Name________________________________

Dig It! Exhibition

Follow the directions to navigate your way through the online exhibition of
Dig It! ut together by the !mithsonian" The bold text mean you need
to answer a question or write something down.
#o to this web site$ htt$%%forces"si"edu%soils%&'_&&_&&"html
(ead the introduction titled !i)ing * !oils
+lic, on -he .ig /icture and ta,e the 0ui)1 if you miss a 2uestion clic, on
the 3earn 4ore and learn about the toic"
What is one interesting fact about soil that you learned from the
quiz?
5ncient Incas carved terraces to sto soil erosion
+lic, on !tate !oil 4onoliths clic, on -exas then choose ' other states and
read about their soil" What is a Fun Fact about Texas soil? -hey have
6ouston blac, soil
What is in the soil of one other state? Tell me the name of the state.
North +arolina has +ecil soil which is made u of iron and clay"
What is so special about the soil of one other state? Tell me the
name of the state, it needs to be diferent from Texas, and the state
in the question aboe.
#eorgia7s soil suorts longleaf ine8wiregrass forests which hold uni2ue
animals
+lic, on 9hat is !oil read through all : ages and answer these 2uestions"
! teaspoon of good farm soil contains up to " billlion bacteria in
more than #$$$ species.
%oil is the life of the earth. %oils are alie, they are born, they age,
they breathe.
What are the ingredients of soil? &inerals, air, water, organic
matter 'ixie (ust too
;n age < watch the +hef7s +hallenge video"
What is the today)s secret ingredient? %and
Who are the *udges? +unicy ,arapace, -assy -allagher, %ylania
;n age = clic, on the (ecie .oo, read some of the di>erent soil recies"
-hen clic, on the !oil ingredients ta,e the 2ui) to see if you can determine
the ma,eu of di>erent tyes of soils"
What . of ingredients ma/e up (esert %oil? 01. minerals, ##. air,
2. water
3oamy %oil? #0. minerals, 20. air, 20. water and 0. organic
matter
'eaty 4og? 0$. water, #$. organic matter and "$. minerals
(ead age :" What does ,356'T stand for?
,limate, 5rganism, 6elief, 'arent material and time
+lic, on +hi o> the ;ld .loc, read through all ? ages"
70. of the earth)s crust is made of *ust eight elements. What are
they?
oxygen, silicon, aluminum, iron, calcium, sodium, potassium, and
magnesium
Texture in8uences a soil)s capacity to hold water and nutrients
;n age ? lay the +olor 4atching game"
-ray.4lue.-reen 9 wetland mineral soils
6ed.:ellow.5range 9 upland soils
+lic, on !oil Forming Factors read through all ? ages" ;n age ' lay the
6idden 6ori)ons game"
(escribe the ! horizon. ;organic layer< =lled with decomposed
matter and newly deposited minerals
What is a monolith? ! >ertical slice from topsoil down and subsoil
;n age = clic, on the Earth !,in -yes" (escribe ?ltisols. Full of clay
and not naturally fertile.
What type of soil is in our area? ?ltisols
;n age ? clic, lay the 9here in the !oil 9orld are @ou"
The 8ip 8op is in the %outh 'aci=c >olcano soil type.
The spur is in the %outh !merican -rassland soil type.
The mammoth tus/ is in the %iberian 'ermafrost soil type.
+lic, on 4atters of 3ife and Death1 read through all ? ages"
@ot all forms of life need oxygen to breathe. What other things can
microorganisms use? ,arbon
(escribe some of the characteristics of 3ichens. They can tolerate
almost anything and found in arious places
+lic, on *nderneath it 5ll1 read through all : ages" ;n age A clic, on the
*nderneath it 5ll lin, to dig dee and examine the e>ects our choices have
on soil"
What are some of the things that you may =nd in the Washington,
(.,. soil sample? 3and=ll soil
What are some of the things that you may =nd in the Terra 'reta
%oil of the !mazon? 4ro/en pottery
;n age <" What is an increasing problem caused by global
warming? Ats melting the permafrost soil that supports structures.
;n age =" What was wrong with the soil in Frederic/sburg, >irginia?
At has high amounts of acid in them
+lic, on 9ise +hoices read through all B ages"
%oils are renewable butB it ta/es a lot of time and money
(escribe some of the new technology that helps manage soil
fertility.
We hae sensors that read the fertility and determine if the soil
needs something or not
Cow is the &illennium >illages 'ro*ect restoring soil fertility? They
teach farmers how to ma/e the soil more fertile
+lic, on 5 9orld of !oils1 read through all ? ages" ;n age A watch the
!oil$ -he secret Ingredient video"
;n age <" (e=ne loessD a poc/et of rich fertile soil
-he secrets of soils are the secrets of our lives"