Soils Support Plant Growth
Supporting
TEKS Objective
Examine properties of soils, including color and texture, capacity to retain water, and ability to support the growth of plants.
Essential Understanding
The students know that Earth consists of useful resources and its surface is constantly changing.
Science Background
Dig It! The Secrets of Soil: Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (website) - Interactives, videos, and activities created for a special Smithsonian exhibit cover a variety of soil-related topics.
Dig It! The Secrets of Soil
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, www.si.edu
Kids World, Plant Nutrition: North Carolina Dept. of Agriculture (website) – Of the sixteen elements plants need for growth, 13 come from soil. Find out more on this interactive website.
Kids World, Plant Nutrition
North Carolina Dept. of Agriculture, www.ncagr.gov
Signature Lesson
What Is Soil Made Of? BioEd Online (website) - Students examine a sample of natural soil, identifying and separating its different components, including plant materials.
- Supporting Lessons
- Extensions
- Assessment Ideas
- Literature Connections
- Related
TEKS - Additional Resources
Supporting Lessons
Peeking at Life in the Soil: National Association of Conservation Districts (PDF) - Create a diorama illustrating life in and on soils.
Peeking at Life in the Soil
National Association of Conservation Districts, www.nacdnet.org
Introduction to Soil Lesson Plan: Suite (website) - A simple investigation for elementary school children into the properties of different types of soil.
Introduction to Soil Lesson Plan
by Elizabeth Pace, Suite, www.suite.io
Elaboration Lessons and Extensions
S-O-I-L Soil: Utah Education Network (website) - Students listen or act out a story about improving the quality of Old MacDonald’s crops, and examine the properties of fertile and infertile soil samples.
S-O-I-L Soil
Utah Education Network, www.uen.org
Soiled Again: University of Illinois (website) – Interactive ibformation for young students about soil components, types, nutrients, uses, etc.
Soiled Again
Urban Programs Resource Network, University of Illinois, urbanext.illinois.edu
Assessment Ideas
Plant seeds in different types of soils where all variables except soil type are constant. Have students observe and collect data from the plants in each sample, and then describe evidence for the best type of soil for healthy plant growth.
Literature Connections
Dirt: The Scoop on Soil. Rosinsky, Natalie M. (ISBN-13: 978-1404803312)
A Handful of Dirt. Bial, Raymond (ISBN: 0-802-78698-7)
Soil, Richardson, Adele (ISBN: 0-736-80954-6)
Soil. Flanagan, Alice (ISBN: 0-756-50035-4)
Soil Science. Delta Education (ISBN: 1-592-42376-0)
How a Seed Grows. Jordan, Helen (ISBN: 0-064-45107-0)
Additional Resources
The Great Plant Escape: University of Illinois (website) - Help detective Leplant and his partners, Bud and Sprout, unlock the amazing mysteries of plant life.
Essential Science for Teachers: Annenberg Learner (website) - Register for the free online professional development course, “Earth and Space Science.” Complete session one, which covers the basics of soil.
Essential Science for Teachers
Annenberg Learner, www.learner.org
Dirt the Movie: Common Grounds Media (website) - Movie trailer provides a succinct overview of the importance of dirt. The site also offers additional “dirt” clips and links to other resources.
TEKS Navigation
Grade 4
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