Introduction
SOS: Save our Soil!
Calling all soil experts - we need your help!
Hi! I'm Sam and this is my friend Allison, we're soil experts too. We love soil, but it is disappearing faster than it is being made! Although it is a renewable resource, it is made very slowly. We hear that you know a lot about soil and might be able to help! Your job is to spread the word about soil conservation - we'll tell you how in just a bit! First, you'll have to explore why soil is so important to us and why it is disappearing in the first place. Are you ready to dig deeper?
Task
Your job is to explore the web links in the "process" section to uncover clues on how we can save our soil and why that is important! Use your worksheet as a guide! If you finish early, complete the bonus activity below:
BONUS: Allison and Sam need more people to know about why soil is important and what can be done to prevent soil erosion! Using the clues you uncovered in the WebQuest, you will create an "advertisement" for why we should save our soils - helping to inform others! See the "Evaluation" link above to see what should be included in the ad!
Some suggestions:
1. Write a song or poem
2. Make a skit
3. Make a poster
4. Do you have another idea? Ask Ms. Armentrout or Ms. Wilhelm!
Whatever you choose, remember, your focus is on soil conservation - how to do it and why it is important!
Process
Answer the questions on your worksheet by clicking on the links (they are the text in blue)! If you get stuck, raise your hand and one of us will point you in the right direction!
HINT: You may not need to use all of the websites to find your answers. Therefore, if you don't find an answer at one website, that is okay! You can just move on to the next.
Website 1: Click on this link and scroll down to the "Why do we need soils" section - Why do we need soil?
Website 2: Pay close attention to the bullet points that start with "Without Soil" - Where would we be without soil?
Website 3: Read about what soil does for plants! - Soil and plants!
Website 4: Pay attention to how humans have effected erosion! - How humans have caused erosion!
Website 5: Different types of erosion! Soil erosion can be caused by the types here too! - Erosion
Website 6: Pay close attention to questions 12 and 13 to answer questions about soil conservation. - Soil Conservation
Website 7: More reading on this website, but a lot of good information about soil's importance! Why does soil matter?
Website 8: Soil Erosion! Erosion
Next, Look at these photos! Try to figure out how these soils were eroded, then looking at the picture, what could we do to fix these areas?
Evaluation
In creating your ad, be sure to include the following:
- Include three reasons we need soil - Why is it important?
- Be sure to include at least one way soil is eroded.
- Include two ways that we can conserve soil.
- Be creative! Have Fun making your Save Our Soil Ads!
Credits
Soil Pictures:
Water Erosion Picture - http://www.latricedesigns.com/informative-soil-erosion-diagram/soil-ero…
Wind Erosion Picture - http://ecomerge.blogspot.com/2010/05/what-is-wind-erosion.html
Gravity Erosion Picture - https://gsoil.wordpress.com/tag/soil-erosion/