Riverside seventh graders compared three soil samples this week and discovered that a handful of dirt can hold a surprising amount of evidence. Students recorded texture, water absorption, and the number of small roots in each sample before comparing their results.
The investigation is part of a watershed unit connecting classroom science with the land around the school. Teams are building explanations from their observations and labeling the limits of what a single sample can tell them.
Student field notebooks will be on display at the district Learning Expo on October 22. The next outdoor lab is October 19; students should bring a jacket and closed-toe shoes.