def METHOD_NAME(cls, the_dict):
    assert isinstance(the_dict, dict)
    reference_time = the_dict['reference_time']
    surface_temp = the_dict['surface_temp']
    ten_cm_temp = the_dict['ten_cm_temp']
    moisture = the_dict['moisture']
    polygon_id = the_dict.get('polygon_id', None)
    return Soil(reference_time, surface_temp, ten_cm_temp, moisture, polygon_id)