Exploring Soil Types and Profiles: Engaging DIY Activities for High School Teachers & Homeschooling Parents

Introduction:

Welcome, high school teachers and homeschooling parents! In this blog post, we will share four engaging DIY activities designed to teach and demonstrate soil types, profiles, and their suitability for various crops. These hands-on experiments will make the learning experience interactive and enjoyable for your students. Let's dive into the exciting world of soil!

Activity 1: Unveiling Soil Horizon

Objective: Observing the different horizons of soil.

Materials Required:

Soil sample
Transparent container
Distilled water

Procedure:

Collect a soil sample, ensuring it contains multiple layers.
Carefully place the soil sample into a transparent container.
Gradually pour distilled water into the container, allowing it to settle.
Observe the different horizons (layers) formed in the soil sample.
Discuss the characteristics and composition of each horizon, relating them to the suitability of crops.

Activity 2: Absorption Capacity

Objective: Calculating the absorption capacity of soil.

Materials Required:

50 mg soil
50 ml water
Dropper
Filter paper
Funnel

Procedure:

Fold the filter paper and put it on the funnel
Pour the 50mg soil in the funnel
Measure the 50ml and keep in the container
Keep the funnel in the 50 ml beaker
Fill the dropper and release drop by in the funnel until 50 ml water is over
Discuss the importance of absorption capacity for plant growth and crop selection.

What’s happening?

When water is poured through the funnel containing soil, a certain amount
of water is absorbed by the soil, while the remaining gets accumulated in the
container below. In the activity, 50 gm of soil is taken. If ‘x’ is the amount of water
poured through the soil and ‘y’ is the remaining amount of water obtained in the
container, then the rate of absorption is given by;

(x-y) / 50gm(amount of soil used)

Activity 3: Measuring Percolation Rate

Objective: Calculating the rate of percolation of soil.

Materials Required:

5 ml water
50 mg soil
Syringe
Cup
Stopwatch

Procedure:

Place 50 mg of soil in a cup.
Position the cup on a flat surface and keep the syringe and remove the plunger.
Pour the 5 ml of water into the syringe and start the stopwatch.
Measure the time it takes for the water to percolate through the soil.
Discuss how percolation rate affects drainage and crop growth.

What’s happening?

A syringe without a plunger is placed in a beaker containing (50gm- to be confirmed)
soil and 50 mi of water is poured through it. The time taken is noted down from the
start until the water is absorbed by the soil. The rate of percolation is calculated by;

50ml (Amount of water taken) / time taken by the soil to absorb water

Activity 4: Determining Soil pH

Objective: Finding the pH value of soil.

Materials Required:

Soil sample
Water
Nitrogen capsule

Procedure:

Collect a soil sample and place it in a container.
Add water to the container and mix thoroughly.
Open a nitrogen capsule and pour its contents into the soil-water mixture.
Observe any changes in color or effervescence.
Use pH test strips or a pH meter to determine the soil’s pH value.
Discuss the implications of soil pH on crop selection and nutrient availability.

Step By Step Instruction video on Soil Testing

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Quick understanding on Soil Types

Counting in Groups

Conclusion:

By engaging in these hands-on activities, high school students will gain a deeper understanding of soil types, profiles, and their suitability for different crops. Encourage discussions about the importance of soil composition, absorption capacity, percolation rate, and pH value in agricultural practices. Remember, learning through experiential activities fosters curiosity and enhances students’ knowledge retention. Have fun exploring the wonders of soil science!