4.2 The Effects of Soil Quality on Animal Life
This middle school lesson, “The Effects of Soil Quality on Animal Life” (MS.NR.4.2), is part of the Pork Checkoff Middle School Food and Agricultural Literacy Curriculum’s Natural Resources Science: Soil unit. Students learn what soil quality is and explore how it impacts animal life through plant nutrition, habitat, and environmental contamination such as oil spills. The lesson uses an interest-approach picture comparison, an animal/habitat ID card matching activity, note-taking, and an Eye Witness News interview review activity.
At a glance
- Learning objectives
-
- As a result of this unit the students will explain the importance of maintaining soil quality.
- As a result of this lesson the students will describe the impact of soil quality on animal life.
- Time required
- Instruction time for this lesson: 45 minutes.
- Grade level
- Middle School
- Materials
-
- Overhead projector or writing surface
- LCD projector or SMART board (optional)
- Writing utensil
- Plain, white paper – one for every two students
- MS.NR.4.2.TM.A – overhead or one copy per four students
- MS.NR.4.2.TM.B – one per teacher
- MS.NR.4.2.TM.C – one per teacher
- MS.NR.4.2.TM.D – overhead or one copy per four students
- MS.NR.4.2.TM.E – one per student
- MS.NR.4.2.AS.A – four animal ID cards, four habitat ID cards per group of four students
- MS.NR.4.2.ASSESS.A – one per student
- Lesson Number
- MS.NR.4.2
- Precepts
- A. Action — A5. Communicate effectively with others; B. Relationship — B2. Interact and work with others
- Key Terms
- Soil quality
- Resources
- Doran, J.W., et al. (2009). Soil Quality Basics. Retrieved August 29, 2009, from Soil Quality: The functional value and stability of soil resources Web Site: http://soilquality.org/basics.html — National FFA Organization. (2003). LifeKnowledge Precepts and Signs of Success
Downloads & Links
Aligned Standards
National Standards
- NL-ENG.K-12.12Applying Language Skills
- NL-ENG.K-12.4Communication Skills
- NRS.02.04.03.a.aIdentify characteristics of a healthy wildlife habitat.
- NS.5-8.6Science in Personal and Social Perspectives