Field Lesson: Soil Properties Exploration Oak Woodland
State Core Standards
4.1 – Structure and Function: Living and non-living things can be classified by their
characteristic and properties.
4.2 – Interaction and Change: Living and non-living things undergo changes that involve force
and energy.
Content Standard
4.1E.1 – Identify properties, uses, and availability of Earth materials.
4.2E.1 - Compare and contrast the changes in the surface of Earth that are due to slow and rapid
processes
Field Journal Copy Pages required to be in the Student’s Field Journals for this lesson
Soils Field Journal
Materials in the Kit at the 4-H
Center
10” pvc pipe squares- to
mark soil study area for
each team(5)
Trowels(5)
Soil color and structure
charts (laminated) (5)
Forest floor invertebrates
(laminated) (5)
2 cup measuring cup (5)
Clear plastic jar with lid
(5)
Ruler (5)
Hand lens (5)
Plastic water squeeze bottles (2)
Soil Thermometer (1)
Regular Thermometer(1)
Soil sample drill(1)
Also needed: access to water, fill the plastic water squeeze bottles before beginning the lesson.
Procedure
The students will be rotating through four field lessons on the field trip. Each session will be
between 45- 60 minutes long; this will be determined by the teacher(s).
On the field trip they will explore soil in the oak woodland habitat. The lesson, following, is
adapted from the Arizona State University Mars Explorer curriculum.
Activity 2: Soil Observation and Collection
Each team of students should place their pvc pipe square in a location they want to study. The
inside of the square is 10 inches across. This marks the sample area to be studied.
Each team will use a trowel to scoop up some of the leaf litter and material on the surface of the
soil. Place it in a clear plastic jar. Observe the sample and record the material collected on the
data sheet. Use the Common Soil Critters Chart on the following page to assist with identifying
insects and other “critters” that live in soil .
Repeat this procedure scooping deeper into the soil just below the surface. Record findings on
the data sheet
From an undisturbed area of your sample square, collect 1 cup of soil and place it in the clear jar.
SOIL CHARACTERIZATION KEY
START
A
Soil remains loose and single grained, can only be heaped into a pyramid.
YES
NO
SAND
B
The soil contains sufficient silt and clay to become somewhat cohesive; can
be shaped into a ball that easily falls apart.
YES
NO
LOAMY SAND
C
Same as for loamy sand but can be shaped by rolling into a short, thick
cylinder.
YES
NO
SILT LOAM
D
About equal sand, silt, and clay means the soil can be rolled into a cylinder
about 15 cm long that breaks when bent.
YES
NO
LOAM
E
As for loam although soil can be bent into a U but no further without being
broken.
YES
NO
CLAY LOAM
F
Soil can be bent into a circle that shows cracks.
YES
NO
LIGHT CLAY
YES
HEAVY CLAY
G
Soil can be bent into a circle without showing cracks.
My soil type is:
Field Lesson: Soil Properties Exploration
Activity 1. Soil Context Description:
Location:_________________________________________________________
Aspect:__________________________________________________________
Ground Cover:____________________________________________________
Land Use:________________________________________________________
Parent Material:____________________________________________________
Activity 2. Soil Observation and Collection
Each team of students should place their pvc pipe square in a location they want to
study. The inside of the square is 10 inches across. This marks the sample area to be
studied.
Each team will use a trowel to scoop up some of the leaf litter and material on the
surface of the soil. Place it in a clear plastic jar. Observe the sample and record the
material collected on the data sheet. Use the Common Soil Critters Chart on the
following page to assist with identifying insects and other “critters” that live in soil .
Our soil surface sample contained____________________________
_______________________________________________________
Repeat this procedure scooping deeper into the soil just below the surface. Record
findings on the data sheet.
Our soil sample just under the surface contained__________________
__________________________________________________________
From an undisturbed area of your sample square, collect 1 cup of soil and place it in the
clear jar.
Activity 3. Soil Color:
Munsell Code:_______________________ Color:________________________
Moist? Yes / No
Dry? Yes / No
Organic Materials
Yes / No
Activity 4. Air Spaces, Organic Matter and Weathered Rock:
4A- Air Spaces
Predict how much air space is in a 1 cup sample of the soil._____________
4B- Organic Matter- Describe amount and source (animal or plant):_______
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
4C- Weathered Rock- after the solution of water and soil had had time to settle measure
the depth of each layer and calculate the amount in percent each grain size contributes
to this soil sample.
mm depth of sand:_____________________ Percent of total:____________
mm depth of slit::______________________ Percent of total:____________
mm depth of clay: _____________________ Percent of total:____________
Activity 5. Soil Texture by Touch:
From our touch test we find the soil behaves like it is made mostly of
_____ Sand
_____ Silt
_____ Clay
How does this compare to your grain size separation results in 4C? _________
Using the Soil Characteristics Key, in the booklet following, our soil type
is:______________________________