Dig It!

Exhibition
Follow the directions to navigate your way through the online exhibition of
Dig It! put together by the Smithsonian The bold text mean you need
to answer a question or write something down.
!o to this web site" http"##forcessiedu#soils#$%&$$&$$html
'ead the introduction titled Si(ing )p Soils
*lic+ on ,he -ig .icture and ta+e the /ui(0 if you miss a 1uestion clic+ on
the 2earn 3ore and learn about the topic
What is one interesting fact about soil that you learned from the
quiz?
,he largest organism on Earth is fungi which has seen to be up to 4 miles in
si(e
*lic+ on State Soil 3onoliths clic+ on ,exas then choose % other states and
read about their soil What is a Fun Fact about Texas soil?
,exas5 blac+ soil open up crac+s when it is very dry
What is in the soil of one other state? Tell me the name of the state.
In 6ew 7ampshire0 their soils consist of marlow which is colorful
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.
In 6orth *arolina0 their soils are great for growing corn and cotton and are
home to Dogwoods0 .ines0 8a+s and 8rchids
*lic+ on 9hat is Soil read through all : pages and answer these 1uestions
! teaspoon of good farm soil contains up to ; 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?
<ir0 water0 minerals0 and organic matter
8n page = watch the *hef5s *hallenge video
What is the today%s secret ingredient?
Sand
Who are the &udges?
/uincy *arapace0 !assy !allager0 Sylvania
8n page 4 clic+ on the 'ecipe -oo+ read some of the di>erent soil recipes
,hen clic+ on the Soil ingredients ta+e the 1ui( to see if you can determine
the ma+eup of di>erent types of soils
What ' of ingredients ma(e up )esert $oil?
:=? 3inerals0 %? 9ater0 44? <ir0 ;? 8rganic 3atter
*oamy $oil?
4:? 3inerals0 %:? 9ater0 %:? <ir0 :? 8rganic 3atter
+eaty ,og?
;$? 3inerals0 :$? 9ater0 4$? 8rganic 3atter
'ead page : What does -*./+T stand for?
*limate0 8rganisms0 'elief0 .arent 3aterial0 ,ime
*lic+ on *hip o> the 8ld -loc+ read through all @ pages
01' of the earth%s crust is made of &ust eight elements. What are
they?
Texture in2uences a soil%s capacity to
333333333333333333333333333333333333333.
8n page @ play the *olor 3atching game
4ray.,lue.4reen 5 9etland 3ineral Soils
/ed.6ellow..range 5 )pland Soils
*lic+ on Soil Forming Factors read through all @ pages 8n page % play the
7idden 7ori(ons game
)escribe the ! horizon.
Anown as topsoil found towards the top of the soil that contains more organic
matter than lower layers
What is a monolith?
< vertical slice from topsoil down to subsoil
8n page 4 clic+ on the Earth S+in ,ypes )escribe 7ltisols.
Soils that support forests or savannahs but are not naturally fertile
What type of soil is in our area?
)ltisols are found in our area
8n page @ clic+ play the 9here in the Soil 9orld are Bou
The 2ip 2op is in the volcanic soil type.
The spur is in the grassland soil type.
The mammoth tus( is in the Siberian permafrost soil type.
*lic+ on 3atters of 2ife and Death0 read through all @ pages
8ot all forms of life need oxygen to breathe. What other things can
microorganisms use?
)escribe some of the characteristics of *ichens.
,olerate heat0 cold and drought ,hey release organic acids that slowly
dissolve roc+s
*lic+ on )nderneath it <ll0 read through all : pages 8n page ; clic+ on the
)nderneath it <ll lin+ to dig deep 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?
Former wetland soils
What are some of the things that you may 9nd in the Terra +reta
$oil of the !mazon?
)naltered0 infertile0 tropical soil
8n page = What is an increasing problem caused by global
warming?
*ausing building maintence tougher because permafrost that used to
support structures is depleting
8n page 4 What was wrong with the soil in Frederic(sburg, :irginia?
!rass wouldn5t grow because of the acidic soils
*lic+ on 9ise *hoices read through all C pages
$oils are renewable but;
3anDmade soils are used sometimes to create more healthy soils for speciEc
places
)escribe some of the new technology that helps manage soil
fertility.
3ineral fertili(ers and highDyield hybrid crops
<ow is the =illennium :illages +ro&ect restoring soil fertility?
-y adding nutrients0 manure and compost to the soil
*lic+ on < 9orld of Soils0 read through all @ pages 8n page ; watch the
Soil" ,he secret Ingredient video
8n page = )e9ne loess> windblown deposits of silt left by the last glaciers
,he secrets of soils are the secrets of our lives