1. Earth Structures & Processes
Rocks & Soil & Plants

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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?

5. 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?

6. 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

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

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

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

10. Rock Cycle
The Rock Cycle is centered around 3 things happening to change rocks
Melting & Cooling
Weather & Erosion
Heat & Pressure

11. 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

12. 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
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13. 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
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14. 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
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15. 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

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

17. 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

18. 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
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19. Raised in Good SOIL Having good soil depends on 2 factors Parent Rock
Environment

20. 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

21. 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

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

23. 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?

24. 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

25. 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

26. 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