Initial Publication Date: January 13, 2021

Chapter 6: Environmental Science, Soil Conservation, and Land Use Management

Chapter Summary

Soil is an essential component of agriculture and a slowly renewable resource that can be replenished as it is used. This chapter examines several natural and human threats to sustained soil productivity, which may become irreversible if not mitigated. To reduce agricultural and environmental degradation and losses, steps must be taken to replace poor farming and development practices with those that reduce human effects and remain sustainable in the long run. We need to protect the soil as a valuable resource so that it can continue to support civilization in the long term.

Learning Objectives

Students who complete this module will know and be able to:
  • Examine images of degraded lands and soils as the product of human and natural degradation and predict what is happening in each image based on prior knowledge and background information.
  • Explore land uses, best management processes, and soil quality through scientific argumentation and evidence-based reasoning based on graphs, maps, and computer modeling.
  • Compare natural erosion rates and those caused by human activity.
  • Predict and compare the impacts of erosion from different land uses on water quality.
  • Explain the use of best management practices in conserving soil.
  • Examine the relationship between land cover, soil type, precipitation, and runoff.
  • Develop and present a soil management plan using best management practices.

Essential Questions

  • How do human and natural activities degrade soil?
  • What is arable soil?
  • What does it mean to be sustainable?
  • What are the challenges to soil function?
  • What are the best management practices to prevent soil loss?

Big Ideas

  • Natural processes and human activities can affect soil quality.
  • Human activities have significant impacts on soil quality.
  • Sustainable land management practices should be used to ensure future soil productivity.

Additional Teaching Materials

Educators PPT file chapter 6
Click to view

Supplemental Educators PPT file for Chapter 6 (PowerPoint 2007 (.pptx) 12.7MB Feb8 21)
Click the link above to download the file to your desktop or hard drive.

Printable Materials

Below are links to the printable PDF files used in this module. Educators may choose to print them ahead of class, or download and save them to their computer for future reference.

Where does all the Rainfall Go?
Build an Erosion Model
Optional Student Worksheets for this chapter are provided below.

Student Worksheet in PDF for Chapter 6 (Acrobat (PDF) 70kB Nov7 21)
Student Worksheet in Word for Chapter 6 (Microsoft Word 2007 (.docx) 26kB Nov7 21)

Teaching Notes and Tips

In this lesson students explore the causes and results of soil degradation as well as the management practices needed to prevent degradation and other environmental issues. Students work with several online computer models to explore management practices that prevent erosion. They then complete a hands-on lab modelling these prevention methods. Students research and present one Best Management Practice and design a watershed management plan.

Time required : 675 minutes, or 10-11 class periods
Tools and Technology needed: Computers, PowerPoint, Materials to build erosion models: foil pans, 3 9-inch pieces of 2x4" lumber, 40-lb bag of topsoil or mineral soil, scissors, plastic spoons, gridded plastic template, 3 2-liter soda bottles, 3 clear cups, 2 wire hangers, grass seed or sod.

This module explores environmental degradation and soil health. To complete the module, students complete a variety of readings, activities, and labs. Before beginning the module, read through the lessons, and acquire needed materials and technology. Download and review the teaching materials, available videos, websites, and PowerPoint files. Print out any handouts that will be needed. In order to reduce the amount of time needed in the classroom, some activities can be assigned as homework or made optional.

Students work with several computer models in this module. Both are free to use and run on either tablets or computers. In the case of the Concord Consortium model, Can we feed the Growing Population?, educators may choose to create log-ins to record student answers or download and print the printable pages. Educators will want to familiarize themselves with the programs before class begins.

The materials for the two hands-on erosion labs need to be acquired before class. As in previous modules, educators may choose to do these labs as demonstrations.

Science Standards (NGSS)

Performance Expectations

HS ESS2-2
HS ESS3-1
HS ESS3-2
HS ESS3-3
HS ESS3-4
HS ESS3-6
HS LS2-7



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