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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 18 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 the sand dry out so fast?
  2. 2. Why did only one seedling grow in the clay?
  3. 3. Which soil held water without getting soggy?
  4. 4. How did the clay feel when wet?
2.How does sand feel when you rub it between your fingers?
  • A.Sticky
  • B.Gritty
  • C.Silky
3.What could a gardener dig into sticky clay soil to help it?
  • A.More clay
  • B.Compost, to make it more crumbly
  • C.Plastic
4.Soil with rotting leaves mixed in grows strong plants. Why?
  • A.The leaves make the soil sandy
  • B.The leaves keep the sun off
  • C.The rotting leaves add food to the soil and help it hold water
5.Which soil can be rolled into a sausage shape when it is wet?
  • A.Clay
  • B.Sand
  • C.Gravel
6.How could you test which soil holds the most water?
  • A.Pour the same water into each and measure how much drips out
  • B.Look at the color of each
  • C.Smell each one
7.Which soil would you choose for a tray of seeds?
  • A.Dry sand that water runs through
  • B.Crumbly soil that holds water but does not go soggy
  • C.Wet clay that stays soggy

LessonPrint · 2-PS1-2 · Set 18 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Three Soils, Three Pots

Set 18. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.1. Water ran straight through the gritty sand. 2. The clay stayed soggy, with water sitting on top. 3. The garden soil, which stayed damp but not soggy. 4. Sticky and smooth.
  2. 2.Gritty
  3. 3.Compost, to make it more crumbly
  4. 4.The rotting leaves add food to the soil and help it hold water
  5. 5.Clay
  6. 6.Pour the same water into each and measure how much drips out
  7. 7.Crumbly soil that holds water but does not go soggy

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