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?
/hytolan,tons get their nutrients from 5sian dust"
+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?
-hey6re rich with clay ma,ing it exand when wet1 and shrin, when dry"
What is in the soil of one other state? Tell me the name of the state.
4iamian1 clay rich1 forest soils
7hio
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.
-he soil is great for farming when irrigated1 +alifornia"
+lic, on 8hat is !oil read through all 9 ages and answer these 2uestions"
! teaspoon of good farm soil contains up to one billion bacteria in
more than "### species.
$oil is the s,in of the earth. $oils are alive, they are born, they age,
they breathe.
What are the ingredients of soil?
5ir1 water1 minerals1 and organic material
7n age : watch the +hef6s +hallenge video"
What is the today%s secret ingredient?
!and
Who are the &udges?
0uincy +araace1 #assy #allagher1 and !lyvania
7n 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?
9:= minerals1 ;;= air1 '= water1 and >= organic material
*oamy $oil?
;9= minerals1 '9= water1 '9= air1 and 9= organic material
+eaty ,og?
9&= water1 ;&= minerals1 and >&= organic material
(ead age 9" What does -*./+T stand for?
+limate1 7rganisms1 (elief1 /arent 4aterial1 -ime
+lic, on +hi o< the 7ld .loc, read through all ? ages"
01' of the earth%s crust is made of &ust eight elements. What are
they?
7xygen1 !ilicon1 5luminum1 Iron1 +alcium1 !odium1 /otassium1 and
4agnesium
Texture in2uences a soil%s capacity to hold water and nutrients"
7n age ? lay the +olor 4atching game"
3ray.,lue.3reen 4
8etland mineral soils
/ed.5ellow..range 4
*land soils
+lic, on !oil Forming Factors read through all ? ages" 7n age ' lay the
@idden @ori)ons game"
)escribe the ! horizon.
What is a monolith?
7n age ; clic, on the Earth !,in -yes" )escribe 6ltisols.
What type of soil is in our area?
7n age ? clic, lay the 8here in the !oil 8orld are Aou"
The 2ip 2op is in the 777777777777777777777777777777777777777777 soil type.
The spur is in the 77777777777777777777777777777777777777777777 soil type.
The mammoth tus( is in the 77777777777777777777777777777777777 soil
type.
+lic, on 4atters of 3ife and Death1 read through all ? ages"
8ot all forms of life need oxygen to breathe. What other things can
microorganisms use?
)escribe some of the characteristics of *ichens.
+lic, on *nderneath it 5ll1 read through all 9 ages" 7n age > 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 9nd in the Washington,
).-. soil sample?
What are some of the things that you may 9nd in the Terra +reta
$oil of the !mazon?
7n age :" What is an increasing problem caused by global
warming?
7n age ;" What was wrong with the soil in Frederic(sburg, :irginia?
+lic, on 8ise +hoices read through all B ages"
$oils are renewable but;
)escribe some of the new technology that helps manage soil
fertility.
<ow is the =illennium :illages +ro&ect restoring soil fertility?
+lic, on 5 8orld of !oils1 read through all ? ages" 7n age > watch the
!oil$ -he secret Ingredient video"
7n age :" )e9ne loess>
-he secrets of soils are the secrets of our lives"