All of YMCA Camp Cherokee’s Environmental Education classes are adjustable to your students’ needs. We have hands on activities for students who are just beginning school to those entering high school. Read below to find out more!

 

Soil Ecology

Goal: Students will understand the abiotic and biotic factors that make up the earth on which we walk.  
  Objectives:

  • During the soil sieve and soil texture activities, students will analyze and interpret soil samples to classify each material based on texture and other physical properties (3.E.4A.1 ).
  • During the soil sieve and soil texture activities, students will investigate how soil is created and what that means for earth’s surface (3.E.4B.2).
  • Students will analyze and interpret the data collected from the soil sieves to describe how natural processes affect earth’s surface (5.E.3B.1).
  • Students will analyze and interpret soil samples in the field to summarize the abiotic factors in the environment (5.L.4A.1).
  • Through the apple activity, students will construct scientific arguments to support claims that human activities affect the land (5.E.3B.3).
  • Students will construct explanations of how soil quality affect the characteristics of an ecosystem (7.EC.5A.2).
  • Through the soil sieve activity, students will explain how the formation of soil is related to the parent rock type and the environment in which it develops (6.E.2.3). 
Topics:

  • Erosion
  • Deposition
  • Soil Ribbon
  • Soil Texture
  • Soil Nutrients
  • Soil Permeability
  • Soil Horizons
Mastery:

  • Students will measure and classify soil samples into differnt textures.
  • Students will observe and classify soil ribbons in the field.
  • Students will learn about, communicate, and investigate the differnt Horizons of the soil.
  • Students will communicate why erosion and deposition occur and how they are detrimental and beneficial.
Links for Teachers:

Teacher Planning Packet

Registration Form

EE Waiver

For more information, please contact Will Gilmore.