Soil Sampling: Probe Versus Shovel

Class members analyze the water content in soil samples by drying out the samples and taking measurements every minute until all the moisture is gone. Scholars compare the initial weight to the dried weight to calculate the percentage of...

All soil is not created equal! A lab activity asks learners to collect and analyze soil. Specific calculations determine the amount of sand, silt, and clay in a sample and allow individuals to identify the soil texture. 

Simulate soil sample assemblages. Individuals create soil layers in a cup. They then use straws to collect core samples from these layers. What information can they glean from the core samples, I wonder?

Taking a sample of soil requires more than just a shovel and bucket. Viewers learn about the important factors to consider when taking a soil sample in an informative video presentation. The narrator demonstrates the process in an actual...

There's some serious science behind farming! A quick video lesson presents the process of collecting a random field soil sample for analysis. Instruction includes what a random sample looks like as well as how to prepare the sample for...

Not all soil is created equal. Learners examine what to look for in a soil sample to identify key characteristics that don't require lab testing. They see that it's easy to verify observations by comparing the samples to a soil map.

What defines a random sample? Scholars learn how to collect a random soil sample from a large field. The narrator explains the importance of ensuring the sample is random and shows how to create a random sample before sending it to the lab.

This description of this activity is a 2-day lesson: Day 1, Field Lab, Day 2, and Classroom Investigation. In this field lab, children working in groups will collect 3 samples of soil from different locations. Each sample will be placed...

A field based lab experiment where students work in groups to come up with a collection strategy and lab analysis to test differences in soil bulk densities. Students bring soil samples back to the classroom to conduct a test that...

Tenth graders collect and analyze soil samples and extrapolate the characteristics needed to support different types of plant life. They research different types of prairie soil and how it supports plant and animal life.