Investigating Soil

Learning Resource Type

Lesson Plan

Subject Area

Science

Grade(s)

Overview

This lesson provides an introductory-level experience with soil. During the experiment, students will combine soil with water and conduct observations. The observations made will lead to greater understanding of soil's basic properties.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Science (2015) Grade(s): 4

SC15.4.13
Plan and carry out investigations to examine properties of soils and soil types (e.g., color, texture, capacity to retain water, ability to support growth of plants).

Vocabulary

color
absorbency
texture
capacity
properties of soil
types of soil ( sand, silt, clay, humus)
infiltration
particle size
structure
consistency

Knowledge

Students know:

Soil properties (particle size, color, texture).
Soil types ( sand, silt, clay, and humus).
Relationship between soil types and water.

Skills

Students are able to:

Plan and conduct simple tests using various soil types.
Collect, describe and evaluate data.
Articulate and explain from evidence the properties of soil and soil types.

Understanding

Students understand that:

Similarities and differences in patterns can be used to sort and classify soil types by property.

Scientific and Engineering Practices

Planning and Carrying out Investigations

Crosscutting Concepts

Patterns

Primary Learning Objectives

Through observation and examination, students will investigate basic properties of soil.

Students will diagram and describe the basic properties identified and discussed.

Procedures/Activities

1. The teacher will read the selected informational text to students, using class discussion to clarify unfamiliar terms. A class anchor chart of vocabulary can also be created.

2. Students and teachers will review safety rules and investigation instructions before getting into groups.

3. Students will pour the water into their plastic bottle.

4. Using the funnel, students will add the soil to the bottle.

5. Students will screw the cap on their bottle tightly.

6. Students will make and discuss their first observations, recording their thinking on the foldable in their journals.

7. Students will shake the bottle with the mixture vigorously for about 30 seconds.

8. Students will make and discuss their second observations, recording their thinking on the foldable in their journals.

9. Students may share their partially completed foldables, along with their observations, while waiting on the 15-minute mark and the 1-hour mark.

During this wait time, teachers may want their students to participate in further small-group exploration. This can be done by having students review the selected information text, then using their science journals to record and share 3 soil facts, 2 soil questions, and 1 fact or idea they would like to explore further.
Students may also use the tubs of soil to complete sections of the Hand Texturing of Soil Activity. If used, the hand texturing activity will lead to extended knowledge of the 3 main types of soils(loamy, sandy, clay) and the physical properties of each type.

10. At the 15-minute mark and the 1-hour mark, students will make their third and fourth observations, again discussing and recording their thinking.

11. Completed foldables can be shared and evaluated. Discussion emphasis, and any resulting hypotheses, should be on the various observations made, and how those observations might relate to the different physical properties of varieties of soil.

Assessment Strategies

1. The teacher will observe student discussion during the investigation.

2. The teacher will evaluate the students' completed foldables.

Acceleration

1. Students will view and discuss the Virtual Soil Walk. They will then explore the soil on the school playground and create a virtual soil walk using that soil.

2. Students will research the soil in their area, along with the plants that grow best there. They will then apply this information to designing a school garden.

Intervention

1. Students will be allowed to use word bank for completing foldable.

2. Students will be allowed to complete the foldable with a peer helper.

3. Students will complete What is Soil Made Of? with the teacher to increase vocabulary acquisition and content understanding.

Total Duration

61 to 90 Minutes

Background/Preparation

This is an introductory-level lesson, and therefore can be completed without much prerequisite learning. Students will need to be familiar with science drawings or diagramming.

Become familiar with the text you have chosen to read aloud. If needed, the teacher can pull vocabulary for small or whole group instruction. Vocabulary anchor or sentence strips can be created. Teachers using stations during the exploration will need to collect several varieties of soils in plastic tubs.

Teachers and/or students will want to prepare the foldable and place it in their science journals before beginning the investigation. Each foldable will need to be cut on the 3 short horizontal lines to make flaps and then folded on the center vertical line before gluing it into the journals.

Materials and Resources

Each group will need: 1 liter of water, 4 cups of soil, funnel, 2-liter plastic bottle (washed and with the label removed)

Each student will need: science journal, copy of the foldable, pencil, crayons or colored pencils, scissors, glue

Teachers using stations during the exploration will also need plastic scoops or measuring cups and varieties of soil placed in plastic tubs. The soils should be of each main variety; loamy soil, clay soil, and sandy soil.

The teacher will need to select an informational article or book related to soil. There are options on Epic or ReadWorks.org.

Technology Resources Needed

Teacher computer with internet connection and a screen/board for viewing, student tablets

Homepage for soil-net :This website offers a wide variety of handouts and activities related to soil. There is even a variation of this experiment on the site.

Virtual Soil Walk

What is Soil Made Of? Activity Page Link

Hand Texturing of Soil: Activity Page Link

Approved Date

2016-05-24