Investigating Soils
Initial Publication Date: August 25, 2009
Summary
In this guided inquiry students will specify soil types by using various methods of determining soil textures and analyze them with a soil triangle. This activity is a laboratory investigation where students gather data on soil textures, interpret their findings, and develop new experimental questions.
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Learning Goals
This activity is designed for students to compare and contrast, measure using different instruments, graph and analyze
Context for Use
This activity should be used in conjunction with Earth processes. Where does food come from? It can be a lead into larger processes- glaciation, erosion, and deposition.
Description and Teaching Materials
Soils are classified in part by texture. This activity will allow students to compare three methods of assessing the texture of various soil samples. They will use screens, graduated cylinders and their hands to determine texture. The students will then locate their percentages on a soil triangle and determine soil type.
The activity will be introduced with two or three different soil samples to compare and make observations from. Skillfully eliciting questions from the groups will lead to the texture activity. Follow up could be working on other questions i.e. (porosity, color, % organic matter, filtration rates, or history of soils.
The activity will be introduced with two or three different soil samples to compare and make observations from. Skillfully eliciting questions from the groups will lead to the texture activity. Follow up could be working on other questions i.e. (porosity, color, % organic matter, filtration rates, or history of soils.
Teaching Notes and Tips
A soil triangle and a description of the settling method of texture determination may be found at [link http://www.landscape-and-garden.com/garden-soil/soil-triangle.aspx 'http://www.landscape-and-garden.com/garden-soil/soil-triangle.aspx].
Soil screens may be ordered from a science catalog or perhaps borrowed from your local Soil and Water Conservation District. An explanation for the ribbon or feel method of texture determination is best explained by a soil scientist, once again from the SWCD.
Soil screens may be ordered from a science catalog or perhaps borrowed from your local Soil and Water Conservation District. An explanation for the ribbon or feel method of texture determination is best explained by a soil scientist, once again from the SWCD.
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Assessment
Students may be assessed on their work habits, accuracy of their measurements, completeness of graphs, triangle readings with explanations, explanations for similarity and differences using the different techniques for texture determinations.
Standards
8.3121
8,3122
8,3122