1.20 Students use graphs, charts, and other visual presentations to communicate data accurately and appropriately.

2.1 Students ask a variety of questions.

2.2 Students use reasoning strategies, knowledge, and common sense to solve complex problems related to all fields of knowledge.

7.1 Students use scientific methods to describe, investigate and explain phenomena.

7.3 Students understand the nature of scientific theory.

7. 13 Students understand the characteristics of organisms, see patterns of similarity and differences among living organisms and recognize the interdependence of all systems that support life.

7. 15 Students demonstrate understanding of the earth and its environment in terms of the systems that characterize them and the forces that affect and shape them over time

Observe and identify components of soil

Compare and contrast soil from different locations

Identify and observe forces and patterns that shape earth

Observe properties of soil and connect to ability to grow plants

Compare and explain water-holding capacities of different soils

Use evidence to construct an explanation

Use deductive reasoning to explain observations

Describe and show examples of the interdependence of soil in a forest ecosystem

Identify and explain the role of decomposition in a forest ecosystem

Analyze and explain natural resource management

Lesson 1: What is in soil?

Lesson 2: How are soils from different locations the same and different?

Lesson 3: What are the major components of soil? How does soil composition determine soil quality?

Lesson 4: What are the water-holding and drainage capacities of soil?

Lesson 5: What is erosion and how can it be controlled?

Lesson 6: How does Nature recycle?

Two journal entries (list of soil ingredients with two words from each of the five senses to describe soil and what you know about
soil)

Paragraph or group poster responding to the statement, "Soil is considered a basic necessity to life on land." Prediction to soil shakes

Labeled drawing of soil shakes after it's settled 3 sentences written in journals about what was learned about the components of soil

Poem or song
Prediction
Chart
Written response

Hypothesis for reducing erosion
Response to erosion questions in journal

Sketches
Poem, song, or rap

Checklist

Checklist

Checklist, anecdotal notes

Checklist for content, understanding, and collaborative skills

Checklist

Task-specific rubric