Soil Center

Welcome to Utah Agriculture in the Classroom's Soil Center! Here you will find all the resources you need to teach core curriculum with engaging, hands-on lesson plans and activities.

Dirt: Secrets in the Soil - Fourth Grade Soils Lesson Collection

Designed specifically for Utah fourth-grade students, this collection of soil science lessons covers topics like soil texturing, living and nonliving components of soil, erosion, and more. Each lesson includes hands-on activities that are sure to keep students entertained and motivated. Create your own "Dirt Binder" by printing each of the files below and placing them in a large three-ring binder with tabs to mark each of the lessons.

These lessons accompany a six-segment video program, which is available for purchase or free viewing on YouTube.

Opening Pages

• Cover Page
• Title Page and Acknowledgements
• Table of Contents

It's Your Food, Dude!

• The Soil Chain

Soil Isn't a Dirty Word

• What's in Soil?
• What Makes Up Your Profile?
• Types by Texture

The Dust Bowl Is Not Played on New Year's Day

• Dark Days
• Caring for the Land

Slip Slidin' Away

• Soil Texture and Percolation
• Keeping Soil in Its place

Hitting Pay Dirt

• How Much Is Dirt Worth?
• What Land Works Best?

Healthy Food from Healthy Soil

• Secrets to Healthy Soil
• The Rotten Truth
• Working Worms

Dirt: Secrets in the Soil Video Review Questions

• What I Know About Soils!

Additional Fourth Grade Soils Lessons

• Color in the Garden
• Plant Growth Affects the Soil
• Plant Soil Interactions
• Properties of Soils
• Vermicomposting

First Grade Soils Lessons

The following lesson plans are designed or can be adapted for use in the first grade classroom.

• Texturing: The Big Picture
• The Soil We Grow In
• Vermicomposting