Climate Change Toolkit: Solar Energy & Soil Temperature
Provided by: Paleontological Research Institution|Published on: July 25, 2022|Last updated: September 26, 2026
Grades: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Type: Activity - Outdoors
Subjects: Physics, Earth and Space Sciences
Authors: Paleontological Research Institution
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 →
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 →
Synopsis
- This outdoors experiment is an effective way for students to learn how soil absorbs solar energy at various depths, times of day, and during different seasons.
- A student data sheet, background information, and instructions to complete the hands-on experiment are included in this resource.
Teaching Materials
Positives
- The resource includes helpful graphs and visuals to aid in explaining the phenomenon of solar energy absorption by soil.
- Students collect real data in a simple experiment.
Additional Prerequisites
- Students should be familiar with the concept of solar radiation and how it can be absorbed or reflected back into the atmosphere.
- Students should be able to read and create line graphs.
Differentiation
- Consider having students work in pairs and choose a variety of experiment locations or soil types to test.
- Have students make predictions about soil temperature gradients before completing the experiment.
- Connect this experiment to topics such as insulation, energy efficient building designs, green roofs, animals that burrow under ground, or ancient human remains from caves and other underground locations.
- This video from the same organization further explains the phenomenon.
- Additional resources to aid in exploring how soil impacts climate are Essentials of Environmental Science: The Importance of Soil and Project Hero Soil Quest.
This resource has students use probe thermometers to measure soil temperatures at various depths in order to understand the impact of solar radiation from the sun on soil ecosystems. This document is similar to that presented in the video Resource PRI-5. The experiments presented in this resource can be conducted either outdoors or indoors and includes supporting information. This resource is recommended for teaching.
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
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