Mapping Soils
IN
T
IO
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7
V EST IGA
W
hen soil scientists investigate the composition of soil in an
area, they collect samples from many different locations.
They organize all of their data on a map that shows where different soil
types can be found. Such maps help compare the soil from one location, like the soil from the school garden, with soil in other locations.
There are thousands of different soils in the world. Scientists organize
them into 12 major categories. In this activity, the soils found in the
United States are grouped into 4 broad categories.
CHALLENGE
How does the soil in the school garden compare to the soil in other
parts of the United States?
This government map shows
general soil types in part of
Macon County, Alabama.
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Activity 7 • Mapping Soils
MATERIALS
For the class
2
sets of 16 Soil Data Cards
colored pencils (green, orange, brown, red)
For each student
1
Student Sheet 7.1, “Mapping U.S. Soils”
PROCEDURE
1. Work with your group to read the descriptions of the four major
categories of soil on the next page.
2. Each person in your group will play the role of a scientist studying
the soil from one area of the United States. Decide which person in
your group will be the scientist who investigates soil from each of
the following areas:
• eastern United States
• east-central United States
• west-central United States
• western United States
3. At the regional meeting, collect sample soil data by examining the
Soil Data Cards provided by your teacher. Use colored pencils to fill
in your region of the map on Student Sheet 7.1, “Mapping U.S.
Soils.” Use the Key on Student Sheet 7.1 which lists the color to use
for each soil category.
4. Discuss the following questions about your region with other
scientists from this region. Listen to and consider the ideas of
others. If you disagree with others in your group, explain why you
disagree.
• What are some of the states in our region?
• What is (or are) the most common soil type(s) in our region?
• What shall we tell scientists from other regions about our
findings?
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Mapping Soils • Activity 7
Major Soil Categories
DESERT
GRASSLAND
Desert soils form in places that do not have a
lot of rainfall and that have high temperatures all year long. The soils tend to be dry,
sandy, and contain a limited number of
plants. These soils are easily moved by wind
and water. Desert soils are light in color and
have a firm consistence and gritty texture.
Grassland soils form in areas that have both
wet and dry seasons but less overall rain
than areas with forest soil. The top layer is
rich in nutrients because a large amount of
plant matter dies and decomposes in the
soil. Grassland is good for farming. These
soils are reddish brown, with a loose consistence and silky texture.
FOREST
TROPICAL GRASSLAND
Forest soils form in areas that have hot
and cold seasons and receive enough rain
year round to support a lot of tree growth.
These soils are often good for farming. Forest soils are grayish brown to reddish
brown due to small amounts of iron or
aluminum. Forest soils have a loose consistence because they are very moist.
Tropical grassland soils are found in areas
that are very warm all year long, with
both wet and dry seasons, unlike tropical
areas that are always wet. The soil tends to
be weathered and greyish brown. Because
of the large amount of fine particles in the
soil, the texture is sticky.
5. Return to your original group and share the soil data that you
collected. Use this data and colored pencils to fill in the map on
Student Sheet 7.1.
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Activity 7 • Mapping Soils
6. Work with your group to locate the following three places on the
map. Mark each with an “X” and label the map with their names.
• Chris’s school (Label it “Phoenix.”)
• Orlando, Florida (Label it “Orlando.”)
• Your school (Label it with the name of your city.)
7. Work with your group to identify U.S. soil patterns by discussing
the following questions:
• What is (or are) the most common type(s) of soil in the United
States? How do you know?
• What is (or are) the least common type(s) of soil in the United
States?
• What is the most common type of soil in your state?
• What is the most common type of soil in Chris’s state?
8. When you are done, compare your completed Student Sheet 7.1
with the transparency shown by your teacher.
ANALYSIS
1. Create a table that summarizes:
• the four major soil categories found in the United States.
• the composition of each of the soils.
• the average weather conditions (temperature, rainfall, or seasons, for example) in which the soils are found.
2. Your cousin from central Nebraska calls you and says that the soil
where she lives is the same as the soil in the school garden. Do you
agree or disagree with your cousin? Explain your answer.
3. Compare the four soil categories with your own data on the school
garden soil in Table 1, “Soil Observations,” from Activity 6. What
category of soil matches the soil in Chris’s school garden? Explain
your answer.
EXTENSION
How does the soil at or near your school compare to the soil at Chris’s
school? Examine a sample of local soil. Go to the Issues and Earth
Science page of the SEPUP website to find links to more information
about soil maps.
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