INGOMAR MIDDLE SCHOOL SCIENCE     NAME: ______________________                         
Environmental Mini-Project: SOIL            Period: ______ Date: __________ Score_____/10

Drought Condition Map /Soil Moisture   Water cycle  Water Watch  Soil Moisture   Soil Survey  Soil Moisture Map
The Dust Bowl   Soils  Soil Type    Soil Science/DLESE  Soil ED   National Ed   Soil Horizons 

 I.M.S. Weather  Panel  Weather Page Page13
PURPOSE: Data should be examined to find patterns and relationships Information is organized in ways
that show possible relationships, similarities, or differences; examples: graphs, charts, tables, etc. "colloid."

In this activity you will collect a representative soil sample for subsequent testing and analysis.

MATERIALS: Your labeled Ziploc bag with soil sample (or you can use a clear plastic tennis ball can)

Trowel or soil auger, tape measure, pH paper, hand lens, straw, and notebook.

PROCEDURE

Using the sampling patterns and techniques discussed in class, collect and label a sample of soil from your garden, lawn, or fields. Using the attached Soil Data Sheet, record information about your soil as you develop it, in this and subsequent activities.

1. Location of site where sample was taken:________________________ Depth taken?_______ cm.

2. Collected by: ____________________________________   3. Date: ___________________

4. Weather conditions on that date: ____________________________________________________

5. Soil Type: _________________ USDA Soil Taxonomy   Soil Taxonomy  State Soils  World Soils*

6. Textural classification   A*: % Sand: ____________% Silt: ____________% Clay: ___________%

7. Brief description of listed horizons:_______________________________Particle Size:______

8. pH (acidity content use ph paper: 1-14): ___________

9. Determine Soil Moisture %

                           Original soil sample weight: _________ grams

Subtract the:        Dried soil sample weight : _________ grams * Use of microwave to dry soil sample!
 

                               The amount of moisture:  _________ grams
 

   Divide by the Original soil sample weight: _________ grams     = Soil Moisture:__________%

10. How does your sample compares to other students samples (see class soil data clipboard?
__________________________________________________________
Include a Graph and Table of classmates results:

Microwave Instructions: Place 10 gram soil sample on microwaveable plate and heat for 2** minutes.

Stoke�s Law: You can calculate the velocity and settling time of different sized particles (in cm).
Stoke�s Law: V=kd2 
where: V= settling velocity (in cm/second)
d= particle diameter in cm (such as 0.2 cm - 0.005 cm for sand, 0.005 cm - 0.002 cm for silt, and <0.002 cm for clay)
k= a constant which depends on the liquid in which the particle is settling, particle density, the force of gravity, and the temperature (8.9 x 10³ cm ^-1 sec^-1 for soil in water at 20 degrees C).