Does anyone out there teach a Soil Science or Soil Chemistry class? I am teaching a Soil Chemistry class next year and I would appreciate any help.
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Brian,
The class is actually a Soil Chemistry class, but I would like to include things you mentioned. I need stuff on: soil maps, soil testing, water quality testing, erosion and runoff, tillage practices and their effects on soil, ground water contamination, irrigation practices, plant and soil interaction, livestock and water quality, nutrient deficiencies, soil sustainability, and soil structure.
Any help with any of these topics would be great.
I always teach through the Land Judging CDE. It covers many of the soils basics. Find someone with a backhoe to dig a pit so students can see the horizons, effective depth, drainage, soil structure and texture.
I teach a soils unit at the Middle School level. Some activities may be too basic for your class.
We do:
1. Soil Chain
2. Soil texture by feel
3. Soil Moisture by feel
4. Soil Sedimentation (in a jar, to get soil texture) Use soil textural triangle
5. Make soil artificially by soaking rocks in vinegar (mimics carbonic acid in the soil, made when CO2 given off by plant roots and H2O chemically react in the soil)
6. Make soil artificially by heating rocks on the stove and then plunging them into ice water to mimic freeze & thaw
7. Make soil artificially by rubbing two rocks together and getting the grains
8. Explode glass jars in the freezer with water. To demonstrate the force that freezing water has to break apart rocks underground.
9. Make an edible soil profile with vanilla sandwich cookies, choco chips, choco pudding, gummy worms, sprinkles, crushed up choco wafer cookies, and green dyed shredded coconut.
If you need more info or details on any of the above, I would be happy to send it to you.
Hi Heidi,
Do you have more details on your activities? I'm teaching an 8th grade class and I know they would enjoy several of these activities, such as the Soil Chain and Soil Sedimentation (in a jar, to get soil texture)
Bill,
One of the best resources I have used was found right here. I copied the description. I have added to it.
Soil Science Unit
Another one I use depending on the overall learner in the classroom is this one by Craig Kohn. He is another greater writer.
Home Gardening & Horticulture Semester Curriculum Part 1
Trish,
Thanks for Craigs name. Besides the soil stuff, he had a ton of stuff I could use for an Advanced Animal Science class I am teaching in two years.
Bill
Also the Soil Web Survey is great to uses unless the government has another shut down.
websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/
trish
Thanks to everyone that has posted, I really appreciate the help. If you are looking for a soils course that is NGSS, please contact me. Several teachers in California have done a huge amount of work and gotten 3 new courses set up with our UC system for kids to be ready for college on our A-G system. There is also an Ag Biology course if you are looking for one.
Hi Bill,
I am interested in learning more about the soils course that is NGSS. Is this resources to teach our students, or an actual course based in California?
Thanks!
Kristina,
This course is from the Ca life UCCI system. It's definitely an A g based course that uses science curriculum to teach after topics. We have done quite a bit of work on the course since my original post. You can find some of the curriculum on the CTE Online website. What are you looking for?
Hi Bill,
I went and checked out the curriculum on the CTE online website, and there is a lot of great information on there! Thanks for sharing! I was mostly interested in new ideas on teaching soil science to my students. I think what I am finding on the CTE online website will be just what I was hoping for!
Thanks,
Kristina
If you are looking for something specific let me know. I piloted the Soil Chemistry class for our region in California so I might already have something helpful. My email is bill.costanzo@shorelineunified.org
Hey Bill -
Are there specific areas you need/have/want to cover over the course of the class or do you need suggestions on that too? My first choice is always redox reactions and how that ties with soil color and other characteristics. Macronutrients and micronutrients in the topsoil and how they vary is also big topic. Plant matter decomposition, vermiculture, and composting can be taught separately or as a group depending one the activities you want to add on. Let us know what specifics you have and that should help spur some answers from Ag teachers.
Good luck,
Brian Tomlinson
www.OneLessThing.net