Students will learn about what soil is, what it is made of, its properties, and have a better understanding of what we can do to improve the soil’s health.

This lesson includes ONE demonstration and ONE interactive activity:

Particle Size Demonstration:

This demonstration allows students to observe how different soil particle sizes- sand, silt, and clay- settle at different rates.

Soil Shake Activity:

This interactive activity allows students to collect (if applicable) their own soil sample, describe it, and make their own soil shake. The students can make predictions on the composition of the soil they collected and how long it will take for each soil particle size to settle.

Optional Demonstration

Bare Soil vs. Soil Cover Demonstration:

This demonstration visually compares the effects of rainfall such as runoff and infiltration rate on bare soil versus soil protected with vegetation or mulch.

Note: Steuben County SWCD Staff will present the Optional Bare Soil vs. Soil Cover Demonstration

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State Science Standards (2023)

Elementary School (K-5 Grade)

K-PS3-1, K-PS3-2, K-LS1-1, K-ESS2-1, K-ESS2-2, K-ESS3-2, K-ESS3-3, K-2-ETS1-1, K-2-ETS1-2, K-2-ETS1-3, 2-LS2-1, 2-LS4-1, 2-ESS1-1, 2-ESS2-1, 3-LS3-2, 3-LS4-3, 3-LS4-4, 3-ESS3-1, 3-5 ETS1-2, 3-5 ETS1-3, 4-LS1-1, 4-ESS2-1, 4-ESS3-2, 5-PS1-3, 5-PS2-1, 5-LS1-1, 5-LS2-1, 5-ESS3-1

Middle School (6-8 Grade)

MS-LS2-1, MS-LS2-3, MS-LS2-4, MS-LS2-5, MS-ETS1-1, MS-ETS1-2, MS-ESS2-1, MS-ESS3-1, MS-ESS3-2, MS-ESS2-4, MS-ESS3-3, MS-ESS3-4