Guided Inquiry Lesson Plan #1: How to Take a Soil Sample
Length of Lesson: One class period (45 minutes)
Scientific Processes Addressed: Observing, Classifying
Science Concepts Addressed: Soil Sample
National Standards Addressed: A, G
Objectives: Students will:
Materials:
Information on taking soil sample
Large plastic cups
Steel trowel or shovel
Plastic zip-lock bags
Gloves
Introductory Activity: Based on what the students learned from the web quest on soil, they will receive instruction on obtaining their own soil samples. The class will be broken up into groups of four students and they will work together for the remainder of the unit.
Description of Activities and Discussion Questions: To obtain a representative sample you must gather soil from at least five locations in a defined area. Collect the sample when the soil is moist, but not wet, if possible. You are going to need at least 3-4 cups of soil for your laboratory experiments, so make sure you gather enough material to test.
Using a steel trowel dig down to 6 inches in each of the locations, slice off a piece of the sample, removing sod and debris. Scrape it into a clean plastic zip lock bag. Touching the sample with your hands can change the pH, so wear gloves if you can and try to avoid directly handling the soil. Replace the plug in the dirt before moving on.
Thoroughly mix the samples together in the bag. Break up the lumps and remove plant parts, roots, and rocks. Seal the bag and bring into class.
Expected Conclusions: Students will gain the necessary knowledge of at least three different types of soil (sand, silt, clay and/or loam) to explore further into the subject of soil composition and formation and the different tests that can be done on soil.
Assessment: Homework assignment: Students, working in groups, are required to each bring in a soil sample. Students receive credit for accomplishing that task. By not bringing in a sample, they are letting their whole group down.
Extensions:
Language Arts – Students can write an essay, predicting why differences in soil are important.
Math – Students first create a list of common characteristics of the different soils. Then, they can make a histogram, graphing the number of soil samples with each characteristic.