Soil Science: Getting Our Hands Dirty at SERC

We learned about soil: how it is formed, what it contains, and why it is important. We also examined samples and conducted experiments to learn how scientists study and classify it by color, texture, consistency, and porosity. We ended with a grinding exercise: crushing baked dry dirt into powder that the staff promised to sift and combine with melted wax to form soil crayons. Kallan volunteered to stay after class and help Miss Karen with the crayon construction prep. We sat in the sun and sifted pulverized dirt through old panty hose until we had enough to make crayons for the class.