Program Description: 

Through a grant from the South Dakota Office of the National Resource Conservation Service, the SD Discovery Center is developing an interactive soil exhibit to be located in the SD Discovery Center. In conjunction with this exhibit, outreach deliverables also are being developed. The primary outreach deliverable is The Soil Health Connection Teaching Units and Resource Matrix.

This set of curricular resources supports educators in meeting standards while teaching the important ideas about healthy soil. Soil makes a compelling phenomenon because it’s everywhere, all students have some experience with it, and it offers many surprises and mysteries. Where possible, a South Dakota connection is made with the learning. Once this curriculum is fully developed, the SD Discovery Center will provide professional development to both formal and informal educators and SD NRCS staff.

Collaborators:

SD Discovery Center
SD Natural Resources and Conservation Service
SD Soil Health Coalition
SD Agriculture Museum

Responsibilities:

• Develop a K-8 Soil Health Connection Teaching Units that
  • align with SD Science Standards
  • apply applicable three dimensions of the science framework: Science and Engineering Practices, Disciplinary Core Ideas and Crosscutting Concepts
  • use the 5E Instructional Model
  • provide resources for the teacher background information
  • use household materials for activities
• Create a Soil Connection Resource Matrix that includes
  • individual lessons aligned to SD Standards for each grade level
  • title, brief description and link to each lesson
  • list of and links to supporting resources such as websites, videos, books, posters, models, power points, presentations, extension activities and more
• Coordinated the initial meetings of collaborators
• Facilitated initial discussions with exhibit designer KidZiBits