Soil

Soil

Pencil and paperOnline interactive
Overview
Using this Resource
Connecting to the Curriculum
Marking Student Responses
Further Resources
This task is about looking closely at different soils.

Question 1Change answer

Look carefully at each of the soil types. 
Finish the table below by writing descriptions of what each soil sample looks like, and what each soil sample feels like. 
(You might want to use a magnifying glass).
Type of soil
What it looks like
What it feels like
Garden soil
Clay soil
River soil
Task administration: 
This practical task requires simple resources and equipment, and can be completed with pencil and paper or online.
 
Equipment
Labelled soil samples of organic, clay, and alluvial soil; magnifying glass in small dishes
Level:
2
Curriculum info: 
Science, Investigating in science, Planet Earth
Keywords: 
Earth systems, soil, observation
Description of task: 
This practical task requires students to make observations of three different types of soils and record their observations in a chart.
Curriculum Links: 
Science capabilities
The capabilities focus is brought about by the conversations you have and the questions you ask.
 
Capability: Gather and interpret data
This resource provides opportunities to discuss: 
  • how scientists look very carefully, and describe exactly what they see.
  • when we look very carefully and notice lots of things it helps us describe how things are similar and different.
  • how tools can make our observations more accurate, or allow us to see things in more detail.
 

 
Science capabilities: 
Gather and interpret data
Making Better Sense: 
Different Rock/Soil Types
Answers/responses: 
For both columns look for:
  • descriptive and accurate vocabulary
  • multiple observations

Soil appearance 

  • colour
  • size of particles
  • any other valid visual observation

Soil feel 

e.g., for clay: 

  • sticky
  • smooth