The How Should We Use Our Soil? unit consists of eight sessions divided into three parts. Before beginning the unit, students complete the Pre-Unit Questionnaire. Then, in Sessions 1-3, they use observation to collect qualitative data. They consider the importance of soil. They find out about their soil-study site and examine the layers of soil in the ground at the site. Then they observe the look and feel of a soil sample dug from the study site and classify its textural class (sandy, silty, clayey, or loamy).

In Sessions 4-7, students take measurements to collect quantitative data. They measure the amount of water the soil can hold, determine its color category (dark, medium, or light), and find its organic-matter content and pH. These measurements lead students to a deeper understanding of the characteristics of their soil and how it can best be used. Then they send their data to the unit database.

In Session 8, students discover what they can learn from display and analysis of the data in the unit database. At the end of the unit, they complete the Post-Unit Questionnaire.