Before we start click on the following link to complete a KWL
We are now going to go through the following two files as a group, and examine the soil components and soil types.
|
|
Summarize the information you just learnt into your blog. Also outline the parts you feel were important and why you felt this.
Soil texture is an expression used to describe the physical components of the soil. Words such as clay, sand and loam have been used since ancient times to distinguish soils with different properties. Four standard words are now used in various combinations - sand, clay, loam and silt to describe the proportions of sand-, silt- and clay-sized particles in a sample. This must not be confused with soil structure which describes the way these individual particles are assembled and bound into groups (aggregates).
Now lets try the following activity, by clicking the button
Soil texture can give a guide to
- Soil water - its retention and release to plants;
- Soil structure - its development and stability;
- Nutrient retention and availability;
- Activity and retention of residual soil-acting herbicides;
- Erodibility by wind and water;
- Stickiness and ease of cultivation;
- Drainage characteristics and suitability for artificial drainage;
- Cropping suitability;
- Soil temperature changes.
Now lets try an online experiment. Click the button below
Now it's time to get your hands dirty and go outside and try the experiment yourself. Print off the following file and wait for your teachers instructions.
activity_jamjar.pdf | |
File Size: | 365 kb |
File Type: |
Now it is time to reflect, what have you learnt? what are some of the characteristics of soils? What was your favourite part of the activity? What about your least favourite? How did the experiment go? Compare the different soil types. Don't forget to go back up to the KWL and fill out the last column.
Some extra activities.
|
|