SOILWhat do we want to know?● What is soil?● How is it formed?● What are the different● types of soil?● Why is soil important?● What can harm soil?● What can we do to protect● the soil?

SCIENCEMS.HERNANDEZ 4B

Soil is an important natural resource. Without soil there would be no life!

Producers (plants) need soil in order to grow.

Soil provides the plant with support. The roots grow into the soil and anchors the plant in place.

Soil also has nutrients that help the plant grow and stay healthy.

Remember...producers are needed in every food chain!

Without producers there would be no food chain. Without a food chain there would be no life!

We depend on soil to grow food for people to eat.

Many animals also make their homes under the ground in the soil.

People NEED soil so we must conserve it. Conserve means to save and protect it.

What is SOIL?Soil is a mixture of organic and inorganic materials.

ORGANIC LIVING THING

INORGANIC NON LIVING THING

Soil is made from the many different powdered minerals that crumbled from rock over millions of years ago.

Soil is made by weathering.Weathering is the wearing down of hard rock by the forces of nature.

HOWLING WIND POUNDING WIND

Over time, wind can wear away rock and cause it to change shape.

Water can pound against rock with great force also causing physical changes.

Water can also seep into cracks in rocks, freeze and cause rocks to split.

Soil forms in layers called horizons.

The very first horizon is the topsoil layer.Topsoil is where plants grow and small animals make their burrows.

TOPSOIL

Humus is found in the topsoil layer. Humus is decomposed plant and animal matter that add extra nutrients to the soil.

Beneath the topsoil horizon is the subsoil layer.This layer contains a mix of soil and rock.

TOPSOIL

The bottom horizon is the bedrock layer. It is made up of solid rock and is found beneath the subsoil.

TOPSOIL

BEDROCK

Different things can damage the soil on earth. One is erosion. Erosion is the wearing away of soil.

Planting trees and shrubs can keep soil from washing away.

Tree roots grab onto soil and help hold it in place.

LASTLY, Conservation is the science of protecting Earth’s resources. Soil is one of the most precious resources w have. We must be soil smart and work hard to protect it!