Grade level: 6th
Opportunity Middle School
Lesson Plan
Subject: Science
Teacher: Ms. Kate Honan
Lesson Topic: Soil Formation
Standards (CCS/ES):
Day One: Mon 12/17
Stage 1 – Desired Results
Key Ideas from the Standards:
6.E.2.3 Explain how the formation of soil is related to the
parent rock type and the environment in which it develops.
6.E.2.4 Conclude that the good health of humans requires:
monitoring the lithosphere, maintaining soil quality, and
stewardship.
What will the students be able to do?
Monday
SWBAT review weathering concepts by using online
simulation.
SWBAT connect to and discuss soil experience in their lives,
and in the life described in the poem.
Next…
SWBAT define and describe aspects of soil formation by
creating vocabulary notes during a soil development
presentation.
2.3 - Although weathered rock is the basic component of soil, the
composition and texture of soil and its fertility and resistance to erosion are
greatly influenced by plant roots and debris, bacteria, fungi, worms, insects,
rodents, and other organisms.
2.4 Evaluate ways in which human activities have affected Earth’s pedosphere
and the measures taken to control the impact: vegetative cover, agriculture
such as (contour plowing, conservation plowing), land use, nutrient balance
(crop rotation), soil as a vector.
Vocabulary:
Monday:
time
climate
parent material
biology
topography
_____________________________________
mature/youthful
acidic
_____________________________________
color
texture
tilth
water-holding capacity
drainage
depth
slope
Sources/Materials/Technology: Days One - Five this week
_x_Literary Text: Poem, “Heart and Soil,” by D.P. Groberg
__x_Informational Text (articles): soil web tour, see tech below
__x_Charts/Graphs/Maps: see tech below
_x_Videos:
_x_Art: student poem-inspired art – human use and stewardship (6.E.1.4)
__x_Technology: https://www.as.uky.edu/sites/default/files/elearning/module07swf.swf (weathering recap by climate)
http://www.stthomas.edu/geography/faculty/kelley/physgeog/soils/soil%20intro/soilformingfactors.html (soil development factors)
Stage 2 – Assessment Evidence
Formal: Quiz
Informal: Flow Map, Soil Profile
SWBAT assemble and defend the different inputs to soil
formation by illustrating as a flow map for at least one type
chosen by student, and drawing the soil’s profile.
Stage 3 – Opening Activities
Warm Up: (10 min) Copy 14 vocabulary words (onscreen) into journal/notebook/binder to be described in notes during class
presentation tomorrow. “I think this term means…” notes today
Stage 4- Learning Plan
Lesson Focus “I DO” (20 min):

Review knowledge of weathering (chemical, physical) using uky.edu simulation online (smart board)
Guided Practice “WE DO” (20 min):

Introduce soil development and profile ideas (oral) and encourage students to share experiences with soils, using discussion
and stthomas.edu presentation online (smartboard).
Independent Practice “YOU DO” (20 min):

Poem: Read and annotate with connections, questions, comments. Turn and share ideas with partner.
Copy into Notebook, leaving space for notes and definitions tomorrow (3-4
lines). Write short notes on what you think each term means today…
Vocabulary:
1) time
2) climate
3) parent material
4) biology
5) topography
_____________________________________
6) mature/youthful
7) acidic
8)color
9)texture
10)tilth
11)water-holding capacity
12)drainage
13)depth
14)slope