Science can be
messy… But that is the best part!
By Matt
Nicholas, Exeter-Milligan Science Instructor
In eighth
grade earth science this week, students were exploring the composition of local
soil. Each of them brought a sample of soil from their homes. They were then
tasked to analyze all of the items and substances in their samples. They used
hand lenses, sifters, and their senses to separate the soil. Our goal was to
build a definition for soil.
After
compiling a list of everything found in the samples, we classified them into
categories: Rock pieces, organic matter, and trash. We then discussed the
different amounts of water in the samples and if there was not much water, what
replaced it? Air!
Through
this investigation we were able to produce the following definition: Soil is a
mixture of rock fragments, organic material, water, and air. The students then
went to their textbooks to see what it had to say. The definitions matched
almost word for word.
We then
went on to discuss the presence of the “trash” we found, as well as, the bugs,
feces, and other neat stuff.
Pictured
are Malorie Staskal and Tyler Due examining their soil samples
Background
in picture: Taylor Pribyl, Trenton Vossler, Josh Meyer, and Devin Harrison
No comments:
Post a Comment