Soil Organic Carbon - The Treasure Beneath Our Feet
Videos
Grades6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12Chemistry, Biology, Earth and Space Sciences
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Provided by UN FAO
What it is
- This short video describes the importance of soil in storing carbon in the form of organic matter and the importance of soil management practices in the fight against climate change.
- It also details the importance of soil fertility in providing and storing nutrients for plant and crop growth.
Teaching tips
Positives
- This video covers a carbon sink that is not often discussed but can be found in all regions.
- It provides helpful visuals and text throughout to communicate the function and importance of soil organic matter.
Additional Prerequisites
- Students should be familiar with the concept of carbon sequestration and decomposition.
- Students should have a basic understanding of the carbon cycle.
Differentiation
- Before watching this video consider doing a think-pair-share related to the purpose of soil or related to the contents of soil.
- Students could go outside and collect some soil to analyze after they watch the video.
- Social studies classes could connect this resource to lessons about how changing environmental conditions affect rural communities and small-scale farmers.
- Science classes could connect this resource to lessons about photosynthesis, cellular respiration, ecology, decomposition, and the carbon cycle.
- Another resource related to this is Soil Carbon Sequestration and the Soil Food Web.
From the scientist review
This resource spotlights basic soil management strategies to improve soil health and sequester carbon from the atmosphere. This technique can be replicated. Thus, the resource is recommended for teaching.
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