Soil science addresses many of the national teaching standards for middle school level biology, earth science, and geography.  However, few middle school teachers are trained in soil science, and there are not many soils teaching materials available at that level.  As part of a grant to improve middle school education on watershed quality in the Mississippi Headwaters region, the Headwaters Science Center commissioned the development of a soil science teaching kit.  A kit was developed with background information and hands-on activities in four sections.  It was designed so teachers can choose to teach one, several, or all of the sections.  Local and regional soil samples were collected and analyzed for use with the kit.  The kit sections were Soil Composition and Physical Properties, Soil Water, Soil Chemical Properties, and Soil Formation and Geography.