Name________________________________

Dig It! Exhibition

Follow the directions to navigate your way through the online exhibition of
Dig It! ut together by the !mithsonian" The bold text means you need
to answer a question or write something down.
#o to this web site$ htt$%%forces"si"edu%soils%&'_&&_&&"html
(ead the introduction titled !i)ing * !oils
+lic, on -he .ig /icture and ta,e the 0ui)1 if you miss a 2uestion clic, on
the 3earn 4ore and learn about the toic"
What is one interesting fact about soil that you learned from the
quiz?
Soil warms the fastest in areas with colder temperatures. (ie Alaska)
+lic, on !tate !oil 4onoliths clic, on -exas then choose ' other states and
read about their soil" What is a Fun Fact about Texas soil?
Houston black soils are an example of shrink-well soils. The expand when wet and shrink
when dr
What is in the soil of one other state? Tell me the name of the state.
!ecain" matter# cla minerals and rock. $daho.
What is so special about the soil of one other state? Tell me the
name of the state, it needs to be diferent from Texas, and the state
in the question aboe.
%ecil soil supports man plants# crops and forests. These plants help to support life on &arth.
'orth %arolina.
+lic, on 5hat is !oil read through all 6 ages and answer these 2uestions"
! teaspoon of good farm soil contains up to ( billion bacteria in more
than "### species.
$oil is the skin of the earth. $oils are ali)e they are born, they age,
they breathe.
What are the ingredients of soil?
*inerals# air# water# decain" remains of life# and countless li)in" or"anisms.
7n age 8 watch the +hef9s +hallenge video"
What is the today%s secret ingredient?
Sand
Who are the &udges?
+uinc %arapace
,ass ,alla"her
Sl)ania
7n age : clic, on the (ecie .oo, read some of the di;erent soil recies"
-hen clic, on the !oil ingredients ta,e the 2ui) to see if you can determine
the ma,eu of di;erent tyes of soils"
What ' of ingredients ma(e up )esert $oil?
-./ minerals
(/ or"anic matter
0/ water
--/ air
*oamy $oil?
0./ air
0./ water
./ or"anic material
-./ minerals
+eaty ,og?
.1/ water
-1/ or"anic material
(1/ minerals
(ead age 6" What does -*./+T stand for?
%2- %limate
3- 3r"anisms
4- 4elief
5- 5arent *aterial
T- Time
+lic, on +hi o; the 7ld .loc, read through all < ages"
01' of the earth%s crust is made of &ust eight elements. What are
they?
3x"en# silicon# aluminum# iron# calcium# sodium# potassium# and ma"nesium
Texture in2uences a soil%s capacity to hold water and nutrients.
7n age < lay the +olor 4atching game"
3ray.,lue.3reen 4 6etland mineral soils
/ed.5ellow..range 4 7pland soils
+lic, on !oil Forming Factors read through all < ages" 7n age ' lay the
=idden =ori)ons game"
)escribe the ! horizon.
A laer of soil at or near the surface containin" minerals and more or"anic material than an
other laer
What is a monolith?
A )ertical slice from topsoil down to subsoil
7n age : clic, on the Earth !,in -yes" )escribe 6ltisols.
A laer of cla below the surface# that supports forests and sa)annahs but are not naturall
fertile.
What type of soil is in our area?
%ecil
7n age < clic, lay the 5here in the !oil 5orld are >ou"
The 2ip 2op is in the South 5acific 8olcano soil type.
The spur is in the South American ,rasslands soil type.
The mammoth tus( is in the Siberian 5ermafrost soil type.
+lic, on 4atters of 3ife and Death1 read through all < ages"
7ot all forms of life need oxygen to breathe. What other things can
microorganisms use?
The use forms of iron# sulfur# nitro"en# or carbon instead
)escribe some of the characteristics of *ichens.
2ichens tolerate heat# cold# and drou"ht. The pioneer soil-less surfaces and release or"anic acids
that slowl dissol)e rock. The also weather nutrients from rock and form soils.
+lic, on *nderneath it ?ll1 read through all 6 ages" 7n age @ clic, on the
*nderneath it ?ll lin, to dig dee and examine the e;ects our choices have
on soil"
What are some of the things that you may 8nd in the Washington,
).-. soil sample?
Trash
What are some of the things that you may 8nd in the Terra +reta
$oil of the !mazon?
'utrients
7n age 8" What is an increasing problem caused by global
warming?
$t9s lea)in" coastal settlements extremel )ulnerable to shoreline erosion.
7n age :" What was wrong with the soil in Frederic(sburg, 9irginia?
$t was hi"hl acidic.
+lic, on 5ise +hoices read through all A ages"
$oils are renewable but:
$t takes lots of time# mone# and know-how
)escribe some of the new technology that helps manage soil
fertility.
Sensors mounted on tractors or linked to satellites read plants and soils to determine how much
fertili:er is needed.
;ow is the <illennium 9illages +ro&ect restoring soil fertility?
$t is addin" nutrients to enrich the soil.
+lic, on ? 5orld of !oils1 read through all < ages" 7n age @ watch the
!oil$ -he secret Ingredient video"
7n age 8" )e8ne loess=
6indblown deposits of silt left b the last "laciers
-he secrets of soils are the secrets of our lives"