A lesson plan for grade 8 Science
Objectives
In this lesson about archaeological soils, students will:
- determine components of a soil sample;
- evaluate how archaeologists use soils to interpret sites.
Materials
- For the teacher, a large box of crayons and a sheet of paper divided into four blocks.
- For each student, copies of “What is My Soil?” instruction and activity sheets, and an “Archaeological Soils Triangle” activity sheet; a baby food jar, a colored pencil or marker, and a soil sample in a plastic bag.
- For each four or five students, a pitcher of water, a magic marker, and a ruler.
Vocabulary
Clay: a type of soil whose particles are too small to be seen or felt. When wet, clay is sticky and plastic.
Geomorphologist: a scientist who studies the characteristics, origins, and development of landforms, including soil.
Loam: a rich soil containing a relatively equal mixture of sand and silt, and a smaller proportion of clay.
Munsell Color Chart: a book whose pages contain color chips that are used to determine soil color.
Proportion: the amount of a portion or a constituent in relation to the whole.
Sand: a type of soil whose particles are large enough to be easily seen and felt. Sand particles do not adhere or stick to one another, and grate against each other when rubbed together.
Silt: a type of soil whose particles are too small to be easily seen with the naked eye. Particles of silt are intermediate in size between those of clay and sand.
Soil triangle: a chart used by archaeologists and geomorphologists to determine soil texture.
Suspension: a state or condition where particles of a substance are mixed with a fluid, but are not dissolved.
