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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 20 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. Which soil held water without getting soggy?
  2. 2. How many seedlings grew in the garden soil?
  3. 3. Why did only one seedling grow in the clay?
  4. 4. Why did the sand dry out so fast?
2.How could you test which soil holds the most water?
  • A.Look at the color of each
  • B.Pour the same water into each and measure how much drips out
  • C.Smell each one
3.Which soil can be rolled into a sausage shape when it is wet?
  • A.Sand
  • B.Gravel
  • C.Clay
4.Why can roots rot in heavy clay?
  • A.Clay is too light
  • B.Clay is too dry
  • C.Clay can stay soggy, so the roots get too little air
5.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
6.How does sand feel when you rub it between your fingers?
  • A.Sticky
  • B.Silky
  • C.Gritty
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 20 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Three Soils, Three Pots

Set 20. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.1. The garden soil, which stayed damp but not soggy. 2. 5 tall green seedlings. 3. The clay stayed soggy, with water sitting on top. 4. Water ran straight through the gritty sand.
  2. 2.Pour the same water into each and measure how much drips out
  3. 3.Clay
  4. 4.Clay can stay soggy, so the roots get too little air
  5. 5.The rotting leaves add food to the soil and help it hold water
  6. 6.Gritty
  7. 7.Water drains through sand quickly

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