- Author:
- Chandler Hambidge
- Subject:
- Agriculture
- Material Type:
- Activity/Lab
- Level:
- High School
- Tags:
- License:
- Creative Commons Attribution
- Language:
- English
- Media Formats:
- Downloadable docs
Education Standards
Soil Texture and Structure
Soil-Texture-Triangle_800pxw
Soil Triangle Worksheet
Texture_by_Feel_Analysis
Determining Soil Texture
Overview
In this lesson, students will define what soil texture is, examine the importance of soil texture for the purpose of growing crops or other recreational purposes, and then determine soil texture with a hands-on activity.
Determining Soil Texture
Subject Area Plan | |
Course: | Plant Science |
Unit: | Soil Science- Determining Soil Texture |
Subject Area: | Soils |
Materials, Supplies, Equipment, References, and Other Resources: | Different soil samples, spray bottle of water, Handouts and Guides |
Essential Question(s): | How do different soil textures affect the growth of crops or weeds? Why is it important to be able to determine soil texture? |
Objectives:
|
Interest Approach/Set/Hook (Pre-flection) | Estimated Time: | 1-2 min |
When looking at soil, is all soil the same, or do you think all soil is the same?
Imagine you are beach walking along the shore. Take a minute to visualize and feel the environment around you. Now imagine you’re walking barefoot in your yard, again take a minute to think about how this environment feels.
What did the environment at the beach feel like? Could you feel the sand between your toes? How was it different than your yard? |
Learning Activity 1 | Estimated Time: | 12 min |
Instructor Directions / Materials | Brief Content Outline | |
Materials:
| Lecture Students will complete the guided notes section over the importance of soil texture following along with the lecture material.
Be sure to put emphasis on the vocabulary word and provide examples for the students has the lecture continues.
When discussing the use of the Soil Texture Triangle, walk the students through how to read and follow the triangle. Work through 1-2 examples before grouping the students up and letting them practice by completing the soil texture triangle worksheet. |
Learning Activity 2 | Estimated Time: | 30 min |
Instructor Directions / Materials | Brief Content Outline | |
One per Station:
One Per student
Instructions: When I say “Soil”...
.
Soil! | Hands-on Activity Students will practice determining soil texture through the use of their hands by practicing the ribboning technique.
Hand out the soil texture guide for determining soil texture by hand to the students. Walkthrough how to follow the guide before the lab. The teacher will then demonstrate how to properly ribbon the soil for the students. Then letting the students practice their technique before beginning the actual lab.
Students should be split into groups of 2-3 depending on class size and available soil sample stations. Students will have 5 minutes to complete each station and record their findings before the students move to the next station together.
Once the Lab begins the students will be attempting to determine each sample's soil texture by following the Soil Texture guide.
The teacher should be walking around the room checking to make sure students are being productive, reading the guide correctly, and answering any questions the students may be having.
Once all the groups have had a chance to determine the texture of each station and record their data. Walkthrough the actual soil textures with the students and have them record the correct data in a column next to their own data.
Students will now complete the reflection, examining both the data they recorded and the correct data. Examining why it is important to determine soil texture.
Once students complete the reflection Students should clean up their workspace/station returning the soil samples into their correct container, washing the lab trays, cleaning their workspace of any left-over debris. |
Summary (Reflection)- What did we learn and where are we going? | Estimated Time: | 3-5 min |
Awesome job of determining soil texture, let’s take some time to reflect on this activity. Review back on your guided notes. In your notes, answer the following questions with at least 2 sentences:
|
Evaluation Based on the Learning Outcome Expressed in the Objective(s) |
Evaluation via Review Quiz and students will be asked to reflect on the different soil textures and the importance of determining soil texture. Students will also find the soil texture of soil using the soil triangle on the Review quiz. |