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Classroom Resource

Soil StudyJam

Subject Area

Science

Grade(s)

2

Overview

Soil is a layer of rock and decayed plant and animal matter that is layered above bedrock. It also contains water, air, and bacteria. In fact, the soil is packed with everything plants need to grow.

The classroom resource provides a slide show that will describe how soil is formed and its importance to living things on Earth. There is also a short test that can be used to assess students' understanding. Students can use the information presented in this resource to plan their own investigations using soil.

Science (2015) Grade(s): 2

SC15.2.5

Plan and carry out an investigation, using one variable at a time (e.g., water, light, soil, air), to determine the growth needs of plants.

Unpacked Content

UP:SC15.2.5

Vocabulary

  • Investigation
  • Variable
  • Water
  • Light
  • Soil
  • Air
  • Nutrients
  • Causes
  • Effects
  • Isolate

Knowledge

Students know:
  • Basic growth needs of plants include water, nutrients, light, and air.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • Conduct an investigation to produce data used as evidence.
  • Determine the growth needs of plants.
  • Collaboratively develop an investigation plan that describes key features of the investigation and isolates variables as needed.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • There are observable patterns present in the growth of plants that can be used to determine the needs of plants.

Scientific and Engineering Practices

Planning and Carrying out Investigations

Crosscutting Concepts

Cause and Effect
Science (2015) Grade(s): 4

SC15.4.13

Plan and carry out investigations to examine properties of soils and soil types (e.g., color, texture, capacity to retain water, ability to support growth of plants).

Unpacked Content

UP:SC15.4.13

Vocabulary

  • color
  • absorbency
  • texture
  • capacity
  • properties of soil
  • types of soil ( sand, silt, clay, humus)
  • infiltration
  • particle size
  • structure
  • consistency

Knowledge

Students know:
  • Soil properties (particle size, color, texture).
  • Soil types ( sand, silt, clay, and humus).
  • Relationship between soil types and water.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • Plan and conduct simple tests using various soil types.
  • Collect, describe and evaluate data.
  • Articulate and explain from evidence the properties of soil and soil types.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • Similarities and differences in patterns can be used to sort and classify soil types by property.

Scientific and Engineering Practices

Planning and Carrying out Investigations

Crosscutting Concepts

Patterns

AAS.SC15.2.5 Participate in investigations of the growth needs of plants (e.g., water, light, soil, air) over a period of time.

Unpacked Content

UP:SC15.2.5

Vocabulary

  • Investigation
  • Variable
  • Water
  • Light
  • Soil
  • Air
  • Nutrients
  • Causes
  • Effects
  • Isolate

Knowledge

Students know:
  • Basic growth needs of plants include water, nutrients, light, and air.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • Conduct an investigation to produce data used as evidence.
  • Determine the growth needs of plants.
  • Collaboratively develop an investigation plan that describes key features of the investigation and isolates variables as needed.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • There are observable patterns present in the growth of plants that can be used to determine the needs of plants.

Scientific and Engineering Practices

Planning and Carrying out Investigations

Crosscutting Concepts

Cause and Effect

AAS.SC15.4.13 Observe the properties of soils (e.g., color, texture, capacity to retain water, ability to support growth of plants); Identify different types of soil (e.g., silt, clay, sand).

Unpacked Content

UP:SC15.4.13

Vocabulary

  • color
  • absorbency
  • texture
  • capacity
  • properties of soil
  • types of soil ( sand, silt, clay, humus)
  • infiltration
  • particle size
  • structure
  • consistency

Knowledge

Students know:
  • Soil properties (particle size, color, texture).
  • Soil types ( sand, silt, clay, and humus).
  • Relationship between soil types and water.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • Plan and conduct simple tests using various soil types.
  • Collect, describe and evaluate data.
  • Articulate and explain from evidence the properties of soil and soil types.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • Similarities and differences in patterns can be used to sort and classify soil types by property.

Scientific and Engineering Practices

Planning and Carrying out Investigations

Crosscutting Concepts

Patterns
Link to Resource
https://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/jams/science/rocks-minerals-landform…

CR Resource Type

Interactive/Game

Resource Provider

Other

Resource Provider other

http://studyjams.scholastic.com/
Accessibility
License

License Type

CUSTOM

Custom License Type (URL)

http://www.scholastic.com/terms.htm

Comments or Notes

The test may be completed as a whole group or independently on student devices. 

Approved Date

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