Describe the soil-formation process and components of soil.

Description should include

defining soil
discussing the importance of soil
explaining soil-forming factors (e.g., physical weathering, chemical weathering, biological weathering, parent material, climate, organisms, topography, time)
exploring soil origins (e.g., alluvial deposits, colluvial deposits, eolian deposits, marine deposits, lake deposits, volcanic deposits, Great Plains material, glacial drift, organic deposits)
explaining related terms and concepts (e.g., micronutrients, macronutrients, minerals, sand, silt, clay, organic matter, pore space, bedrock, humus, topsoil, weathering, soil profile, soil horizons, subsoil, pH).

Process/Skill Questions:

What is pedology?
What are the five soil-formation factors and their effects on soil formation?
What could be considered the sixth soil-formation factor?
How is the material content of soil determined?
What natural processes create soil?
How does the composition of soil affect its fertility?
How is soil formation influenced by organisms such as plants, micro-organisms (bacteria and fungi), burrowing insects, animals, and humans?
What is loam?

Teacher Resources: