Soil Experiment

In this activity students compare different types of soil and do an experiment to see which of their sample soils holds water best.

Soil Properties:

• color
• texture
• particle size 
• ability to contain water 

Materials

• different soils (sandy soil, fertile soil, silt, clay soil, etc.)
• hand lens
• plastic cups (2 sizes)
• small containers
• measuring cup
• water

Activity 1 (Color)

• Place different soils in containers.
• Have students use a hand lens to observe.

sand and potting soil

Activity 2 (Texture and Particle Size)

Have students feel the soil and write down their observations.

• Does the soil feel rough, smooth, etc.?
• Are the particles large, small, very small, etc.?

Activity 3 (Ability to Contain Water)

• The teacher should make a few holes in the bottoms of  the smaller cups.
• Put equal amounts of each soil being tested into separate cups that have a few holes in the bottom.
• Position the soil cups over larger cups for collecting water.
• Pour an equal amount of water into each cup.
• Observe the water as it flows through the soil and collects in the large cups. Write down your observations. Does the water flow quickly or slowly?
• After a set amount of time (15 minutes) measure the amount of water that collected in each cup.
• Record all data.
• Which of the soils do students think would be the best for planting? Why?