Envirothon

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I.	Basic Soils Knowledge
	a.	Formation
	b.	Drainage
	c.	Soil horizons
	d.	Hands-on investigation
	e.	Soil quality
II.	Understanding Maps, Surveys and Landforms
	a.	Soil survey maps
	b.	Land use survey
	c.	Landforms and geologic terms
III.	Land Use
	a.	Basic Soils Knowledge   a. Formation   b. Drainage   c. Soil horizons   d. Hands-on investigation   e. Soil quality   Understanding Maps, Surveys and Landforms   a. Soil survey maps   b. Land use survey   c. Landforms and geologic terms   Land Use   a. Agriculture and conservation practices   b. Current environmental concerns and land use issues   c. History was affected by soils   b. Remediation from pollution   c. Identification and benefits of wetlands   Decision-Making and Protection of Soils   a. Scenarios   b. Actions at home and at school   Basic Soils Knowledge   a. Recognize basic soil forming factors.   b. Evaluate and explain the drainage properties of soils.   c. Explain ways in which polluted soils may be renovated.   d. Explain the concept and characteristics of soil horizons.   e. Identify and describe soil types and soil properties with hands-on investigation of:   1. soil samples (includes soil texture) 2. soil profiles, soil pits and /or soil monoliths 3. soil structure 4. soil pH 5. soil color   f. Soil biology and organic matter.   g. Learn to recognize landforms.   Understanding Maps and Surveys   a. Utilize a Soil Survey in determining soil properties and limitations for specific sites.   b. Understand and interpret geographical information from topographic maps.   Land use   a. Describe possible environmental impacts of agriculture.   b. Explain and discuss current soil and land use related concerns in Pennsylvania such as: 1. Erosion 2. Soil pollution 3. Urban sprawl 4. Loss of farmland   c. Explain the complexity of land use issues using examples of people, organizations, environmental concerns and demands.   d. Explain the historical perspective of land use and soil erosion in the U.S.   Decision-Making and Protection of Soils   a. Apply knowledge of soil, environmental impacts, economics, human demands, and   b. Given data for a proposed scenario in making environmentally sound land use decisions.   c. Discuss ways to help protect the soil and land of Pennsylvania.   Reference Materials List An Introduction to Soils of Pennsylvania   How to use a Published Soil Survey   Soil Quality Information Sheets (found on the following website: http://www.soils.usda.gov/sqi/)   Soil Quality Introduction Erosion Sediment Deposition Compaction Salinization Soil Biodiversity Available Water Capacity Pesticides Hydrophobicity Indicators for Soil Quality Evaluation Organic Matter Soil Crusts Aggregate Stability Infiltration Soil pH (rangeland not used in Pa.)   Sustaining Our Soils and Society   Topographic Map Symbols   Soil Biology Primer (use only chapter 1 “The Soil Food Web”, pages 4-9 for 2004)   From the Surface Down   A Conservation Catalog   Soil References for Landforms and Geologic Terms “Soil Structure” “Soil Texture”   Soil’s Not Trivial   Cornell Soil pH test kits (may be borrowed from your County Conservation District)   Do You Dig Wetland Soils?   Soil Texturing Flow Chart / Soil Texture Textural Triangle **   Agriculture and conservation practices
	b.	Current environmental concerns and land use issues
	c.	History was affected by soils
	b.	Remediation from pollution
	c.	Identification and benefits of wetlands
IV.	Decision-Making and Protection of Soils
	a.	Scenarios
	b.	Actions at home and at school
I.	Basic Soils Knowledge
	a.		Recognize basic soil forming factors.
	b.		Evaluate and explain the drainage properties of soils.
	c.		Explain ways in which polluted soils may be renovated.
	d.		Explain the concept and characteristics of soil horizons.
	e.		Identify and describe soil types and soil properties with hands-on investigation of:
			1. soil samples (includes soil texture) 2. soil profiles, soil pits and /or soil monoliths 3. soil structure 4. soil pH 5. soil color
	f.		Soil biology and organic matter.
	g.		Learn to recognize landforms.
2.	Understanding Maps and Surveys
	a.		Utilize a Soil Survey in determining soil properties and limitations for specific sites.
	b.		Understand and interpret geographical information from topographic maps.
3.	Land use
	a.		Describe possible environmental impacts of agriculture.
	b.		Explain and discuss current soil and land use related concerns in Pennsylvania such as: 1. Erosion 2. Soil pollution 3. Urban sprawl 4. Loss of farmland
	c.		Explain the complexity of land use issues using examples of people, organizations, environmental concerns and demands.
	d.		Explain the historical perspective of land use and soil erosion in the U.S.
4.	Decision-Making and Protection of Soils
	a.		Apply knowledge of soil, environmental impacts, economics, human demands, and
	b.		Given data for a proposed scenario in making environmentally sound land use decisions.
	c.		Discuss ways to help protect the soil and land of Pennsylvania.
Reference Materials List
I.	An Introduction to Soils of Pennsylvania
2.	How to use a Published Soil Survey
3.	Soil Quality Information Sheets (found on the following website: http://www.soils.usda.gov/sqi/)
	Soil Quality Introduction Erosion Sediment Deposition Compaction Salinization Soil Biodiversity Available Water Capacity Pesticides Hydrophobicity			Indicators for Soil Quality Evaluation Organic Matter Soil Crusts Aggregate Stability Infiltration Soil pH (rangeland not used in Pa.)
4.	Sustaining Our Soils and Society
5.	Topographic Map Symbols
6.	Soil Biology Primer (use only chapter 1 “The Soil Food Web”, pages 4-9 for 2004)
7.	From the Surface Down
8.	A Conservation Catalog
9.	Soil References for Landforms and Geologic Terms “Soil Structure” “Soil Texture”
10.	Soil’s Not Trivial
11.	Cornell Soil pH test kits (may be borrowed from your County Conservation District)
12.	Do You Dig Wetland Soils?
13.	Soil Texturing Flow Chart / Soil Texture Textural Triangle **