Ward's® AP Environmental Science: The Soil Factor - How Does Your Garden Grow?

Hands-on, standards-based lab kit that helps students explore soil properties and their impact on plant growth.

• Inquiry based assessments build skills in hypothesizing, testing methods & more

• Activities connect to real-world environmental issues
• Lab allows for maximum lesson flexibility
• Align to AP® Environmental science units 4.2, 4.3, 4.6, 5.4, 5.5, 5.12, and 5.15
• Supports NGSS standards HS:ESS2-5
• Includes a teacher's guide and student copymasters

Students examine the critical role of soil and soil dynamics in our environment in this comprehensive introduction to soil properties and classification methods. Through a series of engaging, hands-on investigations, they explore soil texture, porosity, nutrients, moisture, and water-holding capacity discovering how these factors impact plant growth.

Four individual activities and assessments build skills in observation, hypothesis testing, and data analysis, while two additional inquiry-based challenges push students to apply their understanding to real-world agricultural and environmental problems.

This kit brings soil science to life with teacher-inspired labs designed for maximum flexibility and student engagement. Each activity aligns with AP® environmental science and national standards, incorporating math and vocabulary concepts while promoting critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

The innovative Three-in-One approach featuring traditional, applied, and guided-inquiry options provides the most comprehensive coverage of key APES topics through relevant, real-world applications. Each kit includes a detailed teacher’s guide with background information, notes, and step-by-step instructions to save valuable planning time, plus full student copymasters and access to online resources.

Supported by Ward’s® expert in-house team, the lab is available as a single master kit for one group or as a cost-saving classroom package for up to eight setups, making it an ideal choice for any AP® environmental science classroom.

Ordering information: Purchase options for a single kit (designed for one lab station set up of three to four students) or classroom kit (designed for eight lab station setups of three to four students).