Use a fresh sample
Choosing a soil clears the previous pour. Pour a sample before draining.
Soil Sponge
Compare drainage and retained water in sand, loam and clay while keeping track of the full sample.
Grades 3–5 · Earth Science
Your goal
Pour 12 water units through sand. Drain until only the soil's retained water remains.
Reduced motion is on. The controls still update the scene.
Choose a soil, pour water, and let gravity drain it one step at a time.
Each fresh sample receives the same task-sized pour. The model separates mobile water from retained water and conserves their total. Sand drains five units per step, loam three and clay one, with retained amounts of two, six and nine. These qualitative comparisons do not predict a garden soil; real structure, organic matter, compaction and saturation also matter.
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Learn with Soil Sponge
Soil Sponge gives elementary students a concrete way to compare soil drainage and water retention. Choose sand, loam or clay, pour a fresh water sample into the column, and drain it one step at a time. The scene shows water remaining in the soil and water collected below. Students keep both amounts in view and check that their sum equals the original pour. Goals vary the soil and sample size, making it possible to compare quick drainage with a larger retained amount.
What to look for
Compare both amounts
Track water in the soil and the cup together. Their sum stays equal to the pour.
Wait for retention
Continue drainage until the held amount stops decreasing. Compare sand with clay.
For teachers and curious learners
Compare how different soils divide a water sample into drained water and retained water. Ask students to predict what will happen, change one setting, and explain what they observe. Learn gives a starting point. Practice and Challenge offer new goals with the same scene.
Qualitative soils use fixed drainage rates and retained amounts. Water is conserved within one fresh sample. Structure, compaction, organic matter and real hydraulic behavior are omitted.