1- LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT
 

•  Devise planting schemes according to plants' pH preferences.

• How to change pH.
• Symptoms of nutrient deficiencies  (diagnosis & remedies ).

Have students try to locate web site related to Dust bowl & furnish answers to following questions:
 

•              Causes,  results.
•              Could it happen again?        How/where?
•              Prevention?

Obtain local soil survey from local soil conservation service representative & locate school  &  soil sample areas from aerial photos.

5- SOIL SCIENTISTS
 

• Who are they?
• What do they do?
• Historical background   (Ruffin, Burpee, George Washington Carver).

7-  GENERAL SOIL TEXTURE ACTIVITY

Take small amount of topsoil, moisten it, & rub it between your fingers & thumb.
 

•    A gritty feel means that it contains a lot of sand.
•    A sticky feel indicates a high clay content & can be rolled into clump.
•    A smooth, flour like texture indicates silt laden soil.
•    A loam topsoil has texture between these extremes - crumbly, spongy feeling with many    particles clumped loosely together.
(Best suited for plant growth).


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8-  DETERMINING SOIL TEXTURE  (USING "SOIL TRIANGLE").

9-  SOIL = LUNCH

Have students trace food items eaten for lunch back to origins. (Bread from wheat grown in soil, meat/cheese from animals fed on grain/grasses,  mustard from seeds, etc.)  List additional ways soil is important to mankind.

10- EARTHWORM FARM

In small fish tank or one gallon jar build following layers: pebbles,
sand,  moist soil,  & leaves .  Make each layer about 1 - 2 inches thick & mark layers on glass.

Mist inside with water & place a dozen earthworms inside & cover outside with dark paper.  Store in cool place.

Every few days feed worms bits of  fruit,  bread,  lettuce & mist lightly.

Remove paper daily to check for changes caused by worms.

11- "EROSION ENFORCEMENT AGENCY"

As class field trip, have students walk around school grounds inspecting for signs of erosion & trouble spots.  Have students identify problem areas & take photos.  Discuss reasons for erosion
& devise corrective plans of action for each case.  Post results.

As independent, or teams of 2, homework project, have students inspect local areas & take photos of erosion trouble spots.  Post photos with remediation techniques.

12- EROSION IN CLASSROOM

Place soil in waterproof  box or flat container set on incline & mist soil heavily to simulate rain.
(May also use electric fan to demonstrate effects of wind.)  Observe results.

Continue misting for several days to create erosion problems (gullies, etc.)

Devise plan to curb erosion (terracing with popsicle sticks, plant grass seed or other cover crops, etc.) until problem is corrected.

Take before and after photos.  Post Results.