The purpose of this resource is to measure near-surface soil temperatures. Students measure soil temperatures at 5 cm and 10 cm depths using a soil thermometer. Students will be able to perform a soil thermometer calibration, carry out soil temperature measurements accurately and precisely and record and report soil temperature data. Students will be able to relate soil temperature measurements to ... Full description.

The purpose of this resource is to measure the pH of a soil horizon. Students mix dried and sieved soil samples with distilled water. The mixture is allowed to settle until a relatively clear layer is formed. Students use a pH pen, pH meter, or pH paper to determine the pH of the sample. The procedure is done three times for each horizon. Full description.

The purpose of this resource is to understand that soil, under different environmental conditions, plays a role in the decomposition of organic materials. Students use bottle experiments to observe changes in the decomposition of vegetable scraps. Students vary temperature, moisture, and light conditions to determine the conditions that best facilitate the decomposition of organic material in soil. ... Full description.

The purpose of this resource is to use a land cover type map to make environmentally sound decisions. Full description.

This Classroom Connectors lesson plan teaches young students about the different kinds of soil. This includes what soil is, layers of soil on the Earth, and the properties of these soils. The site provides goals, objectives, an outline, time required, materials, activities, and closure ideas for the lesson. The Classroom Connectors address content with an activity approach while incorporating themes ... Full description.

This Classroom Connectors lesson plan teaches young students about the living and non-living components of soil. The site provides goals, objectives, an outline, time required, materials, activities, and closure ideas for the lesson. The Classroom Connectors address content with an activity approach while incorporating themes necessary to raise the activity to a higher cognition level. The major motivation ... Full description.

Designing a filter that turns black, salty, muck into drinkable water is a tall order. In this video segment, ZOOM cast members take cues from what they know about natural sediment filters, use similar materials to create their own water filters, and evaluate which combinations of materials make the fastest, most efficient filters. The segment is four minutes fifty-four seconds in length. A background ... Full description.

Fossils is an activity for grades 1-2 that enables students to apply their interest in dinosaurs to discovering how fossils tell us about our past. As a result of this activity, the students will be able to: tell a friend or parent who a paleontologist is and what he does; explain what a fossil is; explain how we use fossils to learn about the past; and make a fossil using clay, plaster of paris, ... Full description.

This Classroom Connectors lesson plan for kindergarten students discusses prehistoric animals. It will teach students to identify different types of dinosaurs, including names and characteristics. The site provides goals, objectives, an outline, time required, materials, activities, and closure ideas for the lesson. The Classroom Connectors address content with an activity approach while incorporating ... Full description.

This Classroom Connectors lesson plan for kindergarten students is designed to teach about rocks as part of the composition of the Earth. Students will explore characteristics, uses, and classification of rocks. This site provides goals, objectives, an outline, time required, materials, activities, and closure ideas for the lesson. The Classroom Connectors address content with an activity approach ... Full description.