Materials Required:
Clear glass jars with lids (one per student or group)
Different types of soil (e.g., sand, clay, silt, gravel)
Water
Spoons or small shovels for collecting soil
Labels and markers
Notebook and pencil for recording observations
Steps Involved:
Collect Soil Samples: Take students outside to collect different types of soil, such as sand, clay, silt, and gravel. Place each type in a separate container.
Fill the Jar: Have students layer the different types of soil in a clear glass jar. Start with the heaviest material, like gravel, and add each subsequent type, ending with the lightest, such as silt or clay.
Add Water: Pour water into the jar until it covers the soil completely. Make sure the jar is filled to the top with water, leaving little to no air space.
Seal and Shake: Seal the jar tightly with a lid and shake it vigorously for about a minute to mix the soil and water thoroughly.
Settle and Observe: Place the jar on a flat surface and let it sit undisturbed for several hours. After the soil has settled, students should observe the layers that have formed, noting the order, thickness, and appearance of each layer.
Record Observations: Have students label the jar with the types of soil and the order in which they were added. They should also record their observations in a notebook, including the time it took for the layers to form and any differences between their predictions and the actual results.
Discussion: Discuss with the class how the layers formed, why certain materials settled faster than others, and what this tells us about natural soil formation processes.