Rocks, Sand, and Soil Around Florida Worksheet

Question 1

Florida has many beaches with sand. What are two things beach sand can be made from?

Accepted Answer

Beach sand can be made from tiny pieces of rock and tiny pieces of shells. Some Florida sand also has small bits of coral or minerals.

Question 2

Circle the object that is a rock: a leaf, a limestone pebble, or a plastic bottle. Explain your choice.

Accepted Answer

The limestone pebble is a rock because it is a natural solid material from Earth. A leaf comes from a plant, and a plastic bottle is made by people.

Question 3

Many parts of Florida have limestone under the ground. Limestone can slowly wear away when water moves through it. What landform can happen when underground limestone dissolves and the ground sinks?

Accepted Answer

A sinkhole can happen when underground limestone dissolves and the ground above it sinks or falls in.

Question 4

A student finds soil in a Florida garden. It has sand, small rocks, dead leaves, and tiny living things. Why are dead leaves helpful in soil?

Accepted Answer

Dead leaves are helpful because they break down and add nutrients to the soil. These nutrients help plants grow.

Question 5

Which would let water pass through faster: dry beach sand or thick clay soil? Explain why.

Accepted Answer

Dry beach sand would let water pass through faster because it has larger spaces between grains. Thick clay soil has very tiny particles that hold water longer.

Question 6

Draw or describe three layers you might see in soil: topsoil, subsoil, and rock pieces. Which layer usually has the most dead plant material?

Accepted Answer

Topsoil usually has the most dead plant material. It is near the surface where leaves, grass, and other plant parts collect and break down.

Question 7

Florida is surrounded by ocean water on many sides. How can waves change rocks and shells over time?

Accepted Answer

Waves can break rocks and shells into smaller pieces. Over a long time, those pieces can become sand.

Question 8

A handful of sand from one Florida beach looks white, and sand from another beach looks darker. What could cause sand to have different colors?

Accepted Answer

Sand can have different colors because it is made from different materials. White sand may have more quartz or shell pieces, while darker sand may have darker minerals or plant material.

Question 9

Coquina is a Florida rock made from many shell pieces stuck together. Is coquina more likely to form near a beach or high in snowy mountains? Explain your answer.

Accepted Answer

Coquina is more likely to form near a beach because it is made from shell pieces. Shells are found near oceans and beaches, not high in snowy mountains.

Question 10

Put these Earth materials in order from smallest pieces to largest pieces: pebble, sand grain, boulder.

Accepted Answer

The order from smallest to largest is sand grain, pebble, and boulder. A sand grain is tiny, a pebble is small enough to hold, and a boulder is very large.

Question 11

A class wants to compare two soil samples from Florida. Sample A feels gritty. Sample B feels sticky when wet. Which sample probably has more sand, and how do you know?

Accepted Answer

Sample A probably has more sand because sand feels gritty. Sample B may have more clay because clay often feels sticky when wet.

Question 12

Rain falls on bare soil in a yard. Some soil washes away into a ditch. What is this movement of soil called?

Accepted Answer

This movement of soil is called erosion. Erosion happens when water, wind, or other forces move soil and rock from one place to another.

Question 13

Name one way people can help protect Florida soil from washing away.

Accepted Answer

People can help protect Florida soil by planting grass, trees, or other plants. Plant roots hold soil in place and slow down moving water.

Rocks, Sand, and Soil Around Florida

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