Soil Components 6th Grade Science

Write this in your notebook… OBJECTIVES, then copy the essential questions and global from the board Students will be able to explain how the formation of soil is related to the parent rock type and the environment in which it develops. Students will understand that good health of humans requires: monitoring the lithosphere, maintaining soil quality, and stewardship.

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS What is the relationship between rocks, soil, and the environment? How does soil quality affect humans? How do humans affect soil quality?

What is the natural process that breaks down rocks called? Warm-up What is the natural process that breaks down rocks called? Name and explain the two types of igneous rock.

Warm-up The rock cycle Extrusive-when magma exits the Earth and becomes lava-cools quickly which results in a smaller crystal size. Intrusive-when magma cools inside the Earth and has more time to produce larger crystals.

From your notes yesterday…complete sentences: What is soil or “dirt”? Warm-up: 03/21 From your notes yesterday…complete sentences: What is soil or “dirt”?

Soil is a complex mixture of minerals, water, air, organic matter, and countless organisms that are the decaying remains of once- living things.

Warm-up Take the rock cycle /soil handout from the front table. You may use notes, but not the textbook to complete, this will be a quiz grade.

Warm-up Be ready to start class, in your seat, have a pencil and take out the SPROL handout from yesterday. Work independently use section A of the textbook.

Warm-up Be ready to start class, in your seat, have a pencil and pick up the SPROL handout from the front table. Work independently use section A of the textbook.

How does soil quality affect humans? Warm-up How does soil quality affect humans?

Warm-up answer Soil that is healthy (horizon A) is essential to the survival of humans. Farmers can’t produce crops for our food supply and producers (plants) are essential for all living things in the food web and of course they also provide oxygen.

Warm-up Name all of the soil horizons. Which are the most important?

Thank you for being prepared for class (pencil, SPROL handout). Warm-up Thank you for being prepared for class (pencil, SPROL handout). You do not need your notebook today…Take out the SPROL hand out and continue working

What is soil? Broken down dead plants animals pieces Including rocks

What is soil? Soil is a complex mixture of minerals, water, air, organic matter, and countless organisms that are the decaying remains of once-living things. It forms at the surface of land – it is the “skin of the earth.” Soil is capable of supporting plant life and is vital to life on earth. http://www.soils4kids.org/about

Soil Horizon Layer of soil with properties that differ from those above or below it. Soil Profile: specific location that can be different from place to place Soil is usually divided into 3 main layers (A, B, and C)

Soil Horizons Diagram O is full of living thing-plants, microorganisms Litter (trash, grass..) Dark brown Reddish brown (clay) Grayish brown Contains weathered rocks Solid rock

O Horizon: Litter Not really a layer of soil It’s on top of the first layer of soil Contains grass, plants, and animals

A Horizon: Topsoil 1st layer of soil Darkest layer of soil (dark brown or black) Contains humus, plant roots, small animals, water, and nutrients for plant growth The darker the soil, the more nutrients it contains

B Horizon: Subsoil 2nd layer of soil Lighter in color (reddish brown) Fewer nutrients and water Limited plant growth

C Horizon: Parent Material 3rd layer of soil Lightest in color (gray) No nutrients, animals, or plant growth Contains weathered rock and sediment

R Horizon: Bedrock Below the last layer of soil Solid Rock Has not been weathered or broken down yet No soil in this layer http://science.unctv.org/content/soil-science-down-and-gritty-dirt silly soil conservation song

What are the characteristics of soil? -Texture-what the soil feels like -Particle Size (see picture) -pH-acidity in the soil -Water retention-how well it holds water -Viability-nutrients in the soil (nitrogen, phosphorus, etc).