What soils are made from | Science | Quizalize & Oak National Academy

Starter quiz

Which statement about rocks is true?
- All rocks are only made by humans.
- Rocks only occur naturally in warm countries.
- Rocks occur naturally in Earth. ✓
- Rocks are only formed in wind and rain.
A ______ is a scientist who studies rocks.
- 'geologist' ✓
A geologist needs to ______ rocks by looking at them closely with a hand lens or a microscope.
- 'observe' ✓
Wind, rain and waves are all examples of ______ forces that can wear down and change the shape of rocks.
- 'natural' ✓
Which statement about weathering is true?
- Weathering is when rocks are out in all different types of weather.
- Weathering is when rocks are broken down by natural forces. ✓
- Weathering is when rocks are worn away and small pieces are carried away.
Order the sentences correctly to explain what happens during erosion.
- 1
  
  ⇔
  
  Water, wind, and other natural forces cause rocks and earth to wear away.
- 2
  
  ⇔
  
  Natural forces move bits of rock and earth to new places.
- 3
  
  ⇔
  
  The movement of rock and earth changes the shape of the land.

Which statement about soil is correct?
- Soil is the material that covers most oceans.
- Soil is the material that covers most land. ✓
- Soil is the material that covers most of the sky.
True or false? Soils are usually made very quickly.
- True
- False ✓
Scientists make ______ to share their scientific ideas about what they think will happen or how something might work.
- 'predictions' ✓
Which statement about what soils are made from is correct?
- Soils are made from just one material.
- Soils are made from mud in fields.
- Soils are a mixture of things found in nature. ✓
Jun observed bubbles when he added a sample of soil to water. What do his observations tell him about his question: What is soil made from?
- Soil contains soap.
- Soil contains animals that breathe.
- Soil contains air. ✓
Soils are a combination of different things, including rock, organic matter and air. What is organic matter?
- Organic matter is small parts of rocks that have been formed in nature.
- Organic matter is anything that is alive or has been alive. ✓
- Organic matter is the organs of an animal that has died.

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Soil is the loose surface material that covers most land. The creation of soils occurs over many, many years.
We can make predictions to share our scientific ideas about what we think will happen or how something might work.
Scientists make careful observations to answer questions.
Soils are a combination of different things, including rock, organic matter and air.

Children may think that soil is any dirt on the ground, or that soil was created when Earth was created. They may also think that plants make soil.

The activity to separate layers of soil in water allows children to make their own observations of what soil is made from.

Soil - Soil is the loose surface material that covers most land on Earth.
Prediction - A prediction is a statement saying what you think will happen.
Observation - We make an observation when we look closely at something and use other senses too.
Silt - Silt is made from broken grains of rock, with particles larger than clay but smaller than sand.
Organic matter - Organic matter comes from plants and animals that are alive or were once alive.