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Sorting by What You Can See is a free printable Grade 2 science worksheet on classifying materials by their observable properties, aligned to Common Core standard 2-PS1-1. It prints 3 questions with an answer key on its own sheet of paper, in 25 versions that each ask different questions, so no two pupils in the class work from the same page. Print it from the browser or download it as a PDF — no account, no email.

Set 9 of 25 · the same problems every time you open this link.

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Set 1 has all 25 in a single PDF. All 25 sets ask different questions.

Sorting by What You Can See

2-PS1-1

NameDate

Sort each material into the right group.

1.Sort each one: Hard and stiff or Soft and bendy or You can see through it?

Sort: A woollen scarf, Clean water in a glass, A china plate

Hard and stiffSoft and bendyYou can see through it
2.Sort each one: Hard and stiff or Soft and bendy or You can see through it?

Sort: A cellophane wrapper, Steel spoon, A rubber band

Hard and stiffSoft and bendyYou can see through it
3.Sort each one: Hard and stiff or Soft and bendy or You can see through it?

Sort: A cotton sock, A clear plastic sheet, A glass jar

Hard and stiffSoft and bendyYou can see through it

LessonPrint · 2-PS1-1 · Set 9 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Sorting by What You Can See

Set 9. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.1. A china plate — Hard and stiff 2. A woollen scarf — Soft and bendy 3. Clean water in a glass — You can see through it
  2. 2.1. A cellophane wrapper — You can see through it 2. A rubber band — Soft and bendy 3. Steel spoon — Hard and stiff
  3. 3.1. A clear plastic sheet — You can see through it 2. A cotton sock — Soft and bendy 3. A glass jar — Hard and stiff

More practice for 2-PS1-1

Sort materials by what you can observe about them.

Teaching this next? Sorting by What You Can See is the 50-minute plan for it, with the misconceptions to expect.

All Grade 2 worksheets

Last reviewed 2026-09-05. Aligned to 2-PS1-1 of the Next Generation Science Standards.