#3622. Get the Dirt

Science, level: Middle
Posted Wed Jan 25 07:17:09 PST 2006 by Kelly De Vita (devitakm@pickens.k12.sc.us).
Liberty Middle School, Liberty, U.S.
Materials Required: Various soil samples, cold water, glass jars with lids
Activity Time: 10-15 minutes

Place a few handfuls of various soil samples in a clear jar with a lid. Fill the jars about 2/3 full of cold water, then close them tightly. Shake the jars, then set them on a flat surface. After a few minutes, the dirty water will seperate into layers. Lighter materials (such as dead plants and other organic matter - i.e. humus) wil float to the top, whil heavier stuff (such as small rock fragments) will sink to the bottom.