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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 21 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 is best for growing beans, from this test?
  2. 2. How many seedlings grew in the garden soil?
  3. 3. Why did the sand dry out so fast?
  4. 4. What was kept the same for all three pots?
2.Soil with rotting leaves mixed in grows strong plants. Why?
  • A.The leaves keep the sun off
  • B.The rotting leaves add food to the soil and help it hold water
  • C.The leaves make the soil sandy
3.Why are worms good for soil?
  • A.They make it sandy
  • B.They mix it and make tunnels that let air and water in
  • C.They make it dry
4.What could a gardener dig into sticky clay soil to help it?
  • A.Plastic
  • B.More clay
  • C.Compost, to make it more crumbly
5.Which soil can be rolled into a sausage shape when it is wet?
  • A.Sand
  • B.Clay
  • C.Gravel
6.Which soil would you choose for a tray of seeds?
  • A.Wet clay that stays soggy
  • B.Dry sand that water runs through
  • C.Crumbly soil that holds water but does not go soggy
7.Why should every pot get the same water in a soil test?
  • A.Because water is free
  • B.So the pots look the same
  • C.So only the soil is different

LessonPrint · 2-PS1-2 · Set 21 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Three Soils, Three Pots

Set 21. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.1. The garden soil, where all 5 seedlings grew tall and green. 2. 5 tall green seedlings. 3. Water ran straight through the gritty sand. 4. The same seeds, the same pots, the same windowsill and the same water.
  2. 2.The rotting leaves add food to the soil and help it hold water
  3. 3.They mix it and make tunnels that let air and water in
  4. 4.Compost, to make it more crumbly
  5. 5.Clay
  6. 6.Crumbly soil that holds water but does not go soggy
  7. 7.So only the soil is different

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