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Australian primary science · Year 3 · Lesson 3 of 3
The right soil for the job
Inquiry question: Which soil would you choose for a vegie patch, a farm dam and a mud brick?
Marked no materials needed
Problem solving
What students learn
People use the properties of soils to meet their needs. Clayey soil holds water and sets hard, sandy soil lets water drain through, and loamy soil full of life is best for growing food.
Success criteria
- I can match a soil to a job using its properties.
- I can give evidence from lessons 1 and 2 for my choices.
- I can explain my choice clearly to someone else.
Preparation and materials
Before this lesson: Students can describe sandy, loamy and clayey soils (lesson 1) and know healthy soil is full of life (lesson 2).
- One screen or projector to show this lesson’s student view (the soil jobs source) (or print one student view per pair) — 1
- Workbooks or scrap paper, and pencils — 26
Teacher setup
- Open this lesson’s student view (the soil jobs source) on your screen, or print the student view if the internet is unreliable.
- No other preparation is needed.
Safety and adaptations
Follow school science and equipment risk assessment procedures for the materials used.
Review your school policies and curriculum requirements before teaching.
How to investigate
The lesson sequence should leave pupils with evidence to interpret, not only an activity to finish.
- Pairs read the source about how people use soils.
- For each job, write what the soil needs to do.
- Choose the best soil (sandy, loamy or clayey) and give evidence from lesson 1 or 2.
- Choose one job and explain your choice to another pair in two or three sentences.
- Bonus: name a job at our school where soil matters (a garden bed, a sandpit, a path).
Teacher modelling prompt
Read the farm dam paragraph aloud. Think aloud: “A dam must hold water. In lesson 1, clayey soil held together in a long ribbon; clay is so fine that water can’t get through easily. So clayey soil is best. My evidence: the long ribbon and the sticky feel.” Fill in the first row.
Record and explain evidence
Recording question: Which soil would you choose for each job?
| Job | What the soil needs to do | Best soil (sandy, loamy or clayey) | Our evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| ________________ | ________________ | ________________ | ________________ |
Example recording headings; record actual observations, including inconclusive results.
Discussion prompt
Whose choice uses evidence about soil properties?
Check understanding
What should pupils know? Which soil would you use to make mud bricks? Give one property that makes it suitable.
Explain with evidence: Why would a farmer line a dam in sandy country with clay?
Apply the idea: Our school wants a new vegie garden, but the ground is hard and clayey. What would you tell the principal to do, and why? Stretch (older students): how could you test whether your plan worked?
Teacher answer guidance and saved classroom work are available through the main lesson experience where supported.