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Database Provider

Author

UN FAO

Grades

6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th

Subjects

Science, Chemistry, Biology, Earth and Space Sciences

Resource Type

  • Videos, 4 minutes, 20 seconds, CC, Subtitles

Regional Focus

Global

Format

YouTube Video

Soil Organic Carbon - The Treasure Beneath Our Feet

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UN FAO

Synopsis
  • 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.
Scientist Notes

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.

Standards
  • Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
    • ESS2: Earth's Systems
      • HS-ESS2-2 Analyze geoscience data to make the claim that one change to Earth’s surface can create feedbacks that cause changes to other Earth systems.
      • HS-ESS2-6 Develop a quantitative model to describe the cycling of carbon among the hydrosphere, atmosphere, geosphere, and biosphere.
    • ESS3: Earth and Human Activity
      • MS-ESS3-3 Apply scientific principles to design a method for monitoring and minimizing a human impact on the environment.
    • LS2: Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics
      • HS-LS2-7 Design, evaluate, and refine a solution for reducing the impacts of human activities on the environment and biodiversity.
  • Common Core English Language Arts Standards (CCSS.ELA)
    • Speaking & Listening (K-12)
      • CCSS.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.
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