http://www.teachengineering.org/view_lesson.php?url=collection/cub_/lessons/cub_rock/cub_rock_lesson05.xmllessontext/xmlIntegrated Teaching and Learning Program, bedrockcross-sectiondevelopmentdirtEartherosionhorizonshumuslandorganicrockrock cyclesitesoilsoil profileundergroundweatheringchemical weatheringerosionhorizonsinorganic matterleachingorganic matterphysical weatheringsoil profiletranslocationweathering

Students learn the basics about soil, including its formation, characteristics and importance. They are also introduced to soil profiles and how engineers conduct site investigations to learn about soil quality for development, contamination transport, and assessing the general environmental health of an area.

Geotechnical engineers apply their expertise about soil and rocks to the development of foundations for a variety of structures. In advance of any design or construction, they conduct environmental site assessments in areas proposed for development and make suggestions based on soil properties. They learn about the composition and condition of soil in an area and predict the long-term effects of that soil on walls, foundations, septic systems and countless other structures that are integral to our daily lives. For example, some clay soils have a tendency to shrink and swell as their water content changes, often triggered by changes in seasons and precipitation. This expansive property can put pressure on the walls of structures and damage them. Describe several physical properties of soil.Explain what a soil profile is and how engineers use it to determine an area’s soil quality.20TeachEngineering.orgMarissa Hagan ForbesMalinda Schaefer ZarskeDenise W. Carlsonhttp://ceroi.net/reports/johannesburg/csoe/html/nonjava/Soil/intro.htmhttp://soil.gsfc.nasa.gov/touchtheearth/intro-use.htmhttp://www.physicalgeography.net/fundamentals/10t.html S11416D0International_Technology_Education_Association-ITEA_STL_StandardsTechnologyF. New products and systems can be developed to solve problems or to help do things that could not be done without the help of technology. 68S11416D0International_Technology_Education_Association-ITEA_STL_StandardsTechnologyF. New products and systems can be developed to solve problems or to help do things that could not be done without the help of technology. 68S11425B1ColoradoSciencea. Describe the geologic time scale and why it is used 77United StatesCopyright 2012 - Integrated Teaching and Learning Program, College of Engineering, University of Colorado at Boulderhttp://www.teachengineering.org/policy_ipp.phphttp://www.teachengineering.org/2011-11-247Teacher