the biodiversity of dirt and the organisms that live in dirt. Be sure to check out the subsections of Dirtland.
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Underground Adventure
Click on "Virtual Tour" to find out what lives in the soil. The text is also available in Spanish.
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S.K. Worm Answers Soil Questions
This site for children has answers to common questions about soil. There is a printable certificate on the last page that awards students for learning about soil and becoming honorary worms.
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Soil Ingredients
This is a lesson plan from Utah teachers that has students examine soil and find out what type of material is in it.
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The Dirt on Soil
Learn the difference between dirt and soil. Also read descriptions of topsoil, subsoil, parent material, and bedrock. Click on "Soil Safari" to play an interactive game based on soil.
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Kid's Field Day
Click on "Soil Pit" to read information written for kids about soil. There are other soil topic links on the left side of the page. Includes images.
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Enchanted Learning: Soil
This page has a diagram showing the different layers of soil. Click on the diagram to go to a blank print out that can be labeled.
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EPA: Sammy Soil
Advance through these pages for a story about Sammy Soil. The pages can be printed and colored.
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A Recipe for Soil
This lesson plan from Utah teachers has students create their own soil and then do an experiment in which they try to grow plants in the soil.
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How's My Dirt
This gardening site explains the importance of having rich soil to grow plants. Click "Next" to advance through the site. The text is also available in Spanish.
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Exploratorium Science of Gardening: The Dirt on Dirt
Do this experiment to learn what type of soil you have.
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The Scoop on Soil
Explore this site to find lesson plans, PDF and PowerPoint resources, and lots of factual information about soil.
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Twelve Soil Orders
Here is a list of the twelve main types of soil. Click on the name of a soil order to see a map of where in the world that kind of soil is found and pictures of the landscape it forms.
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Soil Net
This interactive site from the United Kingdom has interactive animations and articles about soil for different grade levels.
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eThemes Resource: Animals: Earthworms
These sites are about the anatomy of earthworms, what they eat and why they are beneficial. Includes activities and advice on keeping worms in the classroom. Also covers composting with worms.
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eThemes Resource: Weathering and Erosion
These sites focus on the process and effects of weathering and erosion. See examples of landslides, valleys, and other results of erosion and weathering. Includes links to eThemes Resources on rocks and minerals and Missouri's landforms.
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eThemes Resource: Science: Rocks and Minerals
These sites describe various rocks and minerals. Learn about igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks and some of the more common minerals. Includes hands-on activities, games, photographs, and two animated movies. There are links to eThemes Resources on fossils and erosion.
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eThemes Resource: Properties of Rocks and Soil
These sites have information about rocks and soil. Learn about their different properties, how rocks are made, and how soil is formed. There are interactive pages, quizzes, and many ideas for in-class activities. Included are three related eThemes resources on soil, rocks, and erosion.
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eThemes Resource: Recycling
These sites have information on solid waste, composting, and recycling. Read about how paper and plastic are recycled. Includes online games and classroom project ideas. There are links to eThemes Resources on Earth Day and pollution.
Education Standards
- ME
- MO
- UT
- DE
- AL
- AR
- OK
- IL
- NV
