InTeGrate Modules and Courses >Soils, Systems, and Society > Student Materials
InTeGrate's Earth-focused Modules and Courses for the Undergraduate Classroom
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These materials are part of a collection of classroom-tested modules and courses developed by InTeGrate. The materials engage students in understanding the earth system as it intertwines with key societal issues. The collection is freely available and ready to be adapted by undergraduate educators across a range of courses including: general education or majors courses in Earth-focused disciplines such as geoscience or environmental science, social science, engineering, and other sciences, as well as courses for interdisciplinary programs.
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For the Instructor

These student materials complement the Soils, Systems, and Society Instructor Materials. If you would like your students to have access to the student materials, we suggest you either point them at the Student Version which omits the framing pages with information designed for faculty (and this box). Or you can download these pages in several formats that you can include in your course website or local Learning Managment System. Learn more about using, modifying, and sharing InTeGrate teaching materials.
Initial Publication Date: January 18, 2016

Student Materials

Welcome Students!

Module Summary

In this module, you will explore how to make science relevant and make connections between science concepts (e.g. soils) and broader systems (e.g., water cycle). The activities promote systems and scientific thinking emphasizing strong interdisciplinary connections between science content and societal issues through course discussions, map analysis, and hands-on soil investigations. Finally, you will apply this knowledge to develop a K–8 Soils, Systems, and Society "Kit" that includes lessons and supporting materials teaching about a locally relevant Earth science issue of your choice.

Module Handouts

Unit 1

In this unit, you will brainstorm locally relevant societal issues and how they relate to soil science. You will also create a Earth systems concept map that you will add to over the module. The Soils and Society Issues Homework Assignment will be discussed at the start of Unit 2.

Soils and Society Issues Homework Assignment (Microsoft Word 2007 (.docx) 21kB Jan6 16)

Soils and Society Kit Assignment (Microsoft Word 23kB Jan7 16) - To be completed in Unit 4.

Unit 2

In this unit, you will experience how maps can be used in the classroom to integrate science and social issues. You will then add what you have learned from the maps activity to extend your Earth systems concept map.

Unit 3

In this unit, you will use various techniques to characterize local soil samples and discuss what we can learn about soil structure and function from these data. You will then add what you have learned from the soils activity to extend your Earth Systems concept map.

Unit 4

In this unit, you will apply everything you have learned in this module and other parts of the course to create a locally relevant K–8 Soils, Systems, and Society Kit (the "Kit). Final kits will be presented to the class.

Soils, Systems, and Society Kit Rubric (Microsoft Word 23kB Jan7 16)

Suggested Readings

Systems Readings

The Framework for Science Education pages 83–87 and 91–94. Click on this link to access this document: Link to free online copy of The Framework

Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) Crosscutting Concepts — Systems pages 7-8/17. Link to NGSS Crosscutting Concepts Appendix

Soils Reading

The Soil Science Society of America has an introduction to soils that can be downloaded for free here: Link to SSA Soils Overview

     

These materials are part of a collection of classroom-tested modules and courses developed by InTeGrate. The materials engage students in understanding the earth system as it intertwines with key societal issues. The collection is freely available and ready to be adapted by undergraduate educators across a range of courses including: general education or majors courses in Earth-focused disciplines such as geoscience or environmental science, social science, engineering, and other sciences, as well as courses for interdisciplinary programs.
Explore the Collection »