Course: Advanced Ag Science

Unit: Soil Science

Lesson: Understanding Soil Color
Lesson Type: Problem Solving
Objectives:
Students will be able to:
1. Identify soil colors using the Munsell Soil Color Chart.

Illinois State Learning Standards:

English: 11-12.RST.-.5 Analyze how the text structures information or ideas into categories or
hierarchies, demonstrating understanding of the information or ideas.

Next Generation Science Standards:

Science: 9-12HS.ESS.2.7 Construct an argument based on evidence about
Engaging in Argument from Evidence.

AFNR Career Cluster Content Standards:

NRS.01.02.05a Research and examine the characteristics used to identify non-living resources
(e.g., soil types, climate, geography, etc.).
NRS.01.02.05b Apply identification techniques to determine the types of non-living resources in
an area.

Materials and Technology:

Soil Color Lab Plan
Soil Color Video Kansas State University
Soil Color Lab Worksheets (10 copies)
Soil Color Lab Worksheet Key
Soil Cores
Spray Bottles
Munsell Soil Color Charts
Computer & Smart Board
White board & markers
Paper & pencil

Situation:
There are 10 students in this Advanced Ag Science class at United High School. There are no
IEPs or 504 plans in this class, but there are 3 students that may have some knowledge gaps due
to their absence in Intro to Ag class. Before this lab, students learned about the physical features
in soils, soil colors, and how parent material, age, and slope affect the color of soil. During this
lab, students will be applying what they know about soil to determine what color the soil cores
are. In the next lesson, students will be learning about soil texture and structure.

Interest Approach: (5 minutes)

At the start of class, students will be asked to answer this question in their notebooks:
1. Name four physical features of soil that helps to recognize the differences among them.
a. Texture, Structure, Depth, and Color
Review: (5 minutes)
To review the previous lesson, I will ask a variety of questions to students in the class. Those
questions are:
1. How does the amount of organic matter affect the color of the soil?
a. More organic matter = darker soils, less organic matter = lighter soils
2. Are lighter soils more productive than darker soils?
a. No, darker soils are more productive because of more OM
3. How does the status of iron compounds affect the subsoil?
a. Iron rusts when moisture and oxygen are both present, so if there is good drainage
in the soil, the iron will oxidize and turn a bright rust or orange color.
4. What color would you expect soil to be that has poor drainage?
a. Dull-colored

Procedure: (30 minutes)

To start this lesson, we will watch a short 3-minute video from Kansas State that describes
exactly how to test soil color out in the pit.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cmJa8dQ5_I

Following the video, students will be given a worksheet. We will read over the worksheet as a
class and then students will be released to the shop to determine soil color on 3 different soil
cores. I will have already determined the correct colors prior to students entering the shop. The
students will complete the worksheet individually and then we will go over the correct answers
as a class.

Closure: (5 minutes)
To close this lab, we will discuss each of the soil cores and go over the correct answers.

Assessment:
The students will be assessed informally throughout the lesson with verbal questions and
answers. At the end of this lesson, each student will have completed a lab worksheet that I will
check. If I feel that any learning objective needs to be revisited before continuing on, I will spend
time on that before starting the next lesson in this unit. There will also be a formal assessment at
the completion of this unit.