Soil Science: Bridging Geology and Environmental Science in a Sustainable World

Thursday 1:30pm-4:00pm SERC Building - 234

Afternoon Mini Workshop

Leader

Michelle Cauley, Dakota College at Bottineau

The study of soils, soil health, and soil's impact on our climate is paramount in our ever-changing educational landscape. In this workshop, participants will be exploring the connection that soils have in our geology and environmental science worlds through hands-on investigations. Participants will explore how world geology impacts soils and how soil health impacts climate, agriculture, and groundwater systems. In this workshop, participants will gain a deeper level of knowledge about geology through hands-on experiments and will leave with lessons and resources to adapt to their own learner's needs.

Workshop Goals

By the end of this workshop, participants will have:

Enhanced their understanding of fundamental soil science principles and concepts.
Explored innovative teaching methodologies and resources for soil science education.
Fostered collaboration and networking among geoscience educators interested in soil science.
Explored interdisciplinary approaches to soil science education, connecting with other fields such as ecology, agriculture, geology, and environmental science.

Program Overview

1:30 -- Welcome, Introductions, and Group Norms

1:45 -- Do YOU Know Your Soils?! - Introductory Game

2:00 --Soils, Geology, Environmental Science - It's All Connected (Presentation)

2:15 --Getting Dirty: Soil Learning Labs*

Splash Erosion
Soil Order Pageant
Ribbon Making
A Jarring Task

3:15 -- Parking Lot Questions and Lab Observations

3:45 Wrap-up and workshop evaluation

4:00 Adjourn

*Soil Learning Labs have the option of being split up by the grade level that the individual is instructing. Various resources will be available for different academic levels of instruction.