About This Course

Soils Matter: Approaches to Soil Science for the K–12 Classroom” explores the science of soil and its essential role in supporting life on Earth. Although often overlooked beneath our feet, soil influences nearly every aspect of our daily lives. It provides the foundation for food production, supports healthy ecosystems, filters and stores water, cycles nutrients and carbon, and helps build resilient communities. Understanding soil is key to understanding many of Earth's natural processes and the connections between the geosphere, biosphere, atmosphere, and hydrosphere.

Through engaging, phenomenon-based modules, participants will investigate why soils differ from place to place, how soil properties influence flooding and water quality, how soils support plant growth, and the critical role soils play in the carbon cycle. Interactive activities, videos, classroom investigations, and real-world examples encourage participants to explore soil while making meaningful connections to their local environments.

Because soil touches so many aspects of our world, it provides opportunities to enrich learning across the K–12 curriculum. Whether exploring ecosystems and climate in science, analyzing data in mathematics, examining agriculture and land use in social studies, reading informational texts in language arts, or creating art inspired by Earth's landscapes, soil offers authentic connections that make learning relevant and interdisciplinary.

Designed specifically for K–12 educators, this course provides classroom-ready lessons, instructional strategies, and resources that can be adapted across grade levels and subject areas, helping students develop a deeper appreciation for the vital role soil plays in sustaining life and shaping our world.