A Recipe for Life

A Recipe for Life

Science Process Skills

Observing

Comparing and measuring

Ordering

Inferring

Materials (per group)

3 Quart jars with lid - clear plastic, if possible

Three different soil samples - from different areas like forest, grassland, agriculture field

Water

Alum

Measuring spoons

Newspaper

Doing the Activity

Take the soil samples and spread each one out on a separate newspaper. Remove any large sticks, trash and large rocks. Break up any clods.

For each soil sample, fill a quart jar one-fourth full with soil. Label the jars.

Add water until the jar is ž full.

Add one tablespoon of alum to the mixture and close the lid.

Predict what you think will happen to each jar. Which things will be at the bottom-settling out first-and which materials will be at the top before the jar actually settles out completely.

Shake the jar hard.

Let the jar stand for several minutes.

Examine the jars and write down your observations.

Reflecting
What material settled out first and last?
How did this match your predications?
How long did it take for the soil to settle out?
Did some samples settle out faster than others? Why do you think this happened?
How many layers are in each jar? Is the same amount of each layer in each of the jars?
Which soil would be better for growing plants?
What other things id you find in the soil samples?
Did some samples seem to have more signs of life than others.

Applying

Observe the three types of soil futher. Write down your observations.

How does each one feel?

How heavy is each one?

What color is each type?

Pack a sample of each soil in a coffee filter and hold it over a bucket. Pour equal amounts of water into each filter. Which soil allows the water to move through the quickest?

What's Happening

All soil comes from the same basic recipe, however, amounts of the different ingredients can vary widely from one place to another. The main components of soil are the minerals. The minerals are made up of clay, sand, silt, gravel, and stones. The next ingredients in soil are water and air. Organic material is the last component. This is made up of dead plant and animal matter such a leaf litter, along with billions of living organisms that you cannot see such as bacteria and nematodes. The average composition by volume of the ingredients in this soil recipe is 45 % minerals, 25% water, 25% air, and 5% organic matter.

More Challenges

Use the computer software SimLife and to the scenario "Desert to Forest."

Visit the following web site to help you understand environmental terms http://earth1.epa.gov/OCEPAterms/

Explore the worlds forest ecology through music. www.efn.org/~dharmida/

Learn more about the battle to save the Headwaters Forest in California. www.wildcalifornia.org

Activity Source

Iowa State University Extension. Sustainable Agriculture and Wildlife: Piecing Together a Habitat Puzzle. Extension Distribution Center Order # EDC-3.
www.extension.iastate.edu/Pages/pubs

IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY
University Extension

Site contact
E-SET ISU Extension Extension Sites Search
Contact information: Sarah McArdell mcard002@umn.edu
Updated: January, 2000

NNST CYFERNet

	A Recipe for Life
	Science Process Skills Observing Comparing and measuring Ordering Inferring
	Materials (per group) 3 Quart jars with lid - clear plastic, if possible Three different soil samples - from different areas like forest, grassland, agriculture field Water Alum Measuring spoons Newspaper
	Doing the Activity Take the soil samples and spread each one out on a separate newspaper. Remove any large sticks, trash and large rocks. Break up any clods. For each soil sample, fill a quart jar one-fourth full with soil. Label the jars. Add water until the jar is ž full. Add one tablespoon of alum to the mixture and close the lid. Predict what you think will happen to each jar. Which things will be at the bottom-settling out first-and which materials will be at the top before the jar actually settles out completely. Shake the jar hard. Let the jar stand for several minutes. Examine the jars and write down your observations.
	Reflecting What material settled out first and last? How did this match your predications? How long did it take for the soil to settle out? Did some samples settle out faster than others? Why do you think this happened? How many layers are in each jar? Is the same amount of each layer in each of the jars? Which soil would be better for growing plants? What other things id you find in the soil samples? Did some samples seem to have more signs of life than others.
	Applying Observe the three types of soil futher. Write down your observations. How does each one feel? How heavy is each one? What color is each type? Pack a sample of each soil in a coffee filter and hold it over a bucket. Pour equal amounts of water into each filter. Which soil allows the water to move through the quickest?
	What's Happening All soil comes from the same basic recipe, however, amounts of the different ingredients can vary widely from one place to another. The main components of soil are the minerals. The minerals are made up of clay, sand, silt, gravel, and stones. The next ingredients in soil are water and air. Organic material is the last component. This is made up of dead plant and animal matter such a leaf litter, along with billions of living organisms that you cannot see such as bacteria and nematodes. The average composition by volume of the ingredients in this soil recipe is 45 % minerals, 25% water, 25% air, and 5% organic matter.
	More Challenges Use the computer software SimLife and to the scenario "Desert to Forest." Visit the following web site to help you understand environmental terms http://earth1.epa.gov/OCEPAterms/ Explore the worlds forest ecology through music. www.efn.org/~dharmida/ Learn more about the battle to save the Headwaters Forest in California. www.wildcalifornia.org
	Activity Source Iowa State University Extension. Sustainable Agriculture and Wildlife: Piecing Together a Habitat Puzzle. Extension Distribution Center Order # EDC-3. www.extension.iastate.edu/Pages/pubs