Science Unit: Soil Solutions in Invention & Design
Unit Plan
About 10 hr 20 min6 lessonsGrades6, 7, 8Science, Engineering
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 →
Teach these in order. This unit plan is designed for the lessons to be taught in order. The unit as a whole has scored in the exemplar range on our rubric.
About this unit
In this unit, students explore how soil, water, climate, and human systems are interconnected by investigating soil health, nutrient cycling, extreme weather, and traditional and modern farming practices. Through the invention education design process, they apply scientific and Indigenous knowledge and equity-centered thinking to identify local challenges and design sustainable, community-centered solutions.
Lessons in this unit, in order
- 1Science Lesson: How Soil WorksStudents explore how soil supports life and cycles nutrients through plants and decomposers, then connect these ideas to real-world issues by analyzing local so...Lesson Plan · 1 hr 40 min · Grades 6, 7, 8 View Lesson
- 2Science Lesson: Soil Health and AgricultureStudents investigate how soil health supports ecosystems and food production, examine soil samples, and use evidence to compare healthy and unhealthy soils. Stu...Lesson Plan · 1 hr 10 min · Grades 6, 7, 8 View Lesson
- 3Designing for Water: Adapting Indigenous PracticesStudents explore traditional Indigenous water-harvesting techniques used by the Tohono O’odham people to learn how these methods help protect soil and conserve...Lesson Plan · 1 hr 30 min · Grades 6, 7, 8 View Lesson
- 4Invention Lesson: Designing for Our CommunityIn this lesson, students apply an invention education framework to identify a local soil, water, or agricultural challenge by connecting traditional knowledge,...Lesson Plan · 1 hr 45 min · Grades 6, 7, 8 View Lesson
- 5Invention Lesson: Sketch, Build, ImproveIn this lesson, students apply research and defined constraints to design, sketch, and build a prototype that addresses a problem identified in Lesson 4. Studen...Lesson Plan · 2 hr · Grades 6, 7, 8 View Lesson
- 6Invention Lesson: Refining Sustainable SolutionsIn this lesson, students test their prototypes, observe outcomes, and use evidence to improve their designs. Students reflect on sustainability and real-world i...Lesson Plan · 2 hr 15 min · Grades 6, 7, 8 View Lesson
Preview the unit plan
Better on a bigger screen? Open it in its own tab.View Unit Plan
