Weathering+and+Soil+Sandbox

==**Virtual Lab: How are Materials from the Earth Broken Down? In this virtual lab, you will identify the different types of conditions for mechanical and chemical weathering of Earth materials, and observe how different weathering conditions effect Earth materials.**==
 * Weathering**


 * Observe the Effects of Mechanical Weathering** -Click on the different pictures to get a closer look at six different examples of mechanical weathering.

**Soil**
 * Soil Formation: The table below has 3 separate soil activities. Try each interactive to learn more about the topics.**
 * Activity Number ||  ||
 * 1 || Soil Composition ||
 * 2 || Soil Formation ||
 * 3 || Soil Composting ||


 * How Soil Forms in Layers** -Find out how the Earth's materials break down and form distinctive layers of soil in this activity.


 * Soil Texture Triangle** - This animation shows how to read the soil texture triangle, and what kinds of soil are created from different sand, silt, and clay content levels.


 * GigaPan of Soil Horizons ** Zoom in to this image of Soil Horizons on GigaPan and observe some of the characteristics of the different horizons.

**Why Soil Forms in Layers** -This site also does an excellent job of helping you understand how and why soil forms in layers.


 * "The Dirt on Soil"- Soil Safari** -Get ready to take the pilot's seat of the __Earth Ship__ as you travel on a microscopic safari through the soil beneath your feet! Your help is desperately needed in this area where a toxic chemical is making its way through to the underground water. Your job is to discover what kind of soil organism can actually __**eat**__ this toxic chemical. Can you find this organism in time to save the meadow? Let the adventures begin!


 * Soils Around the World** -Did you ever stop to think about the fact that soil is NOT the same everywhere in the world? Depending on the type of climate & topography, soil varies from place to place. For example, the type of soil that you will find in a tropical rainforest will be quite different from a soil that you might find in a desert or in an polar region. This activity has a really good interactive map that lets you explore the various soils of the world.


 * How does Soil Vary from Place to Place?** -In this activity, you will soon discover that soil isn't the same in all parts of the country. Be sure to check out all of the cool pictures of the different soil horizons by clicking on the United States map. If you carefully go through the first 5 parts of this activity, you will discover whether or not the amount of rain an area receives affects how deep the topsoil is for that area.


 * Dirt Detective: Trees & Soils** -This activity helps us to understand what soil scientists do. Perform two tests on the soil samples to learn why you find different trees growing in different environments.


 * Which Types of Soils Absorb Water the Fastest?** -See if you can correctly predict which soil type: gravel, sand, or silt will absorb water the fastest. Be sure to click the red "off" button at the exact time in which the water gets completely absorbed by the soil type!