Fieldwork: Planning a soil enquiry and collecting data
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can collect soil texture data on my school site.
Key learning points
- Soil texture can potentially affect the rate of water infiltration.
- A fieldwork enquiry can be used to find the extent to which soil texture effects infiltration.
- Geographers can use a combination of data collection techniques to investigate the characteristics of soil.
Keywords
Soil texture - characteristics of soil, such as how large the soil particles are, or how large the pores (spaces) between the particles are
Porosity - how porous soil structure is (i.e. the size and quantity of spaces between soil particles)
Infiltration - the movement of water from the surface to the lower soil layers
Common misconception
Large soil particles means there are smaller pores between them.
Soil that is made-up of small particles has a structure where the particles can fit together more easily reducing the pore size between them.
Teacher tip
Introduce students to the fieldwork equipment they are going to be using beforehand in the classroom. This will help them to remember the names of equipment and increase their confidence in handling it.
Equipment
Infiltrometer; 500ml water container; soil auger; clear sided (ideally glass) 100ml measuring cylinder; rubber mallet; stopwatch; clipboard
Content guidance
Risk assessment required - equipment
Risk assessment required - outdoor learning
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is geology the study of?
Q2.Match the rock type with its description.
Formed by cooling magma or lava
Made from layers of broken rock and remains
Changed by heat and pressure
Q3. is when rocks are broken down by weather, plants or water.
Q4.Which of the following is a cause of chemical weathering?
Q5.What is soil made from?
Q6.What do we call the process where weathered rock is moved by wind or water?
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.Which of the following best describes soil texture?
Q2.What does porosity measure in soil?
Q3.What is infiltration?
Q4.What is true about soils with large particles?
To help you plan your 8 geography lesson on: Fieldwork: Planning a soil enquiry and collecting data, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 8 geography lesson on: Fieldwork: Planning a soil enquiry and collecting data, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 geography lessons from the Rocks, weathering and soil: Why is geology important? unit, dive into the full secondary geography curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.