Soil Facts — Definitions of soil and soil survey, information on careers, some basics on soil formation and classification, and a soil science glossary.
Key Messages — Ten key messages to understanding soils in Acrobat (PDF; 4.6 MB) or Powerpoint (PPT; 17.5 MB).
State Soils — Find out about your state soil.
• State Soil Booklets (Soil Science Society of America)
Lesson Plans — Art using soils, soil profile cards, and other projects with soils.
Soil Songs
S. K. Worm — The official annelid (or worm) of the Natural Resources Conservation Service answers questions about soil.
USDA for Kids — A link to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s website for kids.
External Links
“Dig In”© Hands-On Soils Investigations
Information on ordering this popular publication by the National Science Teachers Association.
Claude’s Got the Scoop on Soil!
Targeted for young students in grades 4-6, students learn about how soil is made, who really needs soil, and what happens to soil if you don’t take care of it.
Soil Biological Communities, Just for Kids
A link to the Bureau of Land Management’s National Science and Technology Center. The website was developed for students from ages 9 through 11 although sections may appeal to older and younger students. Includes a section on adopting a soil critter.
“The Dirt on Soil”
A link to the Discovery Channel. Includes sections on the layers of soil, things under your feet, and a journey underground.
Field Museum - Underground Adventure
This site contains virtual movies of the exhibit “Underground Adventure” at The Field Museum, science experiments you can do at home or school, and even a virtual terrarium.
Dr. Dirt
Links to teaching resources and activities to encourage interest in science, soil, engineering, agriculture, and natural resources.
National Association of Conservation Districts
A link to conservation education items available for purchase. Also includes information on ordering the Education Catalog.
Soil Science Society of America
A resource for K-12 soil science teachers.
