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Soil Sleuths
Class Title: Soil Sleuths
Audience: 2nd grade
Offered: 2nd Quarter
Length: 1 hr. 50 minutes (look around time in the Exploration Hall included)
Preparing for this Class:
- The outdoor activities for this class include a hike to the Quarry Hill cave, so participants should dress accordingly.
- In case of inclement weather, alternate activities will be held inside.
I. Class Description
This class will begin with an indoor discussion comparing the terms “soil” and “dirt”. The Quarry Hill teacher will then transform into the “Soil Chef” and demonstrate soil ingredients and how soil is made. Students will then rotate through two activities:
Activity 1: A hike through a portion of the park where soil-related features will be viewed and discussed. A hike highlight will be visiting the entrance of the Quarry Hill cave to experience a rock from within and observe how rocks erode and weather into sand, silt, and clay particles.
Activity 2: Soil sieving and sorting, including discussion related to weathering and the three basic soil particles: sand, silt and clay.
II. Correlation to MN Science Standards
- Explain how, over time, rocks weather and combine with organic matter to form soil. (5.3.1.2.1)
- Describe similarities and differences between soil and rocks. For example: Use screens to separate components of soil and observe the samples using a magnifier. (1.3.1.3.2)
- Generate questions that can be answered when scientific knowledge is combined with knowledge gained from one's own observations or investigations. (3.1.1.2.1)
- Raise questions about the natural world and seek answers by making careful observations, nothing what happens when you interact with an object, and sharing answers with others. (2.1.1.2.1)
- Recognize that tools are used by people, including scientists and engineers, to gather information and solve problems. (1.1.3.2.1)
- Sort objects in terms of color, size, shape, and texture, and communicate reasoning for the sorting system. (0.2.1.1.1)
III. Science Vocabulary (*denotes a Quarry Hill vocabulary word)
Soil
Cave
Mineral
Erosion |
Pebble
Sediment
Organic
Dirt |
Sand
Boulder
Silt
Sandstone*
|
Rock
Fossil
Clay
Particle*
|
After completion of one of these programs please fill out and submit our evaluation form. You may fill it out and submit it online, or print it out and mail it to Quarry Hill Nature Center. Thank you for your time!