Background Information for Earth Materials
On this page, you'll find links that fellow
teachers and KSN staff have recommended. These
links are tools to help guide your background
research on the topics covered within your kit.
soil | sand |
rocks | minerals
Soil
Properties of Soil
Some of this informaiton may be a bit advanced for your needs, but there are some excellent details, photos, and diagrams of types of soils that can aid your own research. There is information about soil textures, the organisms present within soils, and how the soil elements all work together.
Soil Structure
The appearance/texture of soil fresh from a location
provides many clues to its formation as well. This page has
nice photos of characteristics which might tell of active
biologic disturbance, climate, or mineral content.
Secrets Hidden in Soil
Aptly entitled, this site is a good introduction to ways
in which scientists use characteristics of soil to solve
crimes. The
text includes information on what forensic geologists look
for in a
sample, how they study it and examples of actual criminal
cases
solved using earth materials. Approaching making detailed
observations
from the forensics angle provides an irresistible hook for
students…
then, have them practice putting evidence into scientific
explanations by
staging a court defense!
Soil Moisture
Though
somewhat technical in terminology, this page from the U.S.
Department of Agriculture provides straightforward
descriptions and images to enable estimating soil moisture
by feel and appearance.
Related kits: Soils (STC) and Pebbles, Sand, and
Silt (FOSS)
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Sand
Sand
Good background info explaining
what sand is and how the grain characteristics can
tell you about where it has been, as well as a
huge compendium of sand sample images from all
over the world.
Sand Images
This collection of sand types from various locales in England offer some great views of what sands look like close-up, and how different they can be. This site would be a good complement to the site listed above.
How Do Sand
Dunes Move?
How does
sand move in the winds and how do the resultant sand dunes
migrate? This page by White Sands National Monument
explains.
Related kits: Soils (STC) and Pebbles, Sand, and
Silt (FOSS)
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Rocks
Rocks and Minerals
The Franklin Institute Online provides a good overview of
rocks and minerals written for students, complete with
helpful links to additional resources.
Rock Hounds
A
teacher-created site with some good info for kids and
teachers about how rocks are formed, rock collection safety
and tips, and more. It's a very tidy and friendly
resource.
Mind Boggling Rocks
This page features cool fast facts about what sand,
asphalt, and stones are used for today and throughout
history.
Related kits: Rocks and Minerals (STC); Pebbles,
Sand, and Silt (FOSS); Earth Materials (FOSS)
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Minerals
Mineral Doctor
Aimed
at beginners, this site helps users understand the physical
properties and field tests that geologists apply to identify
minerals. Also includes a flow chart to help identify some
of the most common types encountered.
The Mineral and Gemstone Kingdom
A sophisticated site that helps users
identify their mineral samples from results of color,
streak, and hardness tests and visual observation. It also
provides detailed mineralogic info based on name, chemical
group, crystal group, elemental affiliations, Dana
classification, and more. Features a glossary and an image
gallery as well.
Mineral Hardness
The
Mineral Gallery discusses hardness is great detail,
explaining the Mohs' Scale, absolute hardness, and some tips
for determining the hardness of your own samples.
About Minerals
This
site does a spectacular job of collecting the many and
surprising
uses of minerals in our everyday lives. Descriptions
include minerals in
our personal lives (in the kitchen, around the house, in the
bathroom
medicine cabinet, and in the foods you buy) as well as in
electronics,
agriculture, manufacturing, transportation, fireworks, and
more.
Related kits: Rocks and Minerals (STC), Earth
Materials (FOSS)
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