Types of soil - Worksheet for learners

We learned about the different layers of soil and that soil is important for plants and some animals to live in.  We need to protect soil because it takes a long time to form.

• First refresh you memory and look at the picture explaining the different layers of soil.  Try and explain it in your own words  

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How do soil form?

Have you ever seen a big rock but there are also smaller pieces of rock that were lying around? 

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Smaller pieces were broken from the big rock.  This could make you wonder how these little pieces broke off from the big rock.  

There are different ways in which this can happen.  Understand that these things happen over a long time, not overnight

• bigger rocks will start getting cracks.  Water will fill the cracks and pieces of rock will start breaking off.  The pieces will keep on breaking off and will become smaller and smaller
• the roots of a plant can make the water in the soil become acidic and this acid can also help in breaking down the rocks in the soil
• rain can also break away small parts of the rock
• stones can rub against each other because the river flows over it or the wind blows it against other rocks or people or animals walk over it, this can cause small piece of rock to break off.

All these different ways in which rocks break down is called weathering and erosion (meaning that parts of something will be changed or taken away by wind or water).  Watch the video for more information

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Experiments

1.  Test the effect of acid on rock

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1. You will use a cement brick to represent a rock
2. Put the brick in a container and add a bottle of vinegar (which represent the acid in the ground) over it
3. Look at the brick every day for 2 weeks and have a look if you see any changes and document it (write it down)

2.  Get some fertilizer in your soil

The topsoil is the part of the soil that is important to plant and animals - we need to look after soil and you can create your own fertilization making compost.

Read more about why composting is a good thing http://www.ecofriendlykids.co.uk/composting.html

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Types of soil

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There are 3 main types of soil

1. sand - this is like the sand on the beach.  The particles are loose and the water runs through it easily
2. loam - this is the sand you usually get in your garden.  Bigger particles and can hold the water longer
3. clay - just like the clay you play with, this type of soil has particles packed closely together and not a lot of air in the soil, so not many types of plants can grow in this type of soil

• For enrichment learn a bit more about the types of soils and their characteristics (make sure you understand all the words)

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• Make sure you can explain the words in this worksheet like erosion, weathering, types of soil, fertilization, acidity etc.