Living Observatory Field Guides

Look beneath your feet

We'll start by getting our hands dirty with a soil sampling investigation.

1. Picking a place to take soil some samples, such as Mass Audubon Tidmarsh, the Foothills Preserve or a location near your school campus or home such as Ellisville Beach, Center Hill Preserve, or a local pond with trails and a beach. 
2. Access a simple map of the area and decide where you can investigate the soil beneath your feet at different locations.
3. After looking at a map of the area, your team will decide on where to take 3 soil samples.
4. Using the activity link below, like a detective, the soil and land forms provide clues to the geology of Plymouth. 

Use photos and videos to document what you observe.
Based on what you observe from the soil investigation:

• List 2 questions you have and would like more information to address them. 
• If you could interview someone about what you observed during your soil investigation, who might it be? Why?

If applicable, contact the landowner and request permission to explore and take soil samples.

Soil Investigation Handout

Here is a simple soil investigation developed by Fiona Sherif that can easily be modified. 

Activity instructions:

Data sheet: