6 th Grade Science

Objectives Students will understand that good health of humans requires: monitoring the lithosphere, maintaining soil quality, and stewardship.

Essential questions How does soil quality affect humans? How do humans affect soil quality?

Soil Erosion The wearing away of soil Loss of soil Dust bowl video

Natural Causes of Soil Erosion : Wind Water (rain) Gravity (hills, mountains) Ice (glaciers, cold temperatures)

Other Causes of Soil Erosion: Farming Mining Construction

Severe weather speeds up soil erosion! Storms Tornados Floods

Soil Conservation: Ways to preserve (or save) the soil

1. Crop Rotation Planting different crops on the same field in different years (wheat/bean example)

2. Conservation Tillage Reducing the number of times fields are tilled, or plowed, in a year

3. Terraces Flat, step-like areas built on a hillside to prevent rainwater from running downhill

4. Contour Plowing Plowing along curves or contours of a slope to prevent water from running straight downhill

5. Wind Breaks Rows of trees between fields to “break” or reduce the force of winds.

Soil Conservation Examples Find a partner. Read the scenario of erosion. With your partner, decide on a solution to the problem. Write your solution next to the scenario and then draw a picture of your solution.

1. A farmer notices that his crops are being destroyed by wind. They are starting to lean to one side, and the soil is blowing across the field. What can he do to better conserve the soil? Explain & draw a picture. 2. A neighbor of yours is getting ready to plant a garden of flowers in his backyard. He asks you for ideas on how to conserve soil. You notice that his backyard has a lot of hills. What do you suggest? Explain & draw a picture. 3. Your parents decide to put mulch around the trees in your yard. Each time after it rains, you notice the amount of mulch is decreasing. Why is this? What do you tell your parents to prevent this from happening? Explain & draw a picture 4. Your uncle has had a farm for 20 years. Each year he plants potatoes on the left field. This year, half of his potatoes died. What should he do next year? Explain & draw a picture. 5. You live in house that has a long, steep driveway. Your mom plants flowers beside the driveway. However, each time it rains the soil runs down the hill. What should she do? Explain & draw a picture. 6. Your grandfather is a farmer. You hear him complain about how his crops are not doing well. You know that we have the same amount of rainfall as last year. What might he need to do to improve the crops next year? Explain & draw a picture.