Investigating Soil Layers
Collect different types of soil/dirt and water from a local area to study sedimentation and the different layers that make up the earth's surface.
- Takes
- 15 min
- Your setup
- 10 min prep
- Ages
- Ages 6–9
- Mess
- Some mess
- Cost
- $
- Where
- Outdoors
How to do it
- 1Collect various soil samples (e.g., from a garden, under pavement, near a creek). Place each sample into a separate jar.
- 2Fill the jars almost completely with water, leaving a small air gap.
- 3Secure the lids tightly and shake the jars vigorously for 60 seconds.
- 4Place the jars on a counter and allow them to settle completely (this may take several hours or overnight).
- 5Observe and draw the layers formed (sand at the bottom, silt, clay, and organic matter/water at the top). Discuss which sample contained the most organic material.
What they're practising
- Geology Basics
- Data Collection
- Patience
- Earth Science