Soil Texture and Color
Supporting
TEKS Objective
The student is expected to examine properties of soils, including color and texture, capacity to retain water, and ability to support the growth of plants.
Essential Understanding
The students know that Earth consists of useful resources and its surface is constantly changing.
Science Background
Dig It! The Secrets of Soil: Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (website) - Interactives, videos, and activities created for a special Smithsonian exhibit cover a variety of soil-related topics.
Dig It! The Secrets of Soil
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, www.si.edu
Physical Properties of Soil: University of Arizona (website) - Soil color is determined by organic matter, drainage conditions and weather. Texture depends on particle sizes. Learn more here.
Physical Properties of Soil
University of Arizona, www.arizona.edu
Interpreting Soil Color: State of Victoria, Australia (website) - Good illustrations and descriptions of soil colors and the factors that influence soil color.
Interpreting Soil Color
State of Victoria, Australia, vic.gov.au
Signature Lesson
Getting To Know Soil: GLOBE (PDF) - Students examine soil and make observations that include color and texture.
- Supporting Lessons
- Extensions
- Assessment Ideas
- Literature Connections
- Related
TEKS - Additional Resources
Supporting Lessons
Creating a Soil Map: University of Illinois (website) - Students examine several soil plots to identify properties of soil (e.g., color, texture and components), and also compare and contrast different soil samples.
Creating a Soil Map
Urban Programs Resource Center, University of Illinois, urbanext.illinois.edu
Dig It! The Secrets of Soil: National Association of Conservation Districts (PDF) - A wide variety of engaging lessons on properties of soils.
Dig It! The Secrets of Soil
National Association of Conservation Districts, www.nacdnet.org
Elaboration Lessons and Extensions
Introduction to Soil Lesson Plan: Suite (website) - A simple investigation for elementary school children into the properties of different types of soil.
Introduction to Soil Lesson Plan
by Elizabeth Pace, Suite www.suite.io
Soil Teacher’s Guide: GLOBE Program (website) – Download a variety of beginning through advanced activities on soil.
Assessment Ideas
Have students create a “microscope slide” by making three holes in an index card. Cover the holes with clear tape and place a small sample of three different soils on the sticky part of the tape. Instruct students to make hand lens observations, and then draw the soil samples and describe their observations in their science notebooks. Finally, have students write a “compare and contrast” paragraph about the soils.
Literature Connections
The Scoop on Soils. Hatheway, Zarlego, et al. (download free from the Globe Program)
http://globe.gov/k-4/soil
Dirt: The Scoop on Soil. Rosinsky, Natalie M. (ISBN-13: 978-1404803312)
Dirt: Jump Into Science. Steve Tomecek ISBN-13: 978-0792282044)
Clay. Firestone, Mary (ISBN: 0-064-45078-3)
A Handful of Dirt. Bial, Raymond (ISBN: 0-802-78698-7)
Soil. Richardson, Adele (ISBN: 0-736-80954-6)
Soil. Flanagan, Alice (ISBN: 0-756-50035-4)
Additional Resources
Soils Overview: Soil Science Society of America (PDF) - Detailed information about soil formation, composition, layers, etc.
Soils Overview
Soil Science Society of America, www.soils.org
K-12 Teaching Resources: Dr. Dirt (webpage) - Hands-on, exploratory learning activities based on methods of scientific inquiry, designed to encourage student interest in science, soil, engineering, agriculture and natural resources.
K-12 Teaching Resources
Dr. Dirt, www.doctordirt.org
Dirt the Movie: Common Grounds Media (website) - Movie trailer provides a succinct overview of the importance of dirt. The site also offers additional “dirt” clips and links to other resources.
TEKS Navigation
Grade 4
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