Soil Lesson PP 2025-26

Multiple Select

Which components are in soil? Choose all that apply.

• Minerals

• Water

• Air

• Organic Matter

• Living Things

Open Ended

Describe (1) living thing and (1) non-living thing that is a part of soil.

Multiple Choice

When does water and gases mix in the soil?

• Step 1

• Step 2

• Step 3

• Step 4

• Step 5

Multiple Choice

Which of the following processes will most likely contribute to the development of soil?

• Volcanic eruptions that make new land
• Building up of snow in very cold areas
• Migration of animals to warmer climates
• Breaking down of rock by wind, water, and ice

Multiple Choice

Plants and animals become part of soil when they -- 

• Die and Decay
• Produce offspring
• Grow and Develop
• Take in nutrients

Multiple Choice

One component of soil is decayed plant and animal remains, but the major component of soil is - 

• Fossil Fuels
• Weathered rocks
• Iron ore
• Salt water

Multiple Choice

A student made a mixture of sand, tiny rocks, small twigs, and some leaves. This student has modeled - 

• how rocks change over time
• the life cycles of plants
• the formation of soil
• how landforms are created

Multiple Choice

How do plants contribute to the formation of soil? Plants - 

• cover the soil and shade it from sunlight
• die, decompose and become part of the soil
• use soil to grow and develop over time
• support the animal life in the soil

Multiple Choice

How would the soil be different in an area that gets very little rainfall? The soil would contain - 

• much smaller pieces of rock
• many insects and worms
• a greater variety of plants
• less water and organic matter

Multiple Choice

The top layer of soil is called ________.

• bedrock
• topsoil
• subsoil
• grass

Multiple Choice

This is found in the topsoil and is made of decaying plants and animals. 

• dirt
• water
• humus
• subsoil

Multiple Choice

This type of soil is sticky when wet and hard when dry. 

• clay
• silt
• sand
• gravel

Multiple Choice

This type of soil is best for plant growth. 

• rock
• sand
• loam
• clay

Multiple Choice

This type of soil is made of tiny pieces of rock. 

• sand
• clay
• humus
• loam

Multiple Choice

The four types of soil are _____. 

• humus, gravel, pebbles, sand
• sand, silt, clay, loam
• sand, rock, pebbles, granite
• sand, clay, bedrock, topsoil

Multiple Choice

What physical property of soil determines if it retains water?

• color
• particle size
• texture
• weight

Multiple Choice

Loam is a mixture of clay, silt, and sand. 

• True
• False

Multiple Choice

It is important for soil to retain water to 

• withstand weathering
• erode more slowly
• help plants to grow
• keep it from being dry

Multiple Choice

Topsoil is dark in color because it...

• undergoes a lot of chemical weathering.

• has a large amount of organic material.

• is full of dark rocks.

• contains a lot of worms.

Multiple Choice

Horizon A is also known as...

• Top soil

• Bedrock

• Subsoil

• Organic material

Multiple Choice

The B Horizon is known as

• Parent Rock

• Top soil

• Bedrock

• Subsoil

Multiple Choice

The C Horizon is known as

• Top soil

• Organic material

• Parent Bedrock

• Bedrock

Multiple Choice

Which Invertebrates are found in the A horizon

• snakes

• skunk

• worms

• racoons

Multiple Choice

the accumulation of sediments by either physical or chemical sedimentation

• weathering

• erosion

• deposition

• abrasion

Multiple Choice

the steepness, landscape position and surface shape of a section of land

• loam

• humus

• horizon

• topography