Soil Texture Exploration
A Grade 5 science worksheet exploring different soil textures, their properties, and how to identify them.
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Soil Texture Exploration
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Read each question carefully and answer to the best of your ability. This worksheet will help you learn about different types of soil and their textures.
1. Soil is made up of weathered rock, water, air, and .
2. The three main types of soil particles are sand, silt, and .
3. Soil that feels gritty is mostly made of .
4. Soil that feels smooth and powdery when dry, and slippery when wet, is called .
1. Which soil particle is the largest?
Silt
Clay
Sand
Loam
2. Which type of soil holds the most water?
Sandy soil
Silty soil
Clayey soil
Loamy soil
1. Loam is considered the best soil for growing plants because it has a good balance of sand, silt, and clay.
True
False
2. Clay particles are larger than sand particles.
True
False
1. Describe how you can tell the difference between sandy soil and clayey soil just by feeling it.
The image below shows different layers in the soil. These layers are called soil horizons.
Based on the diagram, which horizon do you think would be richest in organic matter? Why?