Teacher Zone: Resources to Support Lessons in this Unit
This site was created using the following documents as guidelines for what students need to learn during this unit:
Earth Science
Here is a list of the specific curriculum items unavoidably addressed in this project. Other curriculum items will be also be addressed, depending upon the teachers selection of the resources below and their use of the resources. |
Library MediaHere is a list of the specific information literacy skills addressed through this project and unit. |
Second Grade Earth Science: Soil & Erosion Unit
Introduction to the Problem Scenario
Learning Experience
Activity/Experiment: Can't See the Water for the Dirt The amount of sediment washing into the Chesapeake Bay is causing a major environmental problem. If you choose to make this the problem around which the rest of this unit is built, this inexpensive experiment illustrates why muddy water is a problem. |
Teacher Resource
Book: Ten-Minute Field Trips: A Teacher's Guide to Using the School Grounds for Environmental Studies Looking for an excuse to take the class outside? Want to give the students a chance to select this unit's project? Whatever your motivation, this book can give you ideas for outdoor educational adventures in the school's own back yard. |
Lesson 1: Concerns which affect the Soil
Added Interest
VHS: All About Soil
This 23 minute movie introduces soil, what ingredients are needed to create the best soil, and the role erosion plays in soil creation. A DVD version is available at other Howard County schools.
VHS: All About Soil
This 23 minute movie introduces soil, what ingredients are needed to create the best soil, and the role erosion plays in soil creation. A DVD version is available at other Howard County schools.
Lesson 2: Classifying Soil
Learning Experience
Activity/Experiment: What's My Soil Type? This experiment is the main reason why the Introduction page said students need to bring in bags of dirt. Extra dirt can be used for the "Perkin' Through the Pores" activity in lesson 6, and the Hillside Garden activity in Lesson 8. To make soil types more personal for the students, this is their chance to discover what type of soil they have near their homes. The soil type might also influence what form of erosion prevention students choose to discuss in their PSA at the end of the unit. |
Added Ineterest
Learning Game: Soil Ingredients Interactive To show students that not all soils are the same, project this site in the classroom and have the class vote on which ingredient goes where in these three mud-pie charts. |
Lesson 3: Soil Layers
(Finish) Learning Experience
Activity/Experiment: What's My Soil Type? (From Lesson 2)
By today, all the clay particles should have settled in student jars. Complete this project by observing the different soil layers, discussing why some soils settled faster than others (large particles vs. smaller particles).
Activity/Experiment: What's My Soil Type? (From Lesson 2)
By today, all the clay particles should have settled in student jars. Complete this project by observing the different soil layers, discussing why some soils settled faster than others (large particles vs. smaller particles).
Lesson 4: How Soil is Made
Added Interest
VHS: Soil
This 19 minute video answers student questions about soil, including what it is and how it's made.
VHS: Soil
This 19 minute video answers student questions about soil, including what it is and how it's made.
Lesson 5: The Four Main Layers of Soil
Added Interest
Online Interactive: Hidden Horrizons
Project this online activity so all the class can see. Let the students vote on which soil layer matches the description. You can use this to launch a discussion of the four different layers of soil.
Online Interactive: Hidden Horrizons
Project this online activity so all the class can see. Let the students vote on which soil layer matches the description. You can use this to launch a discussion of the four different layers of soil.
Lesson 6: Water Retention of Soil Types
Learning Experience
Activity/Experiment: Perkin' Through the Pores
Through this experiment, students will be able to see how quickly (or slowly) water makes its way through the soil. While you wait for the results from the slower soils (especially clay), the suggested activity will allow students to create a human simulation of that is happening in the experiments.
Activity/Experiment: Perkin' Through the Pores
Through this experiment, students will be able to see how quickly (or slowly) water makes its way through the soil. While you wait for the results from the slower soils (especially clay), the suggested activity will allow students to create a human simulation of that is happening in the experiments.
Lesson 7: Erosion
Added Interest
Online Video: Arches National Park 3-Minute Tour This YouTube video shows some amazing rock formations, caused by wind erosion. VHS: How Does the Land Wear Down? This 9 minute video provides a general introduction to erosion. VHS: All About Weathering & Erosion This 23 minute video provides a more in-depth introduction to erosion. It should have a Teacher's Guide, and is available in DVD from other schools. |
Just for Fun, When Work is Done
Learning Game: Shape it Up! Through this computer game, students select what caused the change in landscape shown, and how long it took for that change to occur. Students should ignore the "Learn More" button as some readers may become frustrated by the vocabulary. |
Lesson 8: Reducing Erosion
Learning Experience
Activity/Experiment: Hillside Garden
This experiment, which is the last activity described, just above "Assessment," will show students that plants can help control erosion. The challenge is that, in order to give the plants a chance to take root, this project may need to be set up ahead of time. The testing phase of the Hillside Garden activity can be accomplished during Lesson 9.
Activity/Experiment: Hillside Garden
This experiment, which is the last activity described, just above "Assessment," will show students that plants can help control erosion. The challenge is that, in order to give the plants a chance to take root, this project may need to be set up ahead of time. The testing phase of the Hillside Garden activity can be accomplished during Lesson 9.
Lesson 9: Testing Erosion Control
Learning Experience
Activity/Experiment: Testing Theories
If students have had a chance to brainstorm ideas for preventing erosion, this is their chance to test those ideas. Pack some dirt into small disposable baking pans, which are propped at an angle inside larger pans (to catch runoff), and let students test some of their ideas. This requires advance planning and prep time. The Hillside Garden activity from Lesson 8 can test the effect of plants, but students can also test the effects of leaves, mulch, building walls so the water can't flow in a straight line (use Legos or popsicle sticks), or any other ideas the students have.
Activity/Experiment: Testing Theories
If students have had a chance to brainstorm ideas for preventing erosion, this is their chance to test those ideas. Pack some dirt into small disposable baking pans, which are propped at an angle inside larger pans (to catch runoff), and let students test some of their ideas. This requires advance planning and prep time. The Hillside Garden activity from Lesson 8 can test the effect of plants, but students can also test the effects of leaves, mulch, building walls so the water can't flow in a straight line (use Legos or popsicle sticks), or any other ideas the students have.
Lesson 10: Creating Erosion & Pollution
Story Time
Book: A River Ran Wild In this story, a river becomes polluted, ruining the ecosystem, until someone decides to take action. It shows both the effects of pollution and the effect one person can have, if they work hard enough on a project they believe in. |
Research Tool
Book: Pollution More recent books by the same title are available from other Howard County schools. Students can browse this book to learn about different types of pollution. |
Lesson 11: Landfills & Rate of Decomposition
Just for Fun, When Work is Done:
Learning Game: Garbology
On this website, students sort trash into four bins: trash, recycle, reuse, and compost. After each object gets sorted, students will be presented with information about the trash and its effect upon the environment, as well as a tip for changes people can make to lessen their impact upon the earth.
Learning Game: Garbology
On this website, students sort trash into four bins: trash, recycle, reuse, and compost. After each object gets sorted, students will be presented with information about the trash and its effect upon the environment, as well as a tip for changes people can make to lessen their impact upon the earth.
Lesson 12: Solving the Problem Scenario
By now, students should have developed ideas for what their neighbors can do to prevent erosion and solve the problem identified at the beginning of the unit. Today students film their PSAs using the Camera app on the two Second Grade iPods. If the school decides to subscribe to the Videolicious app, filming in Videolicious would be a better choice due to the easy, in "camera" post production tools. If school policy permits it, these videos can be posted to the Second Grade webpage.