Rocks and soil

Ages 6 to 8 Read together, then try alone · about 20 minutes

Read together

Soil is made of tiny bits of rock and bits of dead plants.

Over a very long time, wind and water break rocks into smaller pieces.

Do it

1. Collect three rocks of different kinds. Compare colour, size and how they feel.
2. Rub two soft rocks together over paper. Look at the dust.
3. Shake a jar of soil and water, then let it settle. See the layers: stones, sand and mud.
4. Wash hands after handling soil.

Talk about it

• Which layer is at the bottom?
• How was this soil made?

For the grown-up

Rocks slowly break down (weathering) and mix with plant matter to make soil. Wear gloves for gardening and wash hands, because soil can carry germs.

Mark as done

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Where this comes from

• NGSS Lead States, Next Generation Science Standards: For States, By States (National Academies Press, 2013), performance expectation 2-ESS1-1 (Earth events can occur quickly or slowly)
• United States Geological Survey, educational pages on rocks, weathering and soil

Written with AI assistance and checked against the sources listed. Please read it before sharing it with a child.