Understanding the climate. Protecting the soil.
Soils play an important role in climate change because they store and transfer gases like carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, which are important for the climate. Soils can store or release carbon depending on their condition and use. For example, they can form humus or be found in peatlands. It is, therefore, essential to protect, restore, and manage soils in a sustainable way to help fight climate change (LABO, 2020).
Climate change affects two important parts of soil: soil moisture and temperature. These things do not act alone but influence each other. For example, increased evaporation in hot weather or limited water absorption during heavy rainfall can affect them. Droughts reduce microbial activity in the soil, reduce plant nutrients, and change biodiversity. Heavy rainfall can also hurt the soil in different ways, like eroding, compacting, or losing nutrients.
It is critical to regularly check soil data so that changes can be seen early on, risks can be assessed, and specific steps can be taken to deal with them.
Together with the UNESCO Geopark Schwäbische Alb and the Geopark schools, we are using soil sensors to measure and monitor things like soil temperature and moisture. LoRaWAN sensors are used for this purpose as they enable continuous data collection.
The collected soil data is evaluated and presented clearly, for example, in dashboards. The sensors are installed with the Geopark schools. The data is assessed and then made available for teaching purposes. Students can define their own questions and learn how to use IoT sensors to measure things.
How does this fit into the curriculum?
It depends on the type of school. For example, the project could be carried out in the following subjects, with a focus on soil, climate change, sensor technology, LoRaWAN, and citizen science:
Here is an example of a community school:
Subjects: Natural sciences, geography, technology, computer science, and WBS (economics, career and study orientation).
Education for sustainable development (ESD).
Here is an example of a regular secondary school.
The subjects include geography, biology, natural sciences and technology, computer science, and BNT (business, natural sciences, and technology). Another subject is education for sustainable development (ESD).