Soil and Water Education for Grades 3–12

Soil and Water Education for Grades 3–12 was written for youth who enjoy learning about science and two critical natural resources: soil and water. Level 1 introduces basic terms and concepts, and is intended for youth in grades 3–5. Activities focus on understanding important soil and water processes. Designed for students in grades 6–8, Level 2 offers readers more concrete examples of advanced soil and water concepts. The exercises in Level 3, which is geared toward grades 9–12, are divided into sections based on how readers might use the information they have learned, placing them in the shoes of homeowners, residents of a watershed, food and fiber producers (farmers), mayors, teachers, and legislators. This level delves deeper into soil and water science concepts, and prepares readers who may be interested in studying these topics at postsecondary institutions. The final section presented in Soil and Water Education for Grades 3–12, the facilitator’s guide, provides answers to the youth activities as well as tips about working with the next generation of scientists in the field.