Scoop on Soils
Answer the following questions:
A Kindergarten student made this claim: “soil is just dirt, it’s all the same thing, and it’s dirty, and yucky!” Politely tell the student that he is incorrect and use evidence from the text.
Click here to access the book "The Scoop on Soils."
- What is the difference between dirt and soil?
- What does a soil profile tell us?
- What factors affect the type of soil that is formed?
A Kindergarten student made this claim: “soil is just dirt, it’s all the same thing, and it’s dirty, and yucky!” Politely tell the student that he is incorrect and use evidence from the text.
Click here to access the book "The Scoop on Soils."
Soil Scientists
Did you know that soil scientists are called pedologists?
Soil Scientist # 2
Soil Scientist #3 and Jerry Glover again
Video: Click Here to access the video "Career Soil Scientist" on Vimeo
Be A Soil Scientist
Talk a walk through the forest and do some soil investigations. Click through the simulation and investigate the soil.
Walk in the Forest
- What are some of the jobs that pedologists do?
- What type of education do you need to be a pedologist?
- Pay close attention to Soil Scientist #1 and click on the Tab "On the Job". What is the nature of their work?
Soil Scientist # 2
Soil Scientist #3 and Jerry Glover again
Video: Click Here to access the video "Career Soil Scientist" on Vimeo
Be A Soil Scientist
Talk a walk through the forest and do some soil investigations. Click through the simulation and investigate the soil.
- Compare soil A and soil B
Walk in the Forest
Soil Formation: Not All Soils are Created Equally
- Go to the following website, click on "Start", and read through the first 2 screens.
- Click on "MA+" to go to the Midatlantic Regions and click on the 4 buttons to reveal information on the soils in our region
- If you have time, explore other regions of the US and take the quiz
- Answer the Question: How are soils formed?
- Ask a Question: What questions do you still have about soil?
So What, Why should we care about soil?
We live in an urban environment, so why is the study of soil so important? Click on the video below and pay close attention to why we should care about soil. Summarize why we should care about soil, and use at least 3 key details from the video in your summary.
Why should we care about the statement: Fertile soils are finite? Explain what this means and why we sould care.
Why should we care about the statement: Fertile soils are finite? Explain what this means and why we sould care.
The Earth as an Apple
What? The Earth is NOT an apple. However, in science we often use models to help us understand concepts. Watch the following two videos on Planet Earth and think about how the apple serves as a model.
Answer the following questions:
What is the model showing us?
How does it help us understand the importance of soil?
Answer the following questions:
What is the model showing us?
How does it help us understand the importance of soil?
Videos
Video 1: Click on the link to access a video on the Earth Apple video.
Video 2: Click on the video below
Resources
From the Ground Up: Click on the link and scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on the dropdown menu to view the following videos:
- Agricultural Science
- Classification of Soil
- Conserving Prarie Soil
- How Soil is Formed
- The Science of Plants
- The World of Plants: Structure of Plants