Dirt: Expedition - Soil Science Curriculum
Complete Soil Science Guide for Kids!
Dig deep into soil science with Dirt: Expedition Guide. This four-unit course is a perfect way to explore environmental science and the wonders of the natural world. Dirt can be used for 8 weeks or more as a secular homeschool science curriculum for a wide range of ages - perfect for family-style homeschooling. Young environmentalists and scientists will develop an appreciation for this precious natural resource through inquiry-based learning. Kids will explore soil texture, quality, conservation, and more with soil experiments, STEAM activities, games, and project-based learning activities. These hands-on soil science activities are ideal for elementary students through middle school.
Kids will explore:
What is soil? What is it made of?
How is soil essential for life? What lives in the soil?
What is soil texture and why does it matter?
How does soil form and what are the layers of soil in the earth?
What is erosion?
How can we be good environmental stewards of the soil?
Dirt: Expedition is four comprehensive unit studies in one!
PLUS bonus activities including cozy poetry to engage the senses and a learning celebration for the end of the study!
Secular Homeschool Science Curriculum
NorthStar’s resources can be combined to form a stand-alone secular science curriculum, used for STEAM lesson plans, or as homeschool unit studies to bring variety and enhance the science curriculum of your choice. Dirt: Expedition Guide was designed with homeschool families in mind, but it is equally as useful for classrooms, cooperatives, afterschool programs, and science clubs. The flexible unit study plans encourage child-led learning with inquiry and discovery at the core of the activity design. Adults will love the clearly laid out activity guides, easy-to-use graphic organization, integrated math and literacy activities, and cross-curricular extensions. Kids will love the hands-on fun STEAM activities, engaging books, visual learning and media options, and so much more!
This 158-page guide is packed full of easy fun STEAM activities for elementary kids:
11 main hands-on STEAM projects for elementary and middle school students ages 5-12 with detailed how-tos, troubleshooting, supply lists, and information about the science
Play-based math and literacy activities integrated into core projects
Big ideas prep adults with the main concepts, including why soil is important, what kind of soil is best for plants and what is soil and erosion
Curious questions prompt inquiry-based learning for deep science exploration and discovery
34 carefully selected living book recommendations - Excellent book selections that bring challenging ideas with a compelling narrative and imagery (books are not required to complete the study)
Kid-approved media recommendations to explain how important soil is to our environment
Cozy poetry with mud and dirt-themed poetry tea-time to engage the senses and kick off learning
Differentiated handwriting practice pages
Storytelling prompts to engage the imagination of little problem-solvers
Book prompts for discussion
Carbon Cycle Game - a fun cooperative game that involves strategy, luck, ingenuity, and math play
Vocabulary lists that include activity ideas
4 engaging copywork selections with teaching notes. Mini-posters of poems are included to encourage multi-sensory writing alternatives.
Social studies mini-studies to provide cross-curricular connections with the topic
Notebooking activities and templates - kids will make a “Discovery Journal” to track and reflect on learning
A learning celebration with review games, posters, decorations, music, and food ideas, and more to solidify the learning with fun
Level indicators to make it easy to select activities or differentiate for the ages of your learners - from preschool through elementary with advanced topics for older learners.
NOTE: This product is a digital download. No physical copy will be sent. Sales are final. We recommend downloading within the first 24 hours. You are purchasing a document license for one household only. Please do not share or redistribute - our small business depends on your honesty!
If you are looking for printing services, we have partnered with Watson Family Press to provide our customers with discounted printing costs. The code will be provided to you in your download email.
Praise for “Dirt”
“The entire unit plan is easy to follow - with sections like Big Ideas/Read/Watch. I love the simplicity of learn something, read something, watch something and then make something….It is also really flexible too as a family can do every part or skip around based on what time they have/hands on parent they have…The language in the unit is friendly - as a teacher I have found the importance of friendly and inviting language but now as a parent/homeschool parent, it instantly puts you at ease. From the opening activity of “Map Your Own Route” to “Wonderful Words” and then the connotation behind “painting, pudding, play.” Any child would want to do this. “ - L. Engstrom, homeschool mom and former teacher
“I like how it flows…and I love how you integrate art, the interactive painting and getting really into the mud, this is EXCELLENT” - J Perez, homeschool mom and artist
The NorthStar Approach - A Learning Adventure
Engage: Great books and media recommendations help teach the big ideas.
Explore: Hands-on science explorations, process art, food fun, and more provide multi-sensory learning experiences to deepen understanding.
Express: Children are encouraged to track their observations in their Discovery Journal and to reflect about their key discoveries at the end of their studies.
Extend: Children are encouraged to take it further with resources to deepen learning about the topic and additional project ideas. Each lab includes optional cross-curricular extensions, including math and literacy activities with poetry copy work, wordplay, math fun, and story starters.
Explore All Products in the Dirt Unit Study Series
Looking for a shorter study about soil? Each of the units in this series can also be purchased separately.
