Initial Publication Date: January 13, 2021

Explore: Soil Quality and Crop Production

In this section of the lesson, students complete an online simulation and several hands-on laboratories exploring land use, water quality, and run-off mitigation strategies.


Part A. Can we feed the Growing Population?

Begin this segment with the Concord Consortium High Adventure Science online reading, graphics, and computer models. Can we feed the Growing Population?

This online lesson is an excellent introduction to scientific argumentation, evidence-based reasoning, graph and map reading, as well as computer modeling. To complete the exercise, students read segments, answer questions, and use interactive models. Students explore various land use types and soil quality through graphs of land use and crop production.

Different segments introduce different pieces of the computer model. For evaluation purposes with this activity, teachers may choose to have students do one of the following:

  • Create a log-in so that their answers are recorded.
  • Record the answers to the questions in a Word document or on a separate sheet of paper.
  • Complete the work online and then print out their work once a section is complete.
  • Think-pair-share with worksheet – students complete the module independently, pair to complete the worksheet, and share aloud with the class.
Educator Notes: Some parts of the Can we feed the Growing Population? online lesson module will be review of previous information presented in this Educator's Guide. The content focuses on arable land, land use management and BMPs (especially in connection with agriculture), and erosion, but does not get to desertification, salinization, or acidification. Activities 3 and 5 use simple computer models.
Time required: 5 class periods (235 minutes).
Note: The modules could be done as homework. Printable pages can be found here: Can we feed the Growing Population?-Printable Pages

Part B. Natural and Agricultural Erosion Rates

Complete the lesson, Integrate Unit 3: Natural and Agricultural Erosion Rates.
Teachers download the PPT files and share with class. PPT files include good graphics and questions about erosion rates.
This activity uses the think-pair-share method explained here: Think-Pair-Share 
Time required: 1 class required (50 minutes)

Part C. Where does all the Rainfall Go?

This hands-on lab explores different amounts of runoff generated from various landscapes, including those that can be found in urban settings: Where does all the Rainfall Go? 
Time required: 1 class period to build models and explore 60 minutes

Part D. Build an Erosion Model

In this this hands-on lab, students use 2-liter soda bottles to build and test simple landscape models to discover the efficacy of various erosion prevention techniques. Build an Erosion Model
Time required: 1 class period to build model, 1 class to explore (100 minutes)