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Making Observations

Lab #2

Vocabulary: • Observation: the process of

noticing and describing things or events in a careful, orderly way (Data).

• Metric System: The measuring system used by scientists and most countries other than the United States and the UK.

Vocabulary: • Opaque: Unable to transmit light

• Transparent: Able to transmit light clearly so that an object can be

distinctly seen through a substance

• Translucent: semi-transparent

Focus Questions • How can we make useful

observations?

Hypothesis: “Answer the focus question

using complete sentences”

DATA: Object # Observations Object Name

1

2

3

4

5

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Conclusion: • What was the goal of this lab?

• Summarize what we did during this investigation.

• Describe something about your observations.

• What did you learn from

completing the investigation?

Observing Soil

Lab 3

Vocab: Soil: The layers of unconsolidated material found at the Earth’s surface.

Soil normally consists of:

weathered mineral particles, dead and living organic matter, air space, and associated moisture

Focus Question • What might be some

similarities and differences

between different types of

soil?

Hypothesis: “Write your answer to the focus

question using complete sentences”

DATA: Observations

Soil A Soil B Soil C

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Analysis: 1. Which soil was the lightest in color?

2. Which soil was the darkest in color?

3. Which soil seemed the most sandy?

4. Which soil had the highest amount of plant material? (ex: sticks etc..)

5. Out of the three soil types, which do you believe would be the best soil to

use for a garden? WHY?

Conclusion: • What was the goal of this lab?

• Summarize what we did during this lab.

• What did you learn after

completing the investigation?

Describing Soil Scientifically

Lab 4

Vocab: Texture:

Describes the size of the particles within soil. (grainy, silky, sticky)

Consistence:

Describes how easily soil clumps

can be broken apart. (loose, friable, firm)

Challenge: • How can we make scientific

observations about soil?

Hypothesis: • “Write your answer to the

focus question here”

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Key Concepts • Accurate and complete observations are

important for making conclusions about the natural world.

• Soil consists of weathered rocks and

decomposed organic material from dead plants, animals, and bacteria

• Soils have properties that can be described by color, consistence, and texture.

How to Collect Data

• What if the color of the soil

falls in between the colors

on the color chart?

How to Collect Data • Only a small amount of water is

needed in the texture test.

• Dip a finger in the water and then

dip the same finger in the soil.

• Rub your finger and thumb

together to feel the texture of the soil.

How to Collect Data Consistence Test

• Loose: easily crumbles apart with very little effort

• Friable: takes some effort to break clumps apart between thumb and forefinger

• Firm: Extremely difficult to break clumps apart between thumb and forefinger.

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Data: Soil Observations Soil Properties Soil

A Soil B

Soil C

Color

Consistence

Texture

Analysis: 1.The best soil for plants in a

garden is dark, silky soil that is loose or friable. Based on this description, which soil would be best for a garden, Soil A, B, or C. Explain.

Conclusions • What was the goal of the lab?

• Explain how you completed the lab/collected your data.

• What did you like/not like about the lab? What did you learn by

completing the lab?

Soil Composition Lab 5

Vocabulary: Decompose:

To break down either by physical or chemical means.

Nutrients:

Essential elements required by an organism to grow and reproduce

Vocabulary: Organic Matter:

Matter containing compounds that contain carbon atoms. In soil, decaying plants or animals provide

a source of organic matter.

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Vocabulary: Sand:

a loose substance of weathered rock particles. Largest particle of weathered

rock

Silt:

sediments smaller than sand but larger than clay.

Clay:

sediments that are smaller than both

sand and silt.

Vocabulary: Weathering

The breakup of rock caused by

mechanical or chemical processes.

VOCABULARY:

Composition

What something is made

of or its mix of ingredients.

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Focus Questions: • What is the role of organic

matter in soil?

Hypothesis: “I believe the role of organic material in soil is…”

Find page A-18

Stopping to Think: 1.

2.

3.

4.

Analysis: • Answer analysis questions #1-3 on

page A-23 in the textbook.

Conclusion: • What was the goal of the lab?

• What was the reading about?

• What did you learn from the reading that you did not know

before?

The Garden Problem

Lab 6

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Focus Question:

•What may be some

reasons why a plant

wouldn’t grow?

Hypothesis: • “Write your answer to the

focus question here”

Turn to page A-9

Analysis: 1. What is the difference between

scientific evidence and an opinion?

2. Your aunt tells you that she gets cold

when the temperature falls below 60 degrees. Does she mean degrees

Celsius or degrees Fahrenheit? How do you know?

60ºC = 140ºF

Conclusion: • Why do you think plants

won’t grow in the garden at

Chris’s school? Support

your ideas with evidence

from the reading.

The Dust Bowl

Lab 7

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Challenge: • What were the conditions

that caused the Dust Bowl?

• How were people’s lives

affected by the Dust Bowl?

Vocabulary • Dust Bowl: Name given to the plains of

the central United States in the 1930’s.

Severe drought and other factors created huge dust storms.

• Native: Occurring naturally in an

environment, indigenous

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Page A-33

Contour Plowing

Windbreaks Crop Rotation

Native Plants Analysis: 1. Describe what it was like to be in

the Dust Bowl.

2. A combination of conditions

caused the Dust Bowl. What were three things that contributed to the

Dust Bowl?

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Analysis: 3. How could the following actions

help prevent another Dust Bowl?

A. Keep soils Wet

B. Listen to weather reports

C. Plant tall trees along the edges of fields

D. Plant more native plants

Analysis: • Write agree or disagree with the

folowing questions.

4. People caused the dust bowl.

5. The Dust Bowl could have been

prevented

6. A similar type of dust storm could happen anywhere in the united states

Conclusion: • What was the purpose (goal)

of this activity? • Explain what you learned

about the Dust Bowl.

• Do you know anyone whose life has been affected by farms or farming?

Mapping Soils Lab 8

Vocabulary • Desert:

• A dry, often sandy region of little rainfall, extreme temperatures,

and sparse vegetation.

• Forest:

• a large wooded area having a

thick growth of trees and plants

Vocabulary • Grassland:

• An area, such as a prairie or meadow, of grass or grasslike

vegetation.

• Tropical grassland:

• A grassland that is warm all year

round. Located in humid climate regions.

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Focus Question • What compositions and

properties do soils from different environments have?

• Answer the focus question

Hypothesis

Page A-31

Desert Forest

Grassland Tropical Grassland

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DATA

Soil Type Characteristics

Desert

Forest

Grassland

Tropical Grassland

DATA

Soil Type Characteristics

Desert Dry, Sandy, Light in Color, Firm, Grainy

Forest

Grassland

Tropical Grassland

DATA

Soil Type Characteristics

Desert Dry, Sandy, Light in Color, Firm, Grainy

Forest Grayish to Reddish Brown, Loose Consistence, Very Moist

Grassland

Tropical Grassland

DATA

Soil Type Characteristics

Desert Dry, Sandy, Light in Color, Firm, Grainy

Forest Grayish to Reddish Brown, Loose Consistence, Very Moist

Grassland Rich in Nutrients, Reddish Brown, Loose, Silky

Tropical Grassland

DATA

Soil Type Characteristics

Desert Dry, Sandy, Light in Color, Firm, Grainy

Forest Grayish to Reddish Brown, Loose Consistence, Very Moist

Grassland Rich in Nutrients, Reddish Brown, Loose, Silky

Tropical Grassland Wet, Grayish Brown, Sticky Texture

Label Phoenix, AZ on your map

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Label Orlando, FL on your map Label your city or town

Analysis 1.Your friend from central

Nebraska calls you and says that the soil where she lives is

the same as the soil in Phoenix, AZ. Do you agree or disagree with her? Explain

Why.

NE

Analysis 2. Your friend from Orlando, FL

calls you and says that the soil where he lives is the

same as the soil where you live. Do you agree or disagree with him? Explain

Why.

Analysis 3. What category of soil

matches the soil in Orlando, FL? Explain your answer.

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Analysis 4. What type of soil is found in

Oklahoma?

Conclusion • What was the goal of this

activity?

• Explain what you did to

complete your soils map.

• What did you learn by completing the soil map?

Soil Columns Lab 9

FOCUS QUESTION:

• What percentage of soil is

made up of weathered

rocks?

HYPOTHESIS: • “Write your answer to the

focus question here”

MATERIALS: • 1 sample of soil A and soil B

• 1 cup of water

• 1 SEPUP tray

• 2 plastic tubes with caps

• 1 magnifying lens

• 1 graduated cup

• 1 graduated cylinder

• 1 plastic spoon

• 1 ruler

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Follow the Procedures on pages A-16 to A-17 in the

textbook.

Analysis: 1.How were the layers in Tube

A similar or different from

the layers in Tube B?

Support your answer with

your observations.

Analysis: 2.Were the particles at the

bottom of Tube B larger,

smaller, or the same size as

the particles at the top of

the bottom layer?

Analysis: 3.Which soil type contained a

higher percentage of

weathered rocks? Support

your answer with evidence

from this activity.

Analysis: 4. Which soil type contained

a higher percentage of

organic matter? Support

your answer with evidence

from this activity.

Conclusion: • What was the goal of this lab?

• Summarize what we did during this lab.

• What did you learn after completing the lab?

• What did you like/not like about

the activity?

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Organic Matter Test

Lab 10

Focus Question • How can we test for the exact

amount of organic matter found in soil?

Hypothesis: “Answer your focus question here”

DATA: Soil Sample Color After

Reaction Amount of Organic Matter

Soil A

Soil B

Control Tube

ANALYSIS: 1.What was the purpose of the

Control Tube C?

2.Does Soil A or Soil B contain

more organic matter?

3.What evidence do you have for your answer to question 2?

ANALYSIS: 4. Do you think your test results

explain why the garden didn’t grow? Explain your

ideas using the results from this activity as well as other activities from this unit.

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Conclusion: • Summarize what we did during this

investigation.

• Was your hypothesis correct?

• What did you learn after completing the investigation?

Garden Action Lab 10

Vocabulary: • Fertilizer:

• Material added to soil to increase its ability to grow plants.

• The most important nutrients that plants need are nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium

Vocabulary: • Trade-off:

• Getting one thing at the cost of another. Something that is given up when one alternative is chosen

over another.

Focus Question: • What is your solution or

recommendation to the problem at the school’s garden?

Prediction: • Write 3-5 sentences about how you will

fix the problem at the school’s garden.

• Think about everything we have discussed up to this point.

(soil types, nutrients, weather, ect.)

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Procedures: 1. Work in groups of 4.

2. Open the text to page A-50

3. Decide which group member will play

the roles shown on page A-51

4. Use student sheet 11.1 to write down

the advantages/disadvantages of each plan.

Conclusion: Writing a letter to the school principal

Letter example: • Dear Principal,

There is a lot of discussion about the issue of______________________________________ My decision is that______________________ I did not choose the option of_______ because_______________________________ My decision is based on the following evidence: First,____________________________________ Second,________________________________ Third,___________________________________ The trade-off(s) of my decision is (are)____ Sincerely, Your Name

Soils Test Review • Know your vocabulary! • Test is 35 questions long

• 20 multiple choice

• 5 true/false

• 7 matching (definitions)

• 3 short answer.

Soils Review Lab 10

SOILS REVIEW

• How easily soil clumps break apart is referred to as:

A. texture B. consistence C. weathering

D. decomposition

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SOILS REVIEW

• How easily soil clumps break apart is referred to as:

A. texture B. consistence C. weathering

D. decomposition

SOILS REVIEW

• Grainy soil would be composed mostly of this:

A. silt B. clay C. sand

D. organic matter

SOILS REVIEW

• Grainy soil would be composed mostly of this:

A. silt B. clay C. sand

D. organic matter

SOILS REVIEW

• A scientific observation:

A. is complete and accurate B. is based on personal opinion C. always includes measurements

D. always includes an inference

SOILS REVIEW

• A scientific observation:

A. is complete and accurate B. is based on personal opinion C. always includes measurements

D. always includes an inference

SOILS REVIEW

• Where is subsoil found?

A. above the topsoil B. below the bedrock C. below the topsoil

D. only on the east coast of the US

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SOILS REVIEW

• Where is subsoil found?

A. above the topsoil B. below the bedrock C. below the topsoil

D. only on the east coast of the US

SOILS REVIEW

• Forest soil is __________.

A. fertile farming soil B. made mostly of sand C. only found on the west coast of

the U.S. D. not very common in the U.S.

SOILS REVIEW

• Forest soil is __________.

A. fertile farming soil B. made mostly of sand C. only found on the west coast of

the U.S. D. not very common in the U.S.

SOILS REVIEW

• Correctly rank the particle sizes from smallest to largest. A. sand, silt, clay B. sand, clay, silt

C. silt, clay, sand D. clay, silt, sand

SOILS REVIEW

• Correctly rank the particle sizes from smallest to largest. A. sand, silt, clay B. sand, clay, silt

C. silt, clay, sand D. clay, silt, sand

SOILS REVIEW

• Which of the following provides missing nutrients to soil? A. manufactured fertilizers B. natural fertilizers C. organic matter D. all of the above

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SOILS REVIEW

• Which of the following provides missing nutrients to soil? A. manufactured fertilizers B. natural fertilizers C. organic matter D. all of the above

SOILS REVIEW

• Information gained by direct observations is called A. Evidence B. Data

C. Both data and evidence D. None of the above

SOILS REVIEW

• Information gained by direct observations is called A. Evidence B. Data

C. Both data and evidence D. None of the above

SOILS REVIEW

• Which of the following is able to decompose. A. Rock B. Mineral

C. Plant matter D. Water

SOILS REVIEW

• Which of the following is able to decompose. A. Rock B. Mineral

C. Plant matter D. Water

SOILS REVIEW

• Which of the following is NOT a reason to why a plant might die? A. Not enough water B. Not enough sunlight C. Too much water D. Too much air

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SOILS REVIEW

• Which of the following is NOT a reason to why a plant might die? A. Not enough water B. Not enough sunlight C. Too much water D. Too much air