Dig It!

Exhibition
Follow the directions to navigate your way through the online exhibition of
Dig It! put together by the Smithsonian The bold text mean you need
to answer a question or write something down.
!o to this web site" http"##forcessiedu#soils#$%&$$&$$html
'ead the introduction titled Si(ing )p Soils
*lic+ on ,he -ig .icture and ta+e the /ui(0 if you miss a 1uestion clic+ on
the 2earn 3ore and learn about the topic
What is one interesting fact about soil that you learned from the
quiz?
Soil is warmer where it is colder because it is further north and the
snow refects heat when the soil is exposed.
*lic+ on State Soil 3onoliths clic+ on ,exas then choose % other states and
read about their soil What is a Fun Fact about Texas soil?
The students at Texas !" study it in many di#erent programs.
What is in the soil of one other state? Tell me the name of the state.
$orth %arolina soil contains organic matter& iron'clay that contains a
mineral called hematite& and (rotten roc)*.
What is so special about the soil of one other state? Tell me the
name of the state& it needs to be di#erent from Texas& and the state
in the question abo+e.
The special thing about the soil in the ,irgin -slands is you can .nd
it on summits of side slopes of +olcanic hills and mountains. They
are used for rangelands and pastures.
*lic+ on 4hat is Soil read through all 5 pages and answer these 1uestions
teaspoon of good farm soil contains up to / billion bacteria in
more than 0111 species.
Soil is the s)in of the earth. Soils are ali+e they are born& they age&
they breathe.
What are the ingredients of soil? ir& Water& minerals& and organic
matter.
6n page 7 watch the *hef8s *hallenge video
What is the today2s secret ingredient?
Sand
Who are the 3udges?
4uincy %arapace& 5assy 5allagher and Syl+ania
6n page 9 clic+ on the 'ecipe -oo+ read some of the di:erent soil recipes
,hen clic+ on the Soil ingredients ta+e the 1ui( to see if you can determine
the ma+eup of di:erent types of soils
What 6 of ingredients ma)e up 7esert Soil?
896 minerals 006 air /6:rganic material ;6 water
<oamy Soil?
086 "inerals ;86 water ;86 air 86 organic materials
=eaty >og?
816 water 016organic material /16 mineral
'ead page 5 What does %<:?=T stand for?
%limate :rganisms ?elief =arent "aterial Time
*lic+ on *hip o: the 6ld -loc+ read through all ; pages
@86 of the earth2s crust is made of 3ust eight elements. What are
they?
:xygen& Silicon& luminum& -ron& %alcium& Sodium& =otassium&
"agnesium
Texture infuences a soil2s capacity to hold water and nutrients.
6n page ; play the *olor 3atching game
5ray.>lue.5reen A wetland mineral soils
?ed.Bellow.:range A Cpland Soils
*lic+ on Soil Forming Factors read through all ; pages 6n page % play the
<idden <ori(ons game
7escribe the horizon.
mineral layer at or near the surface with more soil organic matter
than lower layers called topsail
What is a monolith?
+ertical slice from topsail down to subsoil& preser+es a soil2s
colors and layered horizons in position.
6n page 9 clic+ on the Earth S+in ,ypes
7escribe Cltisols.
Weathered tropical and subtropical soils
What type of soil is in our area?
-nceptisols
6n page ; clic+ play the 4here in the Soil 4orld are =ou
The fip fop is in the South =aci.c ,olcano soil type.
The spur is in the South merican 5rassland soil type.
The mammoth tus) is in the Siberian =ermafrost soil type.
*lic+ on 3atters of 2ife and Death0 read through all ; pages
$ot all forms of life need oxygen to breathe. What other things can
microorganisms use?
-ron& sulfur& nitrogen& or carbon
7escribe some of the characteristics of <ichens.
Tolerate heat& cold& and droughtD release organic acidD and can
weather roc) material
*lic+ on )nderneath it >ll0 read through all 5 pages 6n page ? clic+ on the
)nderneath it >ll lin+ to dig deep and examine the e:ects our choices have
on soil
What are some of the things that you may .nd in the Washington&
7.%. soil sample?
=oor =lanting %onditions& Traps water& and built up of ri+er
sediments
What are some of the things that you may .nd in the Terra =reta
Soil of the mazon?
>ro)en pottery in fertile dar) soil and infertile soil underneath
6n page 7 What is an increasing problem caused by global
warming?
-ts lowering the freeze line in rtic soils and ma)ing building'
maintenance on coastline houses more expensi+e.
6n page 9 What was wrong with the soil in Frederic)sburg& ,irginia?
5rass would not grow on it because there was highly acidic soil
*lic+ on 4ise *hoices read through all @ pages
Soils are renewable butE
Ta)es a lot of money& time& and )nowFhow
7escribe some of the new technology that helps manage soil
fertility.
Sensors attached to tractors and satellites that read the plants
Gow is the "illennium ,illages =ro3ect restoring soil fertility?
"ineral Fertilizers& Gybrid crops& manure& and compost.
*lic+ on > 4orld of Soils0 read through all ; pages 6n page ? watch the
Soil" ,he secret Ingredient video
6n page 7 7e.ne loessH windblown deposits of silt left by the last
glaciers
,he secrets of soils are the secrets of our lives