Explore Part 2: Soil Composition and the Products We Use

Part A. How is Soil Connected to the Products We Use?

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Pot with a depiction of a galloping horse from the 18th Dynasty of Eygpt. Source: Wikipedia

In the hands-on activity, The Soil Web, students make connections between soil and the products we use in everyday life. Through the process of linking everyday objects back to the soil, students get a sense of how dependent we are on soils. Students then complete a short 1-page worksheet.

Key Point: There is a fundamental connection between soils and life.
Key Point: Soil provides food, clean water, shelter and is important to many aspects of life.
Time required: 20 minutes 
Materials needed: Card stock images and yarn or string. 
Prepare for this activity by printing the illustrations before class begins.

Part B. What's in Soil?

Key Point: Soil is dynamic, contains minerals and water.

Students, working in small groups or pairs, rotate through three separate activity stations. (Note: To save time, educators may choose to provide multiple stations for each activity.) At each station, students examine a unique soil and record their observations. In these activities, students observe that soils are different and have many components. Students also learn that soils contain air and water in addition to solid components.

What's in Soil Activity

Time required: 30 minutes to examine soil samples and answer simple questions. 
Materials needed: Soil samples, plastic bags, hand lenses, water at each station, measuring cups, paper towels.

Part C. Soils are Everywhere and Investigating the Soils beneath You

Key Point: Soils provide ecosystem services
Time required: 2-3 class periods, depending on depth of investigation.

Students use the State Soil Booklets and Soil Properties: California Soil Resource Lab to explore at parameters of their local soils. Students sketch a copy of their local horizons from Soil Web. Addtionally, students briefly investigate how soil properties are different across the United States by location and depth.

1. Soil Diagram 
   Start by showing the students a diagram of soils and uses (such as the one in the IYS Soils are Everywhere activity or on the Dig-it website). Use the discussion questions provided in the Soils are Everywhere activity (linked below) to review the concept of soil suitability for varying uses.
2. State Soils Investigation 
   Students choose a state of interest, read the State Soil Booklet, and answer questions. Note: Educators may choose to print booklets in advance and complete this activity offline or for homework. State Soil Investigation 
   Time required: 45 minutes to read and answer questions.
3. Introduce Soil Web online app. Once the program launches, click the Menu button in the upper-left-hand corner, then choose Zoom to Location. In the window that opens, select a location by typing in the address, zip code, or lat/long of your interest.
   
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   Once in the Soil Web Application, click the Menu button in the upper-left corner, and input your location of choice. 
   
   
   In the drop-down menu, users can choose from several methods to select a location.
   
   
   
   Click on the map for more information about the soil found in your survey.
   
   • Record the name of the primary Soil Series.
   • Use the flip-down tab, Soil Taxonomy to find the Soil Order
   • Use the flip-down tab, Soil Suitability to locate information describing its suitability for various uses do they match your perception / experience?
   • Describe the current vegetation in the area. For example, is it a forest, farmland, or city?
   • Click on the Soil Profiles tab and sketch the Soil Horizons profile on your worksheet or notebook.

Show me where to find the flip-down tabs

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After you have selected a location, click on the map to activate the next set of menues. Shown below. Note the soil series are listed. Click on one to learn more details about the type of soil selected. 

Note the soil series are listed. Click on one to learn more details about the type of soil selected.

Notes: This activity is explored in more depth in Chapters 2 and 5. 
Soil Web Apps is also available as a phone / tablet app for research on your local soil

Part D. Basic Soil Processes

Time required: 30-60 minutes for introduction, 30 minutes for hands-on activity.

1. Introduce the four basic soil processes. Use the resources linked below: 
   Soil Processes Basic Soil Processes PowerPoint File. 
   Soil Formation Processes website.
2. View the video clips located at the bottom of this page. On a large sheet of paper or whiteboard, write out the 4 Basic Soil Processes. Under each header list several examples and/or photos. Ask students to describe how human activities influence the basic soil processes and give examples. Use this link Soil Processes to access the descriptor words (additions, losses, transformations, translocations) and to view a slide with linked video clips.
3. Complete Basic Soil Processes hands-on activity Basic Soil Processes 
   In this hands-on activity, students bury M&M's in the soil, then add small quantities of water and observe the changes to the M&M's and collected water. 
   After completing the initial phase of the activity, have students label and save the cups of soil until the next class period. Complete the discussion questions included in the activity handout. Notes: Teacher background reading is available in the activity. Students will return to further investigate these processes later in the unit. 
   Time required: 30 minutes to complete the activity.