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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 17 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. How many seedlings grew in the garden soil?
  2. 2. What was kept the same for all three pots?
  3. 3. What might happen if the sand were watered every day instead?
  4. 4. Which soil is best for growing beans, from this test?
2.Why do plants in pure sand need watering often?
  • A.Sand is too dark
  • B.Sand makes water cold
  • C.Water drains through sand quickly
3.Why are worms good for soil?
  • A.They make it dry
  • B.They mix it and make tunnels that let air and water in
  • C.They make it sandy
4.Which soil would you choose for a tray of seeds?
  • A.Crumbly soil that holds water but does not go soggy
  • B.Wet clay that stays soggy
  • C.Dry sand that water runs through
5.Why can roots rot in heavy clay?
  • A.Clay is too dry
  • B.Clay is too light
  • C.Clay can stay soggy, so the roots get too little air
6.How could you test which soil holds the most water?
  • A.Look at the color of each
  • B.Smell each one
  • C.Pour the same water into each and measure how much drips out
7.Which soil can be rolled into a sausage shape when it is wet?
  • A.Sand
  • B.Clay
  • C.Gravel

LessonPrint · 2-PS1-2 · Set 17 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Three Soils, Three Pots

Set 17. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.1. 5 tall green seedlings. 2. The same seeds, the same pots, the same windowsill and the same water. 3. More seedlings might grow, because the sand dried out within a day. 4. The garden soil, where all 5 seedlings grew tall and green.
  2. 2.Water drains through sand quickly
  3. 3.They mix it and make tunnels that let air and water in
  4. 4.Crumbly soil that holds water but does not go soggy
  5. 5.Clay can stay soggy, so the roots get too little air
  6. 6.Pour the same water into each and measure how much drips out
  7. 7.Clay

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