Soil Components
6th Grade Science
S
OBJECTIVES
S 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.
S Students will understand that good
health of humans requires: monitoring
the lithosphere, maintaining soil quality,
and stewardship.
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
S What is the relationship between
rocks, soil, and the environment?
S How does soil quality affect
humans?
S How do humans affect soil quality?
Warm-up
S Today we will review briefly and you will have
a chance to do test corrections on the test from
last week.
S Some students scored a 100%, MANY after an
extra week to study did not do well at all. If
you scored a 100% scan the rocks chapter
beginning on page 75 in section A. Choose one
of the bold terms to create a word wall
vocabulary example to hang in the hall.
Warm-up
S What are the 3 types of Rocks?
S Take the notes handout from
the front table and use you
textbook to fill in starting on
page 75 in section A.
Warm-up`
S Continue with the journey
through the rock cycle. See me
if you need dice. If not finished
with comic you need to finish
for homework: Due Monday.
Warm-up
S What is the natural process that breaks
down rocks called?
S Look over all handouts and notes for
the land beneath our feet unit and have
a pencil for the mid-unit check today.
Warm-up
SWhat are the two types of
igneous rock?
Mid-assessment cards
Warm-up
SPredict in complete
sentences: What is soil
or “dirt”?
Warm-up
S Take the rock cycle /soil
handout from the front table.
S You may use notes, but not the
textbook to complete, this will
be a quiz grade.
Warm-up
S Be ready to start class, have a pencil
and pick up the SPROL handout
from the front table.
Warm-up
S Name all of the soil horizons.
S Which are the most important?
Warm-up
S Thank you for being prepared for class
(pencil, binder, SPROL handout).
Take out the SPROL
hand out from Friday and
continue working
What is soil?
Broken down dead plants
animals
Including
rocks
What is soil?
S 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
S Horizon is a side profile of the
layers of soil
S Soil is usually divided into 3
main layers, but will also include
the layers above and below for a
total of 5 layers.
Soil Horizons Diagram
Dark brown/black
Reddish brown
(clay)
Grayish brown
Contains
weathered rocks
Solid rock
O Horizon: Litter
S Not really a layer of soil
S It’s on top of the first layer of
soil
S Contains grass, plants, and
animals
A Horizon: Topsoil
S 1st layer of soil
S Darkest layer of soil (dark brown or
black)
S Contains humus, plant roots, small
animals, water, and nutrients for plant
growth
S The darker the soil, the more nutrients it
contains
B Horizon: Subsoil
S 2nd layer of soil
S Lighter in color (reddish brown)
S Fewer nutrients and water
S Limited plant growth
C Horizon: Parent Material
S 3rd layer of soil
S Lightest in color (gray)
S No nutrients, animals, or plant growth
S Contains weathered rock and sediment
R Horizon: Bedrock
S Below the last layer of soil
S Solid Rock
S Has not been weathered or broken down
yet
SNo soil in this layer
http://science.unctv.org/content/soil-sciencedown-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).