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Three Soils, Three Pots is a free printable Grade 2 science worksheet on testing three soils to find the one best suited to growing seeds, aligned to NGSS performance expectation 2-PS1-2. It prints 7 questions with an answer key on its own sheet of paper, in 25 versions that each ask different questions, so no two students in the class work from the same page. Print it from the browser or download it as a PDF — no account, no email.

Set 16 of 25 · the same problems every time you open this link.

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Three Soils, Three Pots

2-PS1-2

NameDate

Read the record, then answer the questions.

1.Read the record, then answer the questions.

Three Soils, Three Pots

Three pots of soil, each sown with five bean seeds and given the same cup of water every two days for three weeks. THREE SOILS AFTER THREE WEEKS Sand: gritty to touch; water ran straight through; dry on top within a day; 2 small seedlings Clay: sticky and smooth when wet; water sat on top for an hour; still soggy; 1 seedling Garden soil: crumbly; water soaked in slowly; damp but not soggy; 5 tall green seedlings A worm was found in the garden soil only. Same seeds, same pots, same windowsill, same water.

  1. 1. Why did only one seedling grow in the clay?
  2. 2. What might happen if the sand were watered every day instead?
  3. 3. How many seedlings grew in the garden soil?
  4. 4. Why did the sand dry out so fast?
2.Why should every pot get the same water in a soil test?
  • A.So the pots look the same
  • B.Because water is free
  • C.So only the soil is different
3.Which soil can be rolled into a sausage shape when it is wet?
  • A.Clay
  • B.Gravel
  • C.Sand
4.What could a gardener dig into sticky clay soil to help it?
  • A.More clay
  • B.Plastic
  • C.Compost, to make it more crumbly
5.How does sand feel when you rub it between your fingers?
  • A.Sticky
  • B.Silky
  • C.Gritty
6.Which soil would you choose for a tray of seeds?
  • A.Dry sand that water runs through
  • B.Wet clay that stays soggy
  • C.Crumbly soil that holds water but does not go soggy
7.Why do plants in pure sand need watering often?
  • A.Sand is too dark
  • B.Water drains through sand quickly
  • C.Sand makes water cold

LessonPrint · 2-PS1-2 · Set 16 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Three Soils, Three Pots

Set 16. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.1. The clay stayed soggy, with water sitting on top. 2. More seedlings might grow, because the sand dried out within a day. 3. 5 tall green seedlings. 4. Water ran straight through the gritty sand.
  2. 2.So only the soil is different
  3. 3.Clay
  4. 4.Compost, to make it more crumbly
  5. 5.Gritty
  6. 6.Crumbly soil that holds water but does not go soggy
  7. 7.Water drains through sand quickly

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