Exploring Cation Exchange Capacity through the use of the Soil Survey
Scott Werts, Winthrop University
This assignment allows students to utilize real soil data/information presented online to learn how the some of the physical properties of the soil influence the chemistry of the soil and health of the ecosystem.

Soils as Construction Materials
Douglas Kowalewski, Worcester State University
This geotechnical project will introduce you with the concept of using soils as construction materials.This project involves characterizing soils using various laboratory analyses and applying the Unified Soil ...

Public Information Campaign: Soil Erosion, Conservation, and Watershed Health
Kathryn Szramek, Drake University
Students in groups of two create a 4-minute educational video, brochure, and poster on an aspect of soil erosion, soil conservation, and/or watershed health for agricultural regions within the midwestern states. ...

Integrated Critical Zone project
Nick Bader, Whitman College
This project is a way to assemble information about geology, hydrogeology, and soils into a coherent whole in a way that may otherwise not happen in any one class. The "critical zone" concept ties the ...

Using Soil Survey Information for Geomorphic Analysis
Holly Dolliver, University of Wisconsin-River Falls
In this activity students will use information from a county-level soil survey to learn about the geomorphology of an area.

Estimating flow through an earthen dam
Kaye Savage, Wofford College
Students make measurements of dam dimensions and water levels above and below a small, accessible earthen dam. They assess the soil texture in the field. They follow up by developing a simple flow net and ...

independent soil investigation project
Stephanie Ewing, Montana State University-Bozeman
Students demonstrate their skill in soils investigation and interpretation through independent projects undertaken in groups of one to three and presented in class using visual aids.

Geotechnical Part II
Douglas Kowalewski, Worcester State University
This geotechnical project allows the student to become familiar with laboratory soil report and construction site maps. Student gain insight to the responsibilities of a Geotechnical Soil Scientist through ...

Landscapes
Ron Reuter, Oregon State University-Cascades Campus
The first lab for an online introductory soils course for non-majors, this lab introduces students to landscapes and spatial patterns using Google Earth. In addition to learning to navigate in the imagery software, ...

Soil analysis for the community garden
Kevin Svitana, Otterbein College
Kevin Svitana, Otterbein University, Westerville, OH Summary Otterbein is in the process of developing a community garden on its newly opened Equestrian Science facility. This facility was a former industrial ...

Getting a Feel for Soils - Lab
Cynthia Fadem, Earlham College
This is a lab activity in which students start to put together what they have learned as separate soil attributes in the context of the world they know. This activity involves hypothesizing geologic and soils ...

Forestry Management Plan Revision
Katherine McCarville, Upper Iowa University
The importance of soils is often underestimated in establishing management or restoration plans. Students examine soils at Echo Valley Park in the field, and use information from the USDA NRCS soil series ...