Information For Teachers and Students

Alaska Envirothon — This link will take Alaska students and educators to all the study materials needed to compete in the Alaska Envirothon.

S.K.Worm teaches soils
It's a dirty job but someone has to do it—S.K.Worm, the official annelid, or worm, of the Natural Resources Conservation Service answers students' questions about soil. Even their teachers can't wiggle their way out of this one! Slither your way through these soiled questions and earn a very special diploma. You might even get hooked on Soil!

Ten Key Messages to Help People Understand Soils
Key messages to understanding soils have been added to the the soil education site and to an educational CD entitled "Helping People Understand Soils-Tools for Educators, Version 2". The educational CD will be released at the National Science Teachers Association conference in Atlanta, Georgia the first week of April 2004 by NRCS, USDA. The CD will be made available on request following the release in April.

Dig In! Hands-On Soil Investigations — New Soil Education Publication
The National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announce the release of Dig In! Hands-On Soil Investigations. This lively, 129-page softbound book, a bestseller when it debuted at the 2001 NSTA convention in St. Louis, will soon assist educators across the nation in teaching scientifically accurate soil and soil conservation information in an enjoyable way. The book is available from NSTA by calling 1-800-277-5300 (7/24/01)

• The book's target audience is Kindergarten through Grade 4 teachers. Dig In provides classroom-tested lesson plans, stories, and activities about soil formation, habitats, and land use. The book also discusses animals and plants that depend on soil. The book's activities are interesting and fun and lead to a greater appreciation of the value of soil. Activities meet National Science Education Standards.
• NSTA is the world's largest organization promoting science teaching and learning for all. The 53,000-member association publishes four journals, a newspaper, and many books and publications for teachers.

Backyard Conservation A series of lesson plans to teach students about Backyard Conservation through hands-on studies that promote field investigation and action.  Lesson plans are available for elementary grades 3 to 5, middle school grades 6 to 8 and high school grades 9 to 12.

PLANTS Database The PLANTS Database is a single source of standardized information about plants. This database focuses on vascular plants, mosses, liverworts, hornworts, and lichens of the U.S. and its territories.