The Topsoil Tour by LaMotte – Digging Into the Phenomena of Soil Science

The Topsoil Tour digital curriculum makes the connection between classroom activities that explore the physical and chemical properties of soil to the importance of healthy soil to student’s daily lives. The Tour is divided into eight units – an introduction to soil, soil classification, pH, soil nutrients, nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, and a summary – allowing flexible scheduling. A two-part downloadable curriculum, the Tour can be adapted to remote or classroom learning. The Instructor section provides detailed information for preparing for the tour – including organizing the tour, shopping list of household items for the activities, answer keys for puzzles, and questions that start group discussions. In the Student section, each unit begins with background material that is followed with diagrammed procedures, a data sheet, and a puzzle. The section, or selected parts of it, can be shared on an iPad, computer, or printed and handed out.

The Tour is perfect for new teachers, those who don’t have a strong science background, or a valuable addition to a time-tested curriculum. The Topsoil Tour is inclusive and can be adapted to suit student audience, grade levels and abilities. Activities combine written and visual instructions, vocabulary words and definitions improve literacy for ESL students, data sheets can be altered for reading level, hands-on testing provides an opportunity for students who learn better when they are active, and small groups encourage everyone to participate and help each other.

The Topsoil Tour includes an Instructor Manual, Student Manual with data sheets and puzzles, classroom color chart, and tablet reagents and sample test bags for 50 students. Instructors provide common household items. The students supply the soil samples.