BIRCHWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
SOIL SLEUTHS WANTED

Click here to print an answer sheet. (PDF format)		Click here for teacher information. (PDF format)

Dr. Dirt is planning to make a presentation on Earth Day. He needs some detectives to help sift through the dirt on soil. You and your team need to answer the following questions and prepare a poster of a soil profile. Click on the highlighted word and read the information. Record your answers on the sheet your teacher will give you.

When you finish the scavenger hunt your team will present a short talk on where soil comes from and how soils differ.

1. What is soil?

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2. How is soil formed? Click on Soil Formation.

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3. Draw and label soil’s different layers in the space provided on your answer sheet. Please click on highlighted words and read the definition before drawing your picture.


4. How are soils different? Describe some properties of soil?
SAND

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SILT

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CLAY

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5. Use some soil samples in the classroom and fill in the chart using information about soil properties learned in #4.

6. What is erosion?

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7. Read about the four kinds of erosion listed then match the pictures with the type of erosion.
gully      sheet      wind      mass  movement

Created by Mrs. VanAlstyne, June, 2005.