Sorting and Observing Soil
TEKS Objective
The student is expected to observe, compare, describe, and sort components of soil by size, texture, and color.
Essential Understanding
The student knows that the natural world includes rocks, soil, and water that can be observed in cycles, patterns, and systems.
Science Background
Soil Stories—The Whole Story: SC-NRCS & ESRI-SC Partnership (video) – Engaging explanation of the importance of soil, its components and conservation.
Soil Stories—The Whole Story
SC-NRCS & ESRI-SC Partnership, www.sc.nrcs.usda.gov
The Dirt on Soil: Discovery Education (website) - Discover the difference between soil and dirt.
The Dirt on Soil
Discovery Education, school.discoveryeducation.com
S. K. Worm Answers Your Questions About Soil: Children of the Earth (website) – S. K. Worm, official annelid (worm) of the USDA National Resources Conservation Service provides useful information about soil.
S. K. Worm Answers Your Questions About Soil
Children of the Earth, www.childrenoftheearth.org
Signature Lesson
Properties of Soil: Baylor College of Medicine (PDF) - Students will describe and discuss the properties of Earth material.
- Supporting Lessons
- Extensions
- Assessment Ideas
- Literature Connections
- Related
TEKS - Additional Resources
Supporting Lessons
What Is Soil Made Of? BioEd Online (website) – Students observe, compare, describe and sort soil the components of soil samples, and determine soil texture.
What Is Soil Made Of?
BioEd Online, www.bioedonline.org
Fun Soil Activities: Bureau of Land Management (website) - Investigate the color, texture and contents of soil with these hands-on activities.
Fun Soil Activities
Bureau of Land Management, www.blm.gov
How Does Moisture Affect the Color of Soil? Education.com (website) - Students investigate the soil in their yards or other common locations, and answer the question, “When soil gets wet does its color change, and if so, why?
Elaboration Lessons and Extensions
John Muir Study Guide Science Lesson Plan, Soil: Sierra Club (website) - Students observe the properties of soil and learn the various materials from which it is composed.
John Muir Study Guide Science Lesson Plan, Soil
Sierra Club, www.sierraclub.org
Assessment Ideas
Give each student several different Earth materials, such as sand, clay, potting soil or humus. Have them draw a picture of each material in their science notebooks and verbally describe the materials’ physical properties, including color, particle size and texture.
Literature Connections
Sand and Soil Earth’s Building Blocks. Gurney, Beth (ISBN0778714497)
Soil. Richardson, Adele (ISBN 0736833676)
Additional Resources
Properties of Rocks and Soil: University of Missouri, eThemes (website) - Learn about the properties of rocks and soil, how rocks are made, and how soil is formed.
Properties of Rocks and Soil
University of Missouri, eThemes, ethemes.missouri.edu
The Scoop on Soils: The Globe Program (website) - Storybook exploring the properties of soil.
TEKS Navigation
Grade 1
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