Girl at blackboard Environmental Science & Math

Sunlight and Soil - Explore how day length and other factors influence how quickly soil warms and how air temperature and soil temperature relate

Teaching objectives:

This lesson helps students understand the factors that influence soil temperature. Discussion can include how soil temperature influences how long it takes for seeds to sprout.

  • Constructing:
    • Generate questions about the world based on observation
    • Design and conduct scientific investigations
    • Use tools and equipment for science investigation
    • Use metric measurement devices
    • Use sources of information to support investigation
  • Reflecting (r)11.1:
    • Evaluate data
    • Develop an awareness of the natural world
  • Atompshere and Weather: (EAW)V.3:
    • Explain patterns of weather
  • Equipment needed: Thrermometer to measure air temperature and soil temperature, graph paper and writing supplies
  • Time required: 10 days
  • Tips/special instructions to teachers: The lesson covers 10 days, so you will need to decide whether to have students take readings over the weekend or only during school.

    The Assignment

    (1) Click here to see the form that you will use to collect your data. Make sure to take your readings at the same time every day - air temperature, soil temperature, length of day and percentage of cloud cover. Use the thermometer to measure air and soil temperature. Calculate the length of day by determining the number of hours and minutes of daylight between sunrise and sunset (you can use a site such as weather.com to find that information for your area). You can use weather information to make your best estimate of the percentage of cloud cover.

    (2) Use the data in your grid to create two graphs:

    • The relationship between day length and soil temperature and
    • the relationship between air and soil temperatures.
    Make sure each graph is on a full page, label both the x and y axes and give each graph a title.

    (3) Write a report that discusses what your graphics shows about (a) the relationship, if any, between length of day and soil temperature and (b) the relationship, if any, between air temperature and soil temperature.Include the effect of cloud cover.

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