How Solid FormsChapter 2Section 36th Grade Team

Standards

S.6.6.b Students know different natural energy and material resources, including air, soil, rocks, minerals, petroleum, fresh water, wildlife, and forests and know how to classify them as renewable or nonrenewable.

Anticipatory Set

Vocabulary

Fertility

Soil

Humus

Fertility

Soil horizon-

Acidic

Basic

Decomposers

Soil CompositionSoil is a mixture of rock particles, minerals,

decayed organic material, water and air. NTG

Humus- the decayed organic material that is soilIt is dark colored substance that forms as

plants and animal remains decay. It contents nutrients and plants get their nutrients from this. As plants grow they absorb humus. NTG

Fertility- of soil is a measure of how well the soil supports plant growth. If it is rich is humus, it has high fertility. NTG

Soil Texture

Sand feels course, and clay feels smooth and silky

The texture or particle size of soil determines how much air and water the soil can hold.

Clay- has a dense, heavy texture and they hold a lot of water so pants grown in them can “drown” for lack of air NTG

Sandy- has a coarse texture and water quickly drains through it killing the plant from lack of water. NTG

Loam- soil that is made up of about equal parts of clay, sand, and silt. NTG

Process of Soil Formation

Soil horizon- a layer of soil that differs in color, and texture from the layers above it and below it.

Horizon A- topsoil= a crumbly, dark brown soil that is a mixture of humus, clay and other minerals.

Horizon B-Subsoil=consists of clay and other particles washed down from Horizon A but little humus.

Soil Types

Scientists classify soil by it’s composition

Acidic- if a substance reacts strongly with some metals and changes blue litmus paper red

Basic- if a substance feels SLIPPERY and changes red litmus paper blue.

Scientists use the pH scale to measure acidic and basic substances.

pH

pH of 0= strongly acidic

pH of 7= neutral

pH of 14 = strongly basic

For plants to grow they need a pH of 6 or 7.5.

Living Organisms in SoilDecomposers are the organisms that break

down the remains of dead organisms into smaller pieces and digest them with chemicals. NTG

Soil decomposers- fungi, bacteria, worms, other organisms, mites and worms.

Fungi- mold and mushrooms. They digest and grow on plant remains.

Bacteria causes decay and attack dead organism and their waste in soil

Mixing the Soil

As Earthworms eat their way through the soil, they carry humus down to the subsoil and subsoil to the surface.

Earthworms also pass out the soil they eat as waste

Burrowing animals- mice, moles, prairie dogs, and gophers break up hard, compacted soil and mix humus with it.

Checking for Understanding

What is humus?

What is a loam?

What is a decomposer?

Guided Practice Independent Practice

Guided Practice NTG page 44 # 1-8

Independent Practice NTG page 45-46 # 9-23