The year of application 2015 was the International Year of the Soils (IYS). On this occasion the project EELLSS was set up to offer a “European Experiential Learning Lab on Soil Science”. The aim was to:o interlink natural sciences with “soils” as a practical, concrete and “living” lab and innovative learning fieldo combine scientific knowledge and skills with state of the art learning technologyo create an entrance to soil science in European schools both for teachers and for the studentso introduce a competence oriented learning approach in which students from different regions in Europe work and learn togethero establish a growing open and cooperative learning and development space for teachers and learnersThe EELLSS proeject was implemented by partners with complementary expertise from DE, NL, TR, LV, SE, IT, ES; five schools, a teachers’ training University, formal and informal training institutes and networks and a school maintaining authority.Soil is one of the most important spheres (pedosphere) of our planet, combing biosphere with atmosphere and the rocky underground. Most of the life processes take part in the soil. As such soil is a living lab for all kinds of biological, chemical, physical processes. Hence it is more than any other substrate a rich source for natural science learning. In addition, it offers a huge creative potential, which makes it ideal for interdisciplinary learning projects.Soils are highly influenced by human action (land-use, pollution, sealing of soils etc.) and thus have a high potential to serve as locations for a problem and needs driven education which fits to our complex world where interdisciplinary competences are of utmost importance.All these aspects and properties make soils an ideal field of learning and study.In an educational situation when Europe is confronted with phenomena like:• early school leaving,• decreasing attractiveness of learning in schools and natural sciences and• low achievement of basic skillssoils (and the connected soil sciences) offer rich and contextualised learning environments for basic and science education, for practical and problem based learning and for interdisciplinary learning projects. As they also differ from region to region and influence the local and regional environment and climate, soils are an interesting field for practical comparative research for students (and teachers) in joint European learning projects. For this reason, the soil is the “biggest and most practical learning laboratory” for a large range of subjects.The consortium regards the International Year of the Soils (IYS) as a unique opportunity to develop a comprehensive, versatile and extendable approach to integrate soils as a substantial learning field in European school education.EELLSS firstly connected relevant contents from natural sciences to aspects of soil science. For this purpose a competence matrix for soil science in schools was established in order to facilitate competence oriented teaching and learning on soils, both in discrete sciences and in interdisciplinary learning projects.Didactics and specific instructional design approaches for different settings (e.g. age groups, subjects, curricular/extracurricular) related to soils as learning filed were developed, mostly based on experiential learning principles.A rich open learning environment that connects e-portfolio, learning management system and planning and validation software was established as learning and collaboration environment for European schools, teachers and students.A specific teachers’ training was developed and delivered in blended learning methodology and delivered as 5-day course for 29 teachers including an extended transfer phase as practical project at the workplace (in the school).These pilot projects involved approximately 200 students at the partner schools and in other interested institutions. They were either subject related or interdisciplinary projects and consisted of soil related learning units, lessons, practical activities, field works, and mutual exchange between EELLSS schools. Some of the participating schools also established joint transnational learning projects on regional soils in which students exchanged with their transnational peers about specific aspects and scientific properties of the soils in their regions.The learning projects and outcomes were thoroughly evaluated internally and also externally.EELLSS has been embedded in the nework of climate friendly and environmental schools (GREEEN) that will maintain the project results, tools, teaching and learning opportunities also after the project lifetime.EELLSS has disseminated its approaches and findings to the European School Community and beyond. It offers a lasting knowledge pool and a repository for materials and tools for schools working with soils as learning field.