1. A4 Soil Columns
Grade 6

2. Background Soils can be very different from place to place.
This can be true even if the places are close.
Soils can have different ingredients.
Composition = specific ingredients in soil.
One way to learn more about soil composition is to mix it with water in order to separate the materials in the soil.

3. Challenge Question How does the composition of soils vary? Color
Dry or wet
Particles float or sink
Small or large particles
Same size particles, or different
Could have same ingredients,
or a mixture of things

4. Materials Soils mixed with water in clear plastic tubes
Magnifying lens
Ruler in cm.

5. A4a Soil Column Analysis: Copy
If you mix small, medium, and large soil particles in a tube of water, explain in 1 paragraph each:
Where are the large particles in the tube (high, middle, low), and WHY?
Where are the medium particles in the tube (high, middle, low), and WHY?
Where are the small particles in the tube (high, middle, low), and WHY?

6. Lab Book Labels Skip a line and write “Observations”.
Under that write “Soil A”.
In the margin draw picture of a 10cm cylinder.
Skip 10 lines and write “Soil B”.
In the margin draw another 10cm cylinder.
Skip 10 more lines.

7. Procedure Get tube of Soil A. Put your thumb on the cap.
Gently shake tube 10 times. Stand tube up.
Observe the changes for 5 minutes.
Write all observations in your lab book. You may lift tube carefully while you observe it.
Use ruler to record the cm height of each soil section. Sketch and describe all contents.
Then, repeat all of these steps using Soil B.

8. A4b Soil Column Analysis
On separate paper copy & answer in 1 paragraph
How were Soil A sections similar and different from the sections in Soil B?
Were the particles at the bottom of Soil A larger, smaller, or the same as at the top?
Is the composition of Soil A the same as that of Soil B? Use evidence.