This is the upper layer of the earth's surface and is a mix of organic material, broken rock, and minerals
What is SOIL?
This is another word we use to describe the "layers" of soil.
What is "soil horizons"?
This creature is a decomposer. It breathes through its skin. It is found all over the world (except the Arctic and desert). It eats dead plants and leaves and breaks it down into rich soil.
What is a worm? (Earthworm)
These are the 3 particles in soil. (Ingredients)
What are sand, silt, and clay?
This is the washing or blowing away of the top layer of soil naturally due to wind and water.
What is soil erosion?
What are plants? (Trees)
This is the word to describe organic material.
What is humus?
This is another word for "Dig" or a "home" underground for some animals/creatures that live in in soil.
What is a "burrow"?
This is the largest soil particle. It feels rough and gritty. It is about 1mm in size. It is good for water drainage.
What is sand?
These are the way humans can help prevent harmful erosion.
What are planting trees, shrubs, and grass, as well as controlling drainage?
These are the characteristics of soil.
What are rock, minerals, organic matter, air, water, and living organisms?
This is what humus is made up of.
What are decaying plant and animal remains?
These are some insects that live in soil.
What are: beetles, centipedes, millipedes, earwigs, and ants?
This is a medium size soil particle. It feels smooth and powdery. It is hard for water to pass through. It is about 0.05mm in size.
What is silt?
These are the 3 words for the steps to soil erosion.
Soil particles are picked off the ground.
Soil particles are moved by water or wind.
Soil Particles are put in a new location.
What are: 1) Detachment, 2) Transportation, and 3) Deposition?
These are the 4 reasons why soil is important.
What are:
1) Plants needs soil to grow
2) Soil helps give us fresh air (through trees).
3) Soil gives orgnisms a place to live.
4) Soil helps to clean water.
This is made of a solid mass of rock.
What is bedrock?
These are some mammals that live in burrows.
What are moles, rabbits, foxes, skunks, etc?
What is the smallest soil particle and feels hard, gets sticky when wet, and is hard for water to pass through.
What is clay?
These are 2 harmful things that can happen to soil that humans are responsible for.
What are "Salty soil" (adding too much salt to soil through salting roads) and using harmful pesticides?
This is what would happen if Earth did not have soil.
What is: We could not grow food to eat. Animals would starve. We would starve. Trees would die and we would not be able to breathe
This is made or humus and minerals. Plants and organisms like to live here.
What is topsoil?
These are some of what creatures that live in soil do to help the soil. (3)
What are adding nutrients, improving soil structure, and mixing up the soil ingredients?
This type of soil is equal parts sand and silt, and 20% clay. It can hold water and nutrients for plants to access. It is usually "looser" once dug up. Gardeners likes to use it.
What is "loamy soil"?
Compost can be added to soil to help improve it's health. Sort these materials into good compost cs. bad compost materials.
-garbage/recycling materials
-rotten fruit/veggies
-eggshells
-meat scraps
-veggie peels/waste
-dry leaves and sticks
-dairy products
-pet waster
Good compost: rotten fruit/veggies, vegetable waste/peels, dry leave and sticks, eggshells
Bad compost: Meat scraps, dairy products, garbage/recycling, pet waste