Testing Soil Moisture
Activity - Outdoors
Grades3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8Science
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Provided by Green Schoolyards America
What it is
- In this activity, student teams use a moisture meter to test the soil around trees and other plants and decide which plants need watering and which are growing in soil that is already moist.
- Students gain practice reading a scientific instrument and handling tools safely, record their readings on a worksheet, and discuss balancing plant needs with water conservation.
Teaching tips
Materials:
- To engage in this activity, student groups (2-3 students) will need:
- Moisture meters (with a 1-10 scale)
- Watering cans
Literacy Connections:
- Introduce key vocabulary terms (as appropriate by grade) such as drought, transpiration, evaporation, soil moisture, water conservation, drought-tolerant, precipitation, photosynthesis, and climate resilience.
Climate Change Connections:
- Climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of drought in many regions, making decisions about when and how much to water trees a more urgent and recurring challenge for communities.
- Precipitation patterns are shifting under climate change, with rain arriving in more intense, less frequent bursts rather than steady, predictable amounts, which affects how deeply and evenly soil retains moisture between storms.
- Teaching students to check actual soil moisture before watering (instead of over-watering by default) models the kind of resource-efficient behavior that climate adaptation requires.
From the scientist review
This activity guides students in using simple moisture meters to understand when plants need watering. Instructions are clear, and discussion questions help students share the importance of their findings. Climate change is not mentioned, but this resource’s focus on irrigation and water conservation mean it could easily be adapted to include a climate component. This resource is recommended for teaching.
Ready to use it?
Hosted on static1.squarespace.com
Want this to fit your class?
Add your location for local examples, questions, and action ideas.
