In today’s garden investigation, students explored the concept of permeability by testing how water moves through sand, loam, and clay. This inquiry began with direct observation and comparison of soil samples, where students identified and described differences in particle size, structure, and visible pore spaces.

Students were introduced to permeability as a scientific property and developed hypotheses about which soil would allow water to flow through most rapidly. Using a Think-Pair-Share strategy, they justified their predictions using emerging scientific reasoning, focusing on relationships between particle arrangement, spacing, and rate of flow.

Microscopic observation enabled students to gather more precise qualitative data, which they recorded through detailed scientific diagrams. These observations supported refinement of their initial thinking.