Regenerative Soil Action PBL: Design and Present Your Solution

Driving Question:

How can we, as environmental scientists and agricultural innovators, design solutions that improve soil health and support healthier food options in our community?

Materials:

• Device with internet access
• Challenge Guidelines {{resource link}}
• Challenge Rubric {{resource link}}
• Notebook or digital document

Safety Notes:

• Engage in safe, legal, and ethical behavior when using technology. This applies to devices (hardware), applications or programs (software), and interactions with others.
• There are no anticipated physical safety risks associated with this activity.

Healthy Soil, Healthy Food:

Before designing your solution, your team must understand the relationship between soil health and the food we eat.

Healthy soil contains minerals, organic matter, water, air, and living organisms such as fungi. Together, these components support healthy plant growth. When the soil is healthy, crops will grow stronger and have more nutrients. This can lead to more healthy food options available to our communities.

When damaging farming practices, erosion, and pollution occur, soil can be damaged. When soil quality declines, food production can suffer, and communities will have fewer access points to nutritious food.

Your job is to investigate the problem and design a solution that answers the driving question.

Research the Issue:

Your research must include:

• 3-5 sources
• 1 statistic and 1 story
• Clear citations
• Evidence that supports your claims

With your group, choose a soil health issue. You can select from the following list, or choose an idea that came up while doing another activity. Not sure which issue to choose? Think about your community. What problems might affect how food is grown, sold, or accessed in your neighborhood?

Potential Soil Health Issues:

• Loss of nutrients due to over-farming or poor farming practices
• Lack of organic matter in soil
• Overuse of chemical fertilizers and/or pesticides
• Limited access to local farmers’ markets
• High cost of fresh produce
• Lack of community gardens
• Drought or lack of clean water
• Food deserts connected to poor soil or limited local food production
• Poor composting or food waste practices
• Water pollution from agricultural runoff
• Soil erosion
• Lack of soil biodiversity

Create Your Need-to-Know List:

Your Need-to-Know list will help to guide your research and help your teacher know what mini-lessons may be needed to support your investigation as you answer the driving question.

Think About It:

• Who is affected in the community?
• What solutions have already been tried? Which ones can be adopted or expanded upon in your community solution? Are there any that have not worked, which you should avoid?

Research Time:

Use reliable resources such as school databases, news organizations, or expert interviews. As you research, take notes and cite your sources. Review the guidelines and rubric to help you navigate your research areas.

List Key Facts:

Who are the Stakeholders?

Identify at minimum two stakeholders with different needs or perspectives.

Explain your thinking:

• When ____ changes in the system, it affects ___ by_____.
• This change can lead to _____ because ____, which then impacts____.
• One cause of ____ soil health is ____, which leads to ____ in the community.
• Because the soil is ____, the opportunity for healthy food decreases / increases, which results in ____.

Using Evidence and Data to Draw Conclusions:

Quantitative Data (The Numbers / Statistics)

Qualitative Data (The Story)

Ideation and Design:

Before moving to the design phase, ensure your group has clearly explained the issue, gathered at least 3 sources, and identified at least 2 stakeholders.

Brainstorm Solutions:

Brainstorm as many solutions as possible. Evaluate your top two ideas below:

Call to Action: Create a call to action that tells your audience what you want them to do next (e.g., "Join us in creating a community garden").

Create Your Product:

Review the rubric Article - Regenerative Soil Action PBL: Design and Presentation Rubric as you design. Include soil science concepts and a system model showing the relationship between soil health, food production, and community impact.

Product Formats:

• Website, Social media campaign, PSA/Video, Podcast, Infographic, 3-D model, or Community garden design.

Refine and Practice Your Presentation:

Be prepared to explain the issue, why it matters, stakeholders, cause and effect, your solution, and your call to action. Practice eye contact, speaking clearly, and using visual props.

Reflect and Apply:

1. Summarize the research strategies you used to collect information for the challenge.
2. Share about the learning process. What was most and least helpful? What might you do differently?
3. How did your group work together to make decisions or solve problems during the PBL?
4. Share one thing that you learned that surprised you when completing this PBL.
5. Explain how this project helped you move from learning about soil health to understanding the need for soil health.