Soil Types: Sand, Clay, Humus, and Water Holding
Compare sand, clay, and humus by how they feel and hold water
Soil Types: Sand, Clay, Humus, and Water Holding
Compare sand, clay, and humus by how they feel and hold water
Science - Grade 2-3
- 1
Sand has large, loose grains. What do you think happens when water is poured on sand?
Think about water poured at the beach.
Water usually drains through sand quickly because sand has large spaces between its grains. - 2
Clay has very tiny pieces packed close together. Does clay let water drain quickly or slowly? Explain your answer.
Think about sticky mud after rain.
Clay lets water drain slowly because its tiny pieces are packed close together with very small spaces between them. - 3
Humus is made from dead plants and animals that have broken down. Why is humus helpful for plants?
Humus is helpful for plants because it adds nutrients to soil and helps the soil hold some water. - 4
Circle the soil type that feels gritty: sand, clay, or humus. Then write one sentence about it.
Gritty means rough and grainy.
Sand feels gritty because it is made of small pieces of rock and minerals. - 5
Circle the soil type that often feels sticky when wet: sand, clay, or humus. Then explain why.
Clay often feels sticky when wet because its tiny particles hold together closely. - 6
A student pours the same amount of water into three cups: one with sand, one with clay, and one with humus. Which cup will probably drain the fastest?
Look for the soil with the biggest spaces between particles.
The sand cup will probably drain the fastest because sand has larger spaces for water to move through. - 7
A plant needs soil that holds some water but does not stay too soggy. Which soil type might be best when mixed with other soils: sand, clay, or humus?
Plants need both water and nutrients.
Humus might be best when mixed with other soils because it helps hold water and gives plants nutrients. - 8
Put these soils in order from water draining fastest to slowest: clay, sand, humus.
The order is sand first, humus second, and clay last. Sand drains fastest, humus holds some water, and clay drains slowly. - 9
Look at a soil sample that is dark, crumbly, and has tiny pieces of old leaves in it. What soil material is probably in the sample?
Old leaves can break down and become part of soil.
The sample probably has humus in it because humus is dark, crumbly, and made from broken-down plant and animal material. - 10
A gardener says, 'This soil is mostly clay, so puddles stay on top after it rains.' Why might puddles stay on clay soil?
Puddles might stay on clay soil because clay drains water slowly. - 11
Fill in the blank: Soil with bigger spaces between particles usually lets water move through it __________.
Sand has bigger spaces than clay.
Soil with bigger spaces between particles usually lets water move through it quickly. - 12
Two plants get the same amount of sunlight. Plant A is in dry sand. Plant B is in soil with humus mixed in. Which plant may have more water available? Explain.
Humus works like a helpful sponge in soil.
Plant B may have more water available because humus helps soil hold some water for plants. - 13
Write one way sand and clay are different.
Sand has larger grains and drains water quickly, while clay has tiny particles and drains water slowly.