SCHOOL
Duhaga Boy’s Primary School
COUNTRY
Uganda
CLASS
Primary Five
SUBJECT
Science
TOPIC
Soil
SUB-TOPIC
Types of Soil
INTERDISCIPLINARY CONNECTIONS
Agriculture (Soil Formation)
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:
1) Define the term soil
2) Mention the types of soil
3) Give the components and uses of soil
4) Do the activity given correctly
INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS
Different types of soil and a chart showing the layers of soil
CONTENT
Introductory Phase
Pupils will be asked oral questions like the following to prepare them for the lesson:
1) What are biological changes?
2) Give any two examples of natural changes
3) Mention two examples of biological changes
Experiencing Phase
Pupils will be led to the day’s lesson about “soil” explaining that:
Soil is the top layer of the earth. It. is a medium in which plants grow and where
they get water and mineral salts. Some animals live in the soil. Some of these
animals are useful because they make tunnels in the soil. These tunnels allow air and
water to circulate. Both air and water are important for plant growth. Soil is the
ground on which we stand, grow crops and build houses. Soil is made up of clay,
sand, stone particles and humus. Humus is made up of dead plants and animals. Good
soil for growing crops, which is called loam soil, has more humus than other
components.
“Once you step out onto a piece of ground, you step out onto something that is alive.
Soil is not just a piece of dirt. Soil is made up of living and nonliving material spread
as a very thin layer over the entire surface of the planet we call earth” visit
http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/gpe/case2/c2facts1.html for more interesting,
animated and yet factual ways of introducing your students to all about soil.
Sandy soil
It has hard large particles as compared to clay. Sandy soil is not good for farming
because its capacity to hold water is very low. Therefore, sand has low water
retention.
Clay soil
Clay soil has very fine particles much smaller than sand that is very closely parked
together. Clay does not allow water to pass through very easily. It has a very high
water retention capacity.
Clay soil is not good for growing crops because it retains a lot of water, which
causes the roots of crops to rot. It is also difficult to cultivate because it sticks on
farm tools. Clay soil is good for pottery making.
Loam soil
Loam soil is a mixture of clay, sand and humus. Humus increases soil depth. It
consists of decayed plants and animals. This gives soil its dark brown colour. It also
contains air water and mineral salts. Loam soil is good for plant growing. A good soil
contains many living organisms such as earthworms, fungi and bacteria. Earthworms
make tunnels, which help in water and air circulation in the soil. Bacteria and fungi
are very useful in the decomposition or rotting process of dead plants and animals.
Uses of Soil
Pupils should be led into a discussion of the uses of soils. These include the
following:
1) Soil helps to support plant growth by supplying water and mineral salts to
the soil.
2) Soil acts as a base where plants fix their roots to grow.
3) Soil is common natural resource that we use to make different things like
clay used in the making of pots, plates, cups tiles and bricks.
4) Soil absorbs the remains of dead plants and animals.
5) Soil is home for many animals such as termites, rats, millipedes, earthworms,
bacteria and fungi.
Components of Soil
These components include air; water, inorganic or rock particles, living organisms,
mineral salts and humus which is dead organic matter.
Evaluation Phase
Pupils will be given an exercise to do:
1) Name three types of soil
2) Give the components of soil
3) Write any three living organisms whose habitat is soil
4) Mention five uses of soil
HOMEWORK
Modeling
Pupils in small groups will be asked to get clay soil and then model objects like cups,
pots, plates, bricks etc.
RESOURCES
“Soil is made up of a variety of organic and inorganic materials, including rock
particles, decaying plants and animals, air, water, and microorganisms. The manner
in which the soil is arranged and the texture of the soil will influence how the soil
behaves and reacts to water and nutrients” visit http://garden-soil.com/types-ofsoil.php for more information.
Clay soil is the heaviest soil classification, composed of closely packed particles
that allow less water and air movement through the soil. Clay soils cool slowly, warm
slowly, and can hold large volumes of nutrients.
www.tradewindsfruit.com/glossary.htm
AUTHORS
KUNIHIRA HARRIET AND AYEBALE MOSES
hkunihira@yahoo.com