The purpose of this resource is to introduct details on how to use digital soil thermometers. A digital thermometer is used to measure current temperatures as well as daily minimum and maximum temperatures. One temperature probe is placed at a depth of 5 cm in the soil while another is installed at a 50 cm depth. The daily minimum and maximum temperatures are stored by the instrument for a period ... Full description.

The purpose of this resource is to measure soil water content by mass. Students collect soil samples with a trowel or auger and weigh them, dry them, and then weigh them again. The soil water content is determined by calculating the difference between the wet sample mass and the dry sample mass. Full description.

The purpose of this resource is to determine the rate at which water soaks into the ground. Students place two cans into the soil and add water to them to a depth of at least 5 cm. Students measure and record the time it takes the water level to drop a fixed 2 - 4 cm distance. Students repeat the measurement to determine how easily water moves vertically through the soil. Full description.

The purpose of this resource is to determine the transparency of water. Students measure water transparency at their undisturbed study site using a transparency tube or Secchi disk. Full description.

The purpose of this resource is to measure the temperature of a water sample. Students use an alcohol-filled thermometer or meter to measure the temperature of water. The meter requires calibration before use; the accuracy of the thermometer needs to be checked before use. Full description.

The purpose of this resource is to explore soil and soil properties. Students discover the variability of soils, derive relationships among soils and the soil forming factors, and link the GLOBE Soil Investigation to the students. local environment. Students use soil samples from their homes to identify properties that characterize their soils. They compare and contrast their soils to those of their ... Full description.

The purpose of this resource is to characterize the physical and chemical properties for each horizon in a soil profile. Students identify the horizons of a soil profile at a soil characterization site, then measure and record the top and bottom depth for each horizon. For each horizon, students describe the structure, color, consistence, texture, and abundance of roots, rocks, and carbonates. Samples ... Full description.

The purpose of this resource is to understand that variations in landscape can affect soil properties. Students investigate variations in the soils around their school to discover that soil properties like moisture and temperature exhibit considerable variability across a single landscape. They also identify factors such as slope, shade, plants, compaction, which affect the appearance of soils and ... Full description.

The purpose of this resource is to introduce the different particle sizes of soils and the properties which each contributes to the soil character. Students make mud pies by adding water to the various soil components, letting them dry and observing the pie's characteristics. Students sift soil to remove organic materials and pebbles. They then sift the soil with smaller meshed sieves to separate ... Full description.

The purpose of this resource is to develop an understanding of some of the relationships between soils of different types and water. Students will time the flow of water through soils with different properties and measure the amount of water held in these soils. They will also experiment with the filtering ability of soils by testing the pH of the water before and after it passes through the soil ... Full description.