Record your prediction.

Begin the Investigation

sand humus or clay humus sand or clay sand or humus

Write in your science notebook.

What color is the soil? What do you see in the soil?

Listen as I read chapter three.

Have you ever grown fruits, vegetables, or flowers in a garden? How did the soil look and feel?

How can bits of rock become part of soil ? Weathering breaks down rocks into smaller pieces that become part of soil.

Read pages

Check for understanding... Humus is a part of soil that contains bits of living things that have died and decayed. 1. Which things in soil are nonliving ? 2. Which things are living or come from living things ? 3. Why does the top layer of soil usually have the most humus ? Bits of rock, air, and water are nonliving things. Earthworms are living, and humus comes from living things. Animals and plants usually die near the surface. The decayed bits stay close to the top of the soil.

Read pages 22 & 23.

Read pages 24 & 27.

Check for understanding... What are three uses for soil ? 1. growing food 2. building homes and roads on soil 3. making materials from soil What are clay and sand used for? Clay is used to make brick and pottery. Sand is used to make concrete. What kind of soil is best for growing a garden? Why? Humus is best because it holds the right amount of water for growing plants.