Soil Field Study Curriculum Outline
MESD Outdoor School > For Teachers > Soil Field Study Curriculum Outline

See also: Outdoor School Curriculum
Field Study Curriculum Outline: Animals • Plants •  Soil • Water
​Field Study Tour: Animals • Plants • Soil • Water 
Next Generation Science Standards: Animals • Plants • Soil • Water

Theme: COMPLEXITY
Course Concept: ​SOIL HORIZONS 
​Soil composition changes with depth.​
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Standards: 
  • The student will identify, describe and compare soil horizons in a profile.
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Course Concept: ​SOIL FORMATION PROCESS 
​Major factors affecting soil include climate, topography, plant and animal life, rock type and rock cycle, time.
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Standards: 
  • The student will discuss factors affecting the formation of soil. 
  • ​The student will describe how soil characteristics determine the interactions between soil, plants and animals.
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Course Concept: ​SOIL CHARACTERISTICS 
​Soil is characterized by the varying amounts of inorganic sand, silt clay and organic material present.​
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Standards: 
  • The student will describe key characteristics of soil quality and the factors affecting those characteristics.
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Course Concept: ​SOIL NUTRIENT CYCLE 
​Soil nutrients are composed of chemicals produced by decomposition of living things and are generally protected by undisturbed plant growth.​
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Standards: 
  • The student will describe the role soil plays in nutrient cycling
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Theme: ECOSYSTEMS
Course Concept: ​LANDSCAPE
​A landscape is a complex network of interacting patches, structures and corridors.​
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Standards: 
  • The student will identify interaction between patches in a landscape.
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Course Concept: ​HUMAN INFLUENCE 
​Humans have both a positive and negative affect on soil stability.
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Standards: 
  • The student will indicate the types of erosion on a model or an actual area, and explain the impact of erosion on habitat. 
  • ​The student will identify and describe different types of disturbance and their effects.
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Course Concept: ​LIMITING FACTORS 
​Composition of soil affects water holding capacity, plant growth and animal life.​
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Standards: 
  • The student will identify those soil factors that limit specific plant growth.
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Course Concept: ​SOIL NUTRIENTS 
​In conjunction with climate, the amount and type of soil nutrients present directly affects the type of ecosystem present.​
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Standards: 
  • The student will identify different patches where soil nutrients affect the type of plant life present.
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Course Concept: ​INTERACTIONS 
​An ecosystem is composed of complex interactions between plants, animals soil and water. ​
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Standards: 
  • The student will identify the relative rate of change in an ecosystem.
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Theme: IMPORTANCE
Course Concept: ​HUMAN DEPENDENCE 
​Humans depend on soil in many different ways.​
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Standards: 
  • The student will describe the different ways humans depend on soil.
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Course Concept: ​SUBSTRATE OF PLANET 
​Topography and geologic forces affect humans in many ways.
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Standards: 
  • The student will identify major geologic processes, and how those processes can affect them. ​​
  • ​​The student will use an aerial photograph to identify outstanding land features and list their effects on the landscape.
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Course Concept: ​CAREER 
​The study of soils offers a wide range of career opportunities.
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Standards: 
  • The student will give examples of introduced species and discuss their ability to survive in various environments. 
  • ​The student will identify causes of threatened, endangered and sensitive animal populations.
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Soil Field Study Activities 
The following activities are typical of a day on Soil Field Study at Outdoor School. Actual activities will vary from site to site and season to season. 

pH: Students test pH of soil and discuss the relationships among pH, plant growth and human activity. 

Soil Profile: Students collect and describe local soil horizons and discuss soil formation. 

Soil Life Survey: Students collect and examine soil organisms and discuss the role of organisms in soil health. 

Absorption / Compaction / Permeability: Students test a variety of locations for absorption rate and discuss the relationships among human activity, permeability and plant and animal habitat. 

Soil Recipe: Students attempt to "make" soil, examine the importance of time in the natural formation of topsoil, and characterize soil as either a renewable or non-renewable resource. 

Particle Size: Students categorize inorganic matter by size and characterize loam as a combination of sand, silt and clay. 

Erosion: Students identify types of erosion and discuss human activity and the impact of erosion on soil and ecosystem health.

Soil Texture and Structure: Students characterize soil particles by texture and structure. 

Geology: Students analyze geologic profiles on site and discuss the geologic history of the local area. The rock cycle is discussed and rocks are categorized as igneous, metamorphic or sedimentary. 

Slope and Aspect: Students measure slope and aspect of the land and discuss the implications of slope and aspect on land management decisions. 

Weathering: Students examine evidence of chemical and physical weathering and experiment with both types. 

Topography: Students observe the local landscape and use topographic maps to explore the factors that create the shape of the land. 

Mud City: Students take on the role of farmers to try to reduce erosion on a plot of land. 

Apple Earth: Students examine and discuss the concept of soil as a limited resource. 

Compost / Worm Bin: Students observe a worm bin and explore the role organic decomposition plays in soil formation as well as the role composting plays in waste reduction.