NASA's Earth Minute: Dishing the Dirt

Videos

Grades6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12Earth and Space Sciences

Scientist Reviewed

Provided by NASA

Open Resource

What it is

This short video allows students to understand why soil moisture is important and how it affects the health and well-being of the planet.
NASA explains why they are studying soil from space and how they can use this data to predict droughts, fires, floods, and landslides.

Teaching tips

Positives

This video is brief, easy to understand, and uses engaging animations.

Prerequisites

Students should know the definition of soil.
There may be an ad before the video.

Differentiation & Implementation

This video is great to use in a science class when learning about the water cycle.
This resource talks about the soil's role in natural disasters which can also be beneficial in science or social studies classes.
Some other related resources are Droughts, Floods, and Water Vapor - Oh My! and Conventional Versus Ecological Farming.

From the scientist review

This resource explains why it is so important to monitor soil moisture; from finding where wildfires are possible and where floods might occur, to improving weather forecasts. This resource is recommended for teaching.

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At a glance

Grades: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Subjects: Earth and Space Sciences
Format: YouTube Video
Language: English
Location: Earth
Provider: NASA
Authors: NASA
Published: April 27, 2021
Last updated: July 16, 2026
: Reviewed by our climate scientists How we review

Standards alignment · MS-ESS2-4. + 31 more

Core

Core Standards legacy

MS-ESS2-4.MS-ESS2-4. Develop a model to describe the cycling of water through Earth's systems driven by energy from the sun and the force of gravity.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.7.2CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.7.2 Analyze the main ideas and supporting details presented in diverse media and formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively, orally) and explain how the ideas clarify a topic, text, or issue under study.
HS-ESS2-5.HS-ESS2-5. Plan and conduct an investigation of the properties of water and its effects on Earth materials and surface processes.
MS-ESS2-C.4.MS-ESS2-C.4. The complex patterns of the changes and the movement of water in the atmosphere, determined by winds, landforms, and ocean temperatures and currents, are major determinants of local weather patterns. (MS-ESS2-5)

New Jersey Climate Education Hub

New Jersey Climate Education Hub Standards legacy

MS-ESS2-4.MS-ESS2-4. Develop a model to describe the cycling of water through Earth’s systems driven by energy from the sun and the force of gravity.
HS-ESS2-5.HS-ESS2-5. Plan and conduct an investigation of the properties of water and its effects on Earth materials and surface processes.
SL.II.7.2SL.II.7.2 Analyze the main ideas and supporting details presented in diverse media and formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively, orally) and explain how the ideas clarify a topic, text, or issue under study.

Oregon Climate Education Hub

Oregon Climate Education Hub Standards legacy

7.SL.27.SL.2 Analyze the main ideas and supporting details presented in diverse media and formats and explain how the ideas clarify a topic, text, or issue under study.
6.ESS2.46.ESS2.4 Develop a model to describe the cycling of water through Earth’s systems driven by energy from the sun and the force of gravity.
HS.ESS2.5HS.ESS2.5 Plan and conduct an investigation of the properties of water and its effects on Earth materials and surface processes.

Wisconsin Climate Education Hub

Wisconsin Climate Education Hub Standards legacy

MS-ESS2-4.MS-ESS2-4. Develop a model to describe the cycling of water through Earth’s systems driven by energy from the sun and the force of gravity.
HS-ESS2-5.HS-ESS2-5. Plan and conduct an investigation of the properties of water and its effects on Earth materials and surface processes.
SL.7.2SL.7.2 Analyze the main ideas and supporting details presented in diverse media and formats and explain how the ideas clarify a topic, text, or issue under study.

Maine Climate Education Hub

Maine Climate Education Hub Standards legacy

MS-ESS2-4MS-ESS2-4 Develop a model to describe the cycling of water through Earth’s systems driven by energy from the sun and the force of gravity.
HS-ESS2-5HS-ESS2-5 Plan and conduct an investigation of the properties of water and its effects on Earth materials and surface processes.
SL.6-8.2SL.6-8.2 Integrate and evaluate information presented in diverse media and formats, including point of view, reasoning, and use of evidence and rhetoric.

New York Climate Education Hub

New York Climate Education Hub Standards legacy

MS-ESS2-4.MS-ESS2-4. Develop a model to describe the cycling of water through Earth’s systems driven by energy from the Sun and the force of gravity.
HS-ESS2-5.HS-ESS2-5. Plan and conduct an investigation of the properties of water and its effects on Earth materials and surface processes.
7SL2:7SL2: Analyze the central ideas and supporting details presented in diverse formats (e.g., including visual, quantitative, and oral) and explain how the ideas clarify and/or contribute to a topic, text, or issue under study.

Connecticut Climate Education Hub

Connecticut Climate Education Hub Standards legacy

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.7.2CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.7.2 Analyze the main ideas and supporting details presented in diverse media and formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively, orally) and explain how the ideas clarify a topic, text, or issue under study.
MS-ESS2-4.MS-ESS2-4. Develop a model to describe the cycling of water through Earth’s systems driven by energy from the sun and the force of gravity.
MS-ESS2-C.4.MS-ESS2-C.4. The complex patterns of the changes and the movement of water in the atmosphere, determined by winds, landforms, and ocean temperatures and currents, are major determinants of local weather patterns. (MS-ESS2-5)
HS-ESS2-5.HS-ESS2-5. Plan and conduct an investigation of the properties of water and its effects on Earth materials and surface processes.

ECCLPs Climate Education Hub

ECCLPs Climate Education Hub Standards legacy

MS-ESS2-4.MS-ESS2-4. Develop a model to describe the cycling of water through Earth’s systems driven by energy from the sun and the force of gravity.
MS-ESS2-C.4.MS-ESS2-C.4. The complex patterns of the changes and the movement of water in the atmosphere, determined by winds, landforms, and ocean temperatures and currents, are major determinants of local weather patterns. (MS-ESS2-5)
HS-ESS2-5.HS-ESS2-5. Plan and conduct an investigation of the properties of water and its effects on Earth materials and surface processes.

Michigan Climate Education Hub

Michigan Climate Education Hub Standards legacy

MS-ESS2-4MS-ESS2-4 Develop a model to describe the cycling of water through Earth’s systems driven by energy from the sun and the force of gravity.
HS-ESS2-5HS-ESS2-5 Plan and conduct an investigation of the properties of water and its effects on Earth materials and surface processes.
SL.7.2.SL.7.2. Analyze the main ideas and supporting details presented in diverse media and formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively, orally) and explain how the ideas clarify a topic, text, or issue under study.

Illinois Climate Education

Illinois Climate Education Standards legacy

SL.7.2.SL.7.2. Analyze the main ideas and supporting details presented in diverse media and formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively, orally) and explain how the ideas clarify a topic, text, or issue under study.
MS-ESS2-4.MS-ESS2-4. Develop a model to describe the cycling of water through Earth’s systems driven by energy from the sun and the force of gravity.
HS-ESS2-5.HS-ESS2-5. Plan and conduct an investigation of the properties of water and its effects on Earth materials and surface processes.

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