BLACK BEARD Blackbeard Facts

Blackbeard’s Buried Treasure A Soil Science Mystery for Middle School Students

Objectives Learn about soil properties and interpret evidence to find buried treasure. 6.E.2.3 Explain how the formation of soil is related to the parent rock type and the environment in which it develops. 6.E.2.4 Conclude that the good health of humans requires: monitoring the lithosphere, maintaining soil quality and stewardship.

– Color – Horizon profile – Infiltration – Soil temperature – Structure – Consistence – Texture – Particle size – pH – Fertility – Soil moisture

Focus Question What are the different properties of soil? How is this information useful in solving the mystery of Blackbeard’s treasure?

The Mysterious History of Blackbeard Let’s read together to learn more!

Why would the boot lead to buried treasure? What information do you need to know to solve the mystery? What steps do you plan to take? The NC Times All the dirt that’s fit to print Ocracoke Groundskeeper Finds Blackbeard’s Boot by Clay Johnson

Procedure Introduction to each soil property –Soil Color, Structure, Texture, Consistence, Horizon layers Each group gets a sample Each group gets a “boot” sample

‘X’ marks the spot 1X 5X 6X 3X 2X 4X

Soil Color The color tells us the relationship of the soil to water, the mineral and organic matter content. Instead of the Munsell Color Chart, we will use a simple crayon color chart to find the color of our soil.

Crayon Color Chart

Soil Structure The structure is determined by the soil particles grouping into clumps called “peds”. These impact water infiltration and runoff from the soil surface. There are six primary shapes.

Determining Soil Structure Granular: looks like cookie crumbs Blocky: looks like peas or walnuts Platy: looks like flat pieces that stack Columnar: looks like rounded columns Single-Grained: look like sandy & small Massive: looks like hard to break apart

Determining Soil Structure Granular Blocky Platy Columnar Single-Grained Massive

Soil Texture Soil is made up of mineral particles in three sizes: sand, silt, and clay. Let’s get out of our seats to better understand these three textures! Listen for directions

Soil Consistency Stickiness: how much the soil adheres, or stick to objects. Plasticity: how much the soil can be worked into a worm shape without breaking. Rupture resistance: how much pressure a ped can take before falling apart.

Follow-Up Questions Which group thinks they know where Blackbeard’s treasure is hidden? In what ways does their data support this conclusion? Do other groups think they have the location? Why or why not? What soil property enabled students to figure out the mystery? What characteristics did the soils have in common? What properties were different? Why do soils have different properties? What new questions do students have about soils?

Protecting the soil –2,000,000,000,000 Project