Layers of Soils
Types of Soil
Save Soils!
True or False
FUN FACTS
ABOUT SOIL
100
Which of the following is NOT a component of soil? a. Humus b. Silt c. Garbage d. Sand
c. Garbage
100
Which soil type can become hard as stone when dry?
Clay
100
Why is it important to plant trees and grass on soil?
To prevent erosion (movement of soil from one place to another by wind, water, air and weather)
100
TRUE or FALSE: Soil is made up of water, air, minerals, organic matter.
TRUE
100
Fill in the blank: 1 ____________ of soil has more organisms in it than there are people on earth
Tablespoon
200
Which layer of soil contains humus? a. Topsoil b. Subsoil c. Silt d. Bedrock
a. Topsoil
200
Which soil type is made up of tiny fragments of rock, does not hold water well, feels gritty, and has very few nutrients?
Sand
200
Which of the following does NOT save soils? a. worms b. decomposition c. pesticides d. planting different crops every year
c. pesticides
200
TRUE or FALSE: Erosion is when air, water, and wind break down large rocks into soil.
FALSE: Weathering is when air, water, and wind break down large rocks into soil.
200
Fill in the blanks: 1,400,000 ____________ can be found in an acre of cropland
Earthworms
300
Which layer of soil is made up of sand, silt, and clay? a. Topsoil b. Subsoil c. Bedrock d. Parent Material
b. Subsoil
300
Clay particles are ____________________________. a. Larger than sand and smaller than silt b. Smaller than sand and larger than silt c. The same size as silt d. Smaller than sand and silt
d. Smaller than sand and silt
300
Without soils, we would not be able to live! Which of the following is NOT made from soils? a. bricks b. clothes c. paint d. fur
d. fur
300
TRUE or FALSE: Worms are good for soils because they create tunnels to allow minerals and water to go through soils.
FALSE: Worms allow AIR and water to go through soils.
300
It takes _________ years to grow 10 cm of fertile soil.
2000
400
Which layer of soil has lots of organic material like plants and decaying leaves and is very thin and dark in colour?
Humus
400
Which type of soil is medium sized, feels like flour when dry, and can be packed into a crust that makes it harder for water and air to pass through?
Silt
400
Name three organisms that will be impacted if soils were destroyed.
Teacher will rate student's answer for this question. Possible answers include: worms, insects, moles, bacteria, fungi, humans
400
TRUE OR FALSE: Composting is time consuming and requires expensive equipment.
FALSE: Composting can be as simple as making a pile of leaves and letting it sit until it decomposes. However, there are composting facilities that use heavy-duty equipment for shredding, mixing, aerating, and moving the organic matter as it composts.
400
Another way to identify soil layers is ____________.
Horizons
500
Name the 5 layers of soil, starting from the layer closest to your feet.
1. Humus 2. Topsoil 3. Subsoil 4. Parent Material 5. Bedrock
500
In our soil experiment, what type of soil floats on the top, stay in the middle, and sink to the bottom? Name the three types in that order.
Clay particles float on the top because it is the smallest particle. Silt particles stay in the middle because they are mid sized. Sand particles sink to the bottom because they are the largest particle.
500
You are an environmental activist and you want to convince the tree logging company to stop cutting down trees in a nearby forest. Give two reasons why you need to save soils AND two ways to help save soils.
Teacher will make final decision.
500
It is not a good idea to compost: a. Vegetable peelings b. Grass clippings c. Small twigs d. Bread products
d. Bread products Bread products such as cakes, most baked goods and pasta can attract unwanted pests such as rats.
500
The amount of sand, clay and silt is what gives different soil types their various textures. Most soils are a mix of all three. This mixture is called _________________.
Loam
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