INQUIRY-BASED LEARNING PLAN

Subject: SCIENCE
Grade Level: Grade 4

Objectives:
• Students will be able to identify and describe the characteristics of different types of soil.
• Students will be able to compare and contrast the physical properties of different types of soil.
• Students will be able to explain the importance of soil characteristics for plant growth and agriculture.

Learning across curriculum:

1) Mathematics: Students calculate the volume and mass of different soil samples to understand the
physical properties of soil.
2) Language Arts: Students can write a descriptive paragraph about a specific type of soil, using
appropriate adjectives to describe its characteristics.
3) Social Studies: Students can research and present on how different soil types have influenced the
development of agriculture in different regions.

Teacher’s Activity Pupil’s Activity

A. Engage
Alright, class, today we’re going to explore the
wonderful world of soil through picture analysis. I
want you all to take a close look at the pictures of
different types of soil in front of you.

(Students look at the pictures with curiosity)

(Students raise their hands)

What do you see in these pictures? Raise your “I see different colors of soil.”
hands and tell me what you observe about the soil. “Some soil looks dry, and some looks wet.”
“There are small rocks in some of them.”

Great observations, everyone! Now, let’s think

about the characteristics of each soil type. What do
you think about the properties of these soils based
on what you see?
“The dark soil might be good for plants because it
looks rich.”
“The sandy soil seems loose and might drain
water quickly.”
“The clay soil looks dense and might hold water
well.”

Well done! You’re already thinking like scientists.

Now, let’s move on to our next activity. We’re
going to use a K-W-L chart to activate what you
already know about soil and generate questions (Students nod and seem excited)
about it.

KWL Chart
K W L
First, on the “K” column, write down what you
already know about soil. Take a moment to jot (Students start writing what they know about soil)
down your thoughts.

Now, let’s discuss our existing knowledge. Who’d

like to share what they wrote in the “K” column?
Excellent! You already know quite a bit. Now, let’s
move to the “W” column. Write down any
questions you have about soil, things you want to
learn.
(Students share their knowledge)
“Soil is where plants grow.”
“We need soil for farming.”
“Worms live in the soil.”
(Students start writing questions)

Fantastic! Now, let’s have a class discussion about

the importance of soil for plant growth and
agriculture. Who can tell me why soil is crucial for (Students share their thoughts)
these things? “Plants need soil for nutrients.”
“Farmers grow crops in soil.”
“Soil provides a stable base for plants.”
Well done, class! You’re showing a deep
understanding of soil’s significance. We’ll keep
exploring this topic in our next sessions. Great job
today!

B. Explore
Activity 1: Soil Sampling Rubric:
Materials: Soil samples (sand, clay, loam),  Description of physical properties – 5pts.
magnifying glasses, jars, water  Comparison of setting behavior – 5pts.

Today, we’re going to have a hands-on experience

with soil! We have different types of soil samples –
sand, clay, and loam – and some tools like
magnifying glasses and jars. Let’s explore the
physical properties of soil.
First, I’ll divide you into two groups and give each
group one of the soil samples.
Now, use the magnifying glasses to closely observe
the soil sample. What do you see? Describe its
physical properties and think about its color,
texture, and particle size.
(Students seem excited and attentive)
(Students form groups and receive their soil
samples)
(Students in groups discuss and make
observations)
“Our sand is grainy and light-colored.”
“The clay is sticky and dark.”
“Loam is somewhere in between, not too sandy or
clayey.”

Excellent! Now, I want each group to take a small (Students follow the instructions and watch the
amount of soil and mix it with water in a jar. soil settling)
Observe how the soil particles settle at the bottom.

Now, let’s compare and contrast the settling

behavior of the different soil samples. How did “The sand settled quickly.”
they differ in this aspect? “Clay particles took a long time to settle.” “Loam
was somewhere in the middle.”
Well done, everyone! You’ve just learned a lot
about the physical properties of soil. Let’s move on
to the assessment questions.

Assessment Questions:
1. What are the physical properties of soil?
2. How did the settling behavior of the
different soil samples differ?
3. Why is it important to understand the Answers may vary.
physical properties of soil?

Activity 2: Soil Profile Drawing

In our next activity, we’re going to explore the
layers of soil through drawing. Each of you will
draw a cross-section of soil, showing its layers. Rubric:
 Accuracy of soil layers and characteristics
Remember, you should represent the different – 10pts.
layers like topsoil, subsoil, and bedrock. Use colors
to indicate their characteristics.

Don’t forget to label each layer and include a key (Students prepare their drawing materials)
or legend to explain what the characteristics of
each layer mean.

Great job, class! You’re all becoming soil experts. (Students start drawing and coloring their soil
Now, let’s move on to the assessment questions. profiles)

Assessment Questions:
(Students work on their drawings)
1. What are the different layers of soil?
2. How do the characteristics of each soil
layer differ?

Answers may vary.

C. Explain
Now, we’re going to learn about different types of
soil and why they’re important for plant growth
and agriculture. First, I’ll give you a lecture on the (Students pay attention)
characteristics of soil.

Soil comes in various types, and one of the key

things we look at is its color. Some soils are dark, (Students nod)
some light, and some in-between. This color can
tell us about the nutrients present.

Next, we have texture, which is how the soil feels.

It can be sandy, which means it feels gritty, or (Students listen attentively)
clayey, which is smooth and sticky, or loamy,
which is somewhere in between.

Lastly, there’s particle size. Soil can have big or

small particles. Sand has large particles, clay has (Students are engaged and taking notes)
tiny ones, and loam has a mix. This affects how
water moves through the soil.

Now, I want to hear from you. Why do you think

these soil characteristics are important for plant “The color tells us about the nutrients, so we
growth and agriculture? know if plants can get what they need.” “Texture
affects how well roots can grow.” “Particle size
can help with water drainage or retention.”
Exactly! You’ve got it. These characteristics matter
a lot for farmers and gardeners. They help us know
which plants will thrive in a particular type of soil.
So, the next time you see soil, you’ll understand it
a bit better.
D. Elaborate
Task 1: Soil Classification Game

We’re going to work together in groups and play a

game to classify different types of soil. Each group
will have its own soil samples. Are you ready? “Yes!”

Fantastic! I’ll divide you into three groups now and

give each group a different soil sample.
Your task is to classify the soil samples based on
their characteristics. Look at things like color,
texture, and particle size. Work together and come
up with a classification.
(Students form groups and receive their soil
samples)
(Students discuss within their groups, examine the
soil, and classify it)
Now, each group, please share your classification
with the class and explain your reasoning. (Groups present their findings, explaining why
they classified the soil as they did)
Great job, everyone! You’ve just practiced
classifying soil, which is an important skill for
understanding our environment.

Task 2: Soil Art Project

For our next activity, we’ll work in pairs to create

art that represents specific types of soil. Each pair
will choose one type of soil to showcase.
(Students get excited and pair up)
You have access to various art materials like
colored paper, paints, clay, and more. Let your
creativity flow.
(Pairs select their materials and start working on
While you work on your art, think about the soil their soil art projects)
you’ve chosen. Consider its characteristics, like
color and texture. Try to represent those in your
artwork.
(Students focus on their art, discussing the
When you’re done, you’ll present your artwork to characteristics of their chosen soil)
the class and explain why you used certain colors
and textures to represent your chosen soil.

Now, who’d like to go first and share their soil art

with the class? (Pairs complete their art projects)

Well done, everyone! Your art not only looks

fantastic but also teaches us about the (Pairs take turns presenting their artwork and
characteristics of different soils. Great teamwork! explaining their choices)

(Students feel accomplished and proud of their

work)

E. Evaluate
So now, we’re going to use concept mapping to
visualize our understanding of soil. I’ll provide you
with a concept mapping template to help organize
your thoughts.

Instructions:
1. Create a concept map showing the
characteristics of different types of soil. You can
start by listing the types of soil you know and then
add their characteristics around them.
2. Compare and contrast the physical properties of
sand and clay soil. In your concept map, put the (Students work on their concept maps)
characteristics of sand on one side and clay on the
other. How are they similar, and how are they
different?
3. Explain why the characteristics of soil are (Students continue to build their concept maps,
important for plant growth and agriculture. Add making comparisons)
this explanation to your concept map, connecting it
to the characteristics of different soil types.

Wonderful work, everyone! Your concept maps are

looking informative. Let’s discuss what we’ve
created. (Students share their concept maps and discuss
their findings)
You’ve done an excellent job mapping out your
knowledge about soil. This visual representation
helps us understand complex concepts like soil
 characteristics and their importance for plants and (Students feel more confident about their
agriculture. understanding of soil)

Keep up the great work, and don’t hesitate to use

concept mapping as a study tool in the future. It’s a
powerful way to organize your thoughts and (Students express their appreciation for the
remember important information. teaching strategy)
“Thank you, teacher. This was really helpful!”

Assignment:

Assignment 1: Research Project

 Create a presentation on your chosen soil type, including its characteristics, significance for
agriculture, and examples of plants that grow well in that soil.

Assignment 2: Soil Experiment

 Design and conduct an experiment to investigate how a specific factor affects the growth of
plants in different soil types. Present your findings and conclusions.

Prepared by:
Bilinda Biñas – BEED 3-A