The non-italicized font represents additional information included to support the teacher’s understanding of the content being introduced within the CELL.

ANALYZE IT

Note: Prior to answering the questions, students should use the triple beam balance to determine the mass of each component that was separated using the sieves. The data should be entered in Table B.

Instruct students to complete the Analysis Questions in their SDRs then discuss them as a class. Use the suggested responses below to guide students’ answers.

• Which soil components did not fall through the sieve with the larger openings? Student answers will vary. The gravel did not fall through the sieve with the larger openings.

• Which soil components fell through the sieve with the larger openings? Student answers will vary. The organic component and the sand fell through the sieve with the larger openings.

• Which soil components did not fall through the sieve with the smaller openings? Student answers will vary. The organic component did not fall through the sieve with the smaller openings.

• Which soil components fell through the sieve with the smaller openings? Student answers will vary. The sand fell through the sieve with the larger openings.

• After using the sieves, did you obtain exactly 10g of each of the components?Student answers will vary. Students will not have obtained exactly 10g of each of the components.

• Do you think that each soil component consisted of particles that were the same size or a mixture of different sizes? How do you know? Each soil component consisted of a mixture of particles of different sizes. The masses of each component were not exactly 10g suggesting that some smaller particles of some components mixed with larger particles of the other components.

• Order the three soil components from largest to smallest size particles. The component with the largest particles is the gravel. The component with the next largest particle is the organic component and the component with the smallest particle size is the sand.

GET FOCUSED

Instruct students to complete the Focus Questions in their SDRs then discuss them as a class. Use the suggested responses below to guide students’ answers.

• What are some components of soil? Some components of soil include gravel, organic component, and sand.

• How are the different components of soil different from each other? The different components of soil are different chemically and in size.

COMPREHENSION CHECK

The Comprehension Check is designed to summarize the Core Experience Learning Lab and provide the teacher with an informal way to assess students’ understanding of the big ideas.

If time permits, ask your students to answer each Focus Question below.  Use the suggested responses below to guide students’ answers.

• How are physical and chemical weathering different? Rocks are physically weathered by breaking them into smaller and smaller pieces. Rocks are chemically weathered when compounds in the rock react chemically with another chemical.

• How do physical and chemical weathering combine to weather rocks? By breaking rocks into smaller pieces, physical weathering exposes more of a rock’s surface to chemical weathering. The combination of the two speeds the overall process of weathering.

• What occurs when erosion takes place? When erosion takes place, soil is moved from one location to another. If erosion occurs on a slope, soil will be washed down the slope.

• What factors increase or decrease erosion? Soil from a steep slope will be eroded more than the soil from a less steep slope. Obstacles such as rocks and vegetation will decrease the erosion of soil from the slope.

• What are some components of soil? Some components of soil include gravel, organic component and sand.

• How are the different components of soil different from each other? The different components of soil are different chemically and in size.