DIG IT! THE SECRETS OF SOIL

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DIG IT! THE SECRETS OF SOIL
These DIG IT! Materials were developed by NACD
based on an exhibition developed by the
Smithsonians National Museum of Natural History
and sponsored by the Soil Science Society of
America and the Nutrients for Life Foundation.
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Soils Everyday
Soil Profile
Soil community
Soil basics
Phrases with Soil
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Question Soils Everyday - 1 pt
Are soils important in your every day life?
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Answer Soils Everyday - 1 pt
Are soils important in your every day life?
Yes Name some of the ways? Food, clothing,
natural areas to enjoy (parks),
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Question Soils Everyday - 2 pts
Your house is built on soil. Does the type of
soil matter?
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Answer Soils Everyday - 2 pts
Your house is built on soil. Does the type of
soil matter?
YES! A solid clay foundation is best because the
clay particles can pack tightly together.
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Question Soils Everyday - 3 pts
Are soils used to make medicine?
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Answer Soils Everyday - 3 pts
Are soils used to make medicine?
YES Many life-saving antibiotics use compounds
made by microorganisms that live in the soil.
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Question Soils Everyday - 4 pts
What is compost?
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Answer Soils Everyday - 4 pts
What is compost?
The decomposition of materials that make soil.
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Question Soils Everyday - 5 pts
Trace a cotton t-shirt back to the soil.
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Answer Soils Everyday - 5 pts
Trace a cotton t-shirt back to the soil.
Cotton is a plant that grows in the soil - the
t-shirt is made from cotton spun into thread, and
woven into cloth. The cotton plant got its start
in the soil.
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Question Soil Profile - 1 pt
What is a soil profile?
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Answer Soil Profile - 1 pt
What is a soil profile?
A slice of the earth that shows layers of soil.
Those layers can be an inch or several feet
thick. They differ in color, texture and in many
ways that are important to ecosystems and people.
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Question Soil Profile - 2 pts
What is the top layer in a soil profile called?
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Answer Soil Profile - 2 pts
What is the top layer in a soil profile called?
Top soil
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Question Soil Profile - 3 pts
What is material we find on top of the soil
before it starts to breakdown?
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Answer Soil Profile - 3 pts
What is material we find on top of the soil
before it starts to breakdown?
Residue - It can be leaves, stalks/steams from
crops, or other materials that will break down.
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Question Soil Profile - 4 pts
What is the average time it takes to make 1 of
topsoil?
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Answer Soil Profile - 4 pts
What is the average time it takes to make 1 of
topsoil?
It can take 100 to 500 years or more to make 1
of topsoil
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Question Soil Profile - 5 pts
Does each state or US territory have a soil that
represents their state?
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Answer Soil Profile - 5 pts
Does each state or US territory have a soil that
represents their state?
YES, many have been authorized by legislation.
Many of these Official State Soils share the
same level of distinction as official state
flowers and birds.
http//soils.usda.gov/gallery/state_soils/
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Question Soil community - 1 pt
Name some ways soils are important in your
community?
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Answer Soil community - 1 pt
Name some ways soils are important in your
community?
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Question Soil community - 2 pts
Name 3 foods that come from soils.
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Answer Soil community - 2 pts
Name 3 foods that come from soils.
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Question Soil community - 3 pts
What is soil erosion? How can it be stopped?
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Answer Soil community - 3 pts
What is soil erosion? How can it be stopped?
Movement of soil by wind or water. One way to
help slow or stop soil erosion is to to keep the
soil in place by planting plants that will hold
the soil in place with their roots
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Question Soil community - 4 pts
Do septic systems work in all types of soils?
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Answer Soil community - 4 pts
Do septic systems work in all types of soils?
No
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Question Soil community- 5 pts
Who can help you locate the type of soil your
home, school or business is built on?

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Answer Soil community - 5 pts
Who can help you locate the type of soil your
home, school or business is built on?
Your local USDA office, Soil Water Conservation
District office or online at http//websoilsurvey
.nrcs.usda.gov/
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Question Soil basics - 1 pt
Do soils have different colors?
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Answer Soil basics - 1 pt
Do soils have different colors?
Yes, reds, browns, yellow, gray, black, purple,
green and more.
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Question Soil basics - 2 pts
Are soils critical to forests, wetlands,
grasslands, tundra and streams?
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Answer Soil basics - 2 pts
Are soils critical to forests, wetlands,
grasslands, tundra and streams?
Yes
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Question Soil basics 3 pts
What are the 3 basic components of soil texture?
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Answer Soil basics - 3 pts
What are the 3 basic components of soil texture?

SILT
CLAY
SAND

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Question Soil basics - 4 pts
Which of the 3 components of soil texture is the
largest in size? Clay Silt Sand
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Answer Soil basics - 4 pts
Which of the 3 components of soil texture is the
largest in size?
Sand
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Question Soil basics - 5 pts
Which of the 3 components of soil texture is the
smallest in size? Clay Silt Sand

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Answer Soil basics - 5 pts
Which of the 3 components of soil texture is the
smallest in size?
CLAY
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Question Phrases with Soil - 1 pt
Soils make life _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.
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Answer Phrases with Soil - 1 pt
Soils make life _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _. possible
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Question Phrases with Soil - 2 pts
_ _ _ _ grow in soils.
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Answer Phrases with Soil - 2 pts
_ _ _ _ grow in soils. Crops
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Question Phrases with Soil - 3 pts
Prevent soil _ _ _ _ _ _ _.
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Answer Phrases with Soil - 3 pts
Prevent soil _ _ _ _ _ _ _. erosion
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Question Phrases with Soil - 4 pts
Soils have _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.
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Answer Phrases with Soil - 4 pts
Soils have _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.
minerals
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Question Phrases with Soil - 5 pts
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ our soils.
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Answer Phrases with Soil - 5 pts
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ our soils. Protect