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      Choose the area you want to look at.
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      Divide the area into 2-feet-by-2-feet squares.
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      Find out what's in the soil in each square.
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      Write down all of the things you have discovered about your soil square.
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      Write down today's weather. On a day when the weather is different, look at your square again to see if the soil has changed. If it has changed, how is it different?

Questions to ask about the soil . . .

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      What color is it?
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      What is its texture?
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      Are there a lot of rocks in the soil?
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      Is the soil moist or dry?
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      Does it have any insects in it?

Now that you've looked at your soil square,

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      Does the soil look different from square to square?
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      Do you think this soil would be good to grow plants in? Why or why not?