Earth Structures & Processes Rocks & Soil & Plants

Essential Standards 6.E.2 Understand the structure of the earth and how interactions of constructive and destructive forces have resulted in changes in the surface of the Earth over time and the effects of the lithosphere on humans.

Clarifying Objectives 6.E.2.3 Explain how the formation of soil is related to the parent rock type and the environment in which it develops.

Essential Questions What are the characteristics of minerals? How are minerals & rocks different? What are the phases of the Rock Cycle? How does environment relate to soil formation? How does Parent Rock Type relate to soil formation? What factors make the best type of soil to grow plants?

EOG Test Questions What are the main factors in Soil (3) that will affect how well a plant will grow (fertility)? How is soil formation related to parent rock & environment in which it develops? What are the factors of producing fertile soil the FASTEST?

What is a Rock? Rocks have to go through a process to even become rocks Once they become rocks they will have to go through another process to become soil

Element to Compound Elements are pure substances that are made of the same atoms Combining atoms together will give you a compound

Compound to Rock When compounds are CRYSTALIZED they turn into rocks Rocks are COMBINATIONS of minerals that have crystallized structures

Essential Question Get with a partner and answer…. How are rocks & minerals different from each other?

Rock Cycle The Rock Cycle is centered around 3 things happening to change rocks Melting & Cooling Weather & Erosion Heat & Pressure http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55n_ep952ro

Hot Lava Hot lava comes out of a volcano and cools off This is the first step in the rock cycle This is Melting & Cooling This cooled lava hardens into Igneous Rock http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xExdEXOaA9A

Igneous Rock Igneous Rock goes through a process called Erosion & Weathering This process breaks down the Rock into sand This is Erosion & Weathering Process Over thousands of years the sand forms layers and is squeezed together forming Sedimentary Rock http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Xv1DoqkARQ 3:49-4:23

Sedimentary Rock The layers of Sedimentary Rock deep in the ground goes through a process of Heat & Pressure This process morphs the rock from the changing heat & pressure This changes the rock into Metamorphic Rock http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Xv1DoqkARQ 4:23-5:07

Metamorphic Rock Metamorphic Rock continues to go through pressure & heat It is pushed deeper & deeper into the Earth’s Crust & into the Mantle Inside of the Mantle it becomes so hot that it melts becoming Liquid Magma http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Xv1DoqkARQ 5:07-5:45

Liquid Magma Crustal Plates are pushed together & one slips under another one causing a Volcano (Subduction) The magma spews out the top of the Volcano turning into lava The cycle has completed it’s self

Essential Question Get with a partner and answer…. What are the phases of the Rock Cycle?

Raised in Good SOIL What is good soil & what is bad soil? Good soil is soil that it is easy to grow things in Bad soil is soil that will not grow things easily

Weathering Weathering is a big key Weathering is the breaking down of rock to create soil The more weathering there is the finer the soil texture will be The more weathering there is the more minerals from the parent rock will go into the soil http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SlcrcYstc4 0:00-3:56

Raised in Good SOIL Having good soil depends on 2 factors Parent Rock Environment

Parent Rock & Soil Soil Formation relates to the Parent Rock in 3 important ways Parent Rock determines what minerals will be in the soil Darker Parent rocks tend to produce better soil Finely Textured Parent Rock produces better soil

Environment & Soil The other factor is the Environment the soil forms in High amounts of Precipitation creates fertile soil because the minerals get put into the soil through weathering Warm Temperatures = High amounts of decomposers break down the soil

What is the BEST SOIL?? The Best soil…. Fine Textured Dark Soil Holds a lot of water

Essential Question Get with a partner and answer…. How does environment relate to soil formation? How does Parent Rock Type relate to soil formation? What factors make the best type of soil to grow plants?

EOG Questions Which environment would produce soil at a faster rate? A) an environment located in warm, wet regions B) an environment that consists of many slopes C) an environment without any vegetation D) an environment with high rates of erosion

EOG Questions A class is conducting an experiment on how different types of soil can affect the growth of a plant. Which are the main factors the class should consider when designing the experiment? A) the soil texture and the amount of water it can hold B) the types and amounts of sugars found in the soil C) the color of the container for the soil and the plant D) the shape and color of the seeds planted in the soil

Important Points Rocks are made of different elements & minerals combined & have a Crystalline Structure They go through the ROCK CYCLE which changes them into different rocks Soil comes from parent rock which provides it TEXTURE & MINERALS Environment with lots of PRECIPATATION & HIGH TEMPERATURES = good soil 3 factors for the BEST SOIL FOR PLANTS Fine Soil TEXTURE Dark Soil (has the most minerals) Soil that holds lots of WATER