ALCA Members PLC Domains Data Standards Map Plan Curriculum Assessment Strategies

Have You Seen My Soil? Copy

Can soil be red? Can it be black? Make a peep-hole from a paper plate and go exploring for the color of soil found in your yard. Your class will tally the results on the graph provided. What fun then to compare your soil colors with those found in other areas!

Learner Goals

  • Making a Soil Peep Hole a. Fold a small paper plate into four equal parts. b. While still folded, cut a small (about 2 inches in diameter) hole in the middle. c. Unfold the plate and color each part. Color one brown, one black, one gray-white and one orange-brown. (See Step Supplement.)
  • Matching Soils a. Take your peep-hole home or onto the playground. b. Put it on top of some soil. c. See which color it most closely matches. Make an "x" on the back of the paper plate showing the soil color you found. Tally Your Results a. Use the "Table of Soil Colors" worksheet with your class to make tallies showing what each person in your class found. (See Step Supplement.) b. Fill in the sentences telling how many of each color was found. c. Compare your results with Data Forms from other areas.

Required Resources

  • Materials Materials required for each student are a small paper plate, pencil, scissors, crayons, and chart (provided) for recording tallies of soil color.

  • Forms
    Colors of Soil
    Provide the following information.
     

Optional Resources

  • Kathy Schrock's Guide for Educators This site contains a wide variety of information in all curriculum areas. Specifically, the Earth Science section contains some age appropriate data on soil; select the "Alphabetical Guide," then select "Earth Science."
  • Checklists (Rubrics) Colors of Soil Use the checklist below to evaluate the student's performance.

Learner Notes

  • Color the paper plate soil colors well, covering all the white on the plate. You may need some help cutting the peep-hole in the paper plate. Do not put your peep hole in a flower garden or a vegetable garden.

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