Ask students why they look different. Have students feel the three types and contrast the three. Label one pile as sandy. Sandy soils contain mostly sand. Sandy soils do not hold water very well.
Most sand is small pieces of quartz.
Another pile of soil will be labeled as clay. Clay soil is mostly clay and is made mostly of small pieces of mineral other than quartz. Clay soil holds water very well. The third type of soil is loam. Identify and label.