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| by Rachel |
Subject(s)
Science
Social Studies
Language Arts
Objective(s)
Students will observe soil and understand its connection between the geology and biology of an area.
Material(s)
Soil Family Tree Worksheet – Click here for a printable worksheet Hayden Valley Soil Descriptions
Background
Soils are a crucial part of any environment. Without soils, vegetation would be extremely limited, affecting the inhabitability of an area. Soils reflect the geology of the area where they occur. Five factors contribute to the formation of a soil in any area: parent material (geology), climate, biota (organic matter), topography (the lay of the land), and time. In the case of Hayden Valley in Yellowstone, the influence of parent material on the two main types of soils is evident in the vegetation on the surface.
Procedure
1. Discuss the five soil forming factors with the students.
2. Discuss those factors in terms of the two major soil types found in Hayden Valley.
Hayden Valley Soil Description
Lake Sediment Enriched Soil
- Parent Material—lake sediments
- Climate—high desert
- Biota—grasses, sedges, and shrubs
- Topography—valley floor
- Time—formed since glacial lake disappeared (about 25,000 years)
Rhyolitic Soil
- Parent Material—volcanic rhyolite
- Climate—high desert
- Biota—lodgepole pine trees
- Topography—edges of valley
- Time—formed since last ice age (about 14,000 years)
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3. Discuss recorded observations of the properties of those soils.
4. Provide each student with a copy of the Soil Family Tree Worksheet.
5. Instruct students to write a description for each of the five soil forming factors on their worksheets as they pertain to their local setting.
6. Provide assistance as needed.
7. Accompany the students to a site representative of the local setting.
8. Instruct each student to observe a soil sample.
9. Encourage students to touch the soil. (It may be necessary to add water to the soil to feel textures.)
10. Instruct students to record their observations about the soil on their worksheets.
11. Lead a discussion about the relationship between the environment and the soil. Did students find evidence of the five soil forming factors within their soil sample?
Assessment(s)
Worksheet – Click here for a printable worksheet
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| Funding for this trip was provided by Canon U.S.A., Inc., through The Yellowstone Park Foundation. |
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| Web server services are funded through generous grants to The Yellowstone Park Foundation. |
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