Dirt: Losing Ground - Science Unit Study
Soil Science for kids - Erosion and Conservation
Investigate soil erosion and conservation with Dirt: Losing Ground, a cross-curricular science unit study. This homeschool unit is the perfect way to inspire kids to conserve soil and protect the earth with this excellent environmental science resource. Dirt: Losing Ground can be used for two weeks or more as a secular homeschool unit study for a wide range of ages - perfect for family-style homeschooling. Young naturalists, environmentalists and scientists will develop an appreciation for this precious natural resource through cross-curricular inquiry-based learning. Kids will learn how soil erodes and how to stop it with soil experiments and STEAM activities that encourage hands-on open-ended exploration. Take it further exploring the history of soil erosion through the Dust Bowl. Project-based learning activities will help kids model the ecosystem of the soil through art. Games and puppets are used to explore the connection between the carbon cycle and soil. (The Carbon Cycle game can also be purchased separately.) These hands-on soil science activities are ideal for elementary students through middle school. With wordplay, content-based vocabulary helps deepen the connection between language and scientific learning. Though this study guide is effective on its own, this unit is also the final in a four-unit course all about the science of soil.
In this adventure, kids will explore:
What are weathering and erosion?
What can we learn from events like the Dust Bowl?
Why is soil important for the health of the planet?
What is the Carbon Cycle and what is the role of soil?
How can we do our part to protect the soil?
What is soil worth to society?
Secular Homeschool Science Curriculum
NorthStar’s unit study guides can be combined to form a stand-alone secular science curriculum, as STEAM lesson plans, or as a homeschool unit study to bring variety and enhance the science curriculum of your choice. Dirt: Losing Ground 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 plan encourages 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 32-page guide is packed full of easy fun STEAM activities for elementary kids:
3 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
11 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
Handwriting practice pages
2 storytelling prompts to engage the imagination of little problem-solvers
1 book prompt for discussion, math play projects paired with Dirt Cheap by Mark Hoffman
Carbon Cycle Game - a fun cooperative game that involves strategy, luck, ingenuity, and math play
Vocabulary list with 2 activity ideas
Engaging “Joke Time” copywork selection with teaching notes with a mini-poster of poem included encouraging multi-sensory writing alternatives.
Social studies mini-study to provide cross-curricular connections with the topic
Notebooking activities and templates - kids will make a “Discovery Journal” to track and reflect on learning
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.
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.
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
