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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 23 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. Which soil is best for growing beans, from this test?
  3. 3. How did the clay feel when wet?
  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 only the soil is different
  • B.Because water is free
  • C.So the pots look the same
3.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
4.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
5.Which soil can be rolled into a sausage shape when it is wet?
  • A.Gravel
  • B.Sand
  • C.Clay
6.What could a gardener dig into sticky clay soil to help it?
  • A.More clay
  • B.Plastic
  • C.Compost, to make it more crumbly
7.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

LessonPrint · 2-PS1-2 · Set 23 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Three Soils, Three Pots

Set 23. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.1. The garden soil, which stayed damp but not soggy. 2. The garden soil, where all 5 seedlings grew tall and green. 3. Sticky and smooth. 4. Water ran straight through the gritty sand.
  2. 2.So only the soil is different
  3. 3.Water drains through sand quickly
  4. 4.The rotting leaves add food to the soil and help it hold water
  5. 5.Clay
  6. 6.Compost, to make it more crumbly
  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.