1. Earth Matters: Investigating Soil

2. Where Does My Lunch Come From?

3. How are these items connected to the soil?

4. Humans eat beef, eggs, and other meat, which comes from animals like cows and chickens.

5. The animals eat grains like corn, grass and alfalfa, which all grow in the soil. Humans also eat apples, tomatoes, lettuce and other vegetables which come from the fruit, stem, leaves, and roots of plants. The plants grow in soil.

6. Most of the land on Earth is covered by soil.

7. Just like rocks, soils have different physical properties such as:

8. color

9. Particle size

10. texture

11. odor

12. absorbency

13. Sand particles are the coarsest particles found in soil.

14. Sand particles feel hard and scratchy and don’t stick together or hold water well.

15. Silt particles are smaller grains of sand that feel smoother and softer.

16. Clay particles are the smallest of all.

17. Clay absorbs a lot of water and sticks together.

18. Humus is a unique property of soil. What is humus?

19. Humus contains the valuable nutrients needed for plants to grow.

20. These valuable nutrients come from decomposing plants and animals.

21. Millions of tiny living things such as bacteria and fungi live in the soil and help to turn dead plants and animals into this dark, soft, sticky substance known as humus.

22. Living animals contribute to properties of the soil.

23. Earthworms, ants, and beetles make spaces in the soil as they burrow through it. These spaces are filled with air and water which helps plants to grow.

24. Most soils are a mixture of sand, silt, or clay with varying amounts of humus.

25. The percentage of sand, silt, and clay are important for farmers and gardeners because plants require different conditions for the best growth.

26. Too much sand can cause too much water to drain away from plant roots.

27. A soil that is mostly clay may hold too much water and cause the roots to rot.

28. Loam is a name given to a mixture of sand, silt, and clay with a high percentage of humus.

29. When a soil sample is mixed with water and allowed to settle, the particle layers will separate based on particle size.

30. The larger particles will settle on the bottom.

31. The smallest particles will be on top.

32. The properties of soil determine their uses: Sand’s water-draining properties make it perfect for playgrounds and sandboxes. Clay’s properties make it perfect for pottery or moisture absorbing kitty litter.

33. Loam, rich topsoil, or potting soil provides the nutrients for plant growth. Soil is the beginning of the food chain.

34. Soil’s capacity to sustain life, both plant and animal, makes it one of our most valuable resources.

35. Let’s look at some different soils: loam (potting soil) sand clay

36. Procedure: 1. Using your soil samples, measure equal amounts of each soil and place in the container. 2. Add water until the container is ¾ full. Place the lid on the container. 3. Make sure the lid is secure. 4. Shake well and allow time for the soil to settle.