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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.

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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. What might happen if the sand were watered every day instead?
  3. 3. What was kept the same for all three pots?
  4. 4. How many seedlings grew in the garden soil?
2.Why are worms good for soil?
  • A.They make it sandy
  • B.They make it dry
  • C.They mix it and make tunnels that let air and water in
3.Soil with rotting leaves mixed in grows strong plants. Why?
  • A.The rotting leaves add food to the soil and help it hold water
  • B.The leaves make the soil sandy
  • C.The leaves keep the sun off
4.How does sand feel when you rub it between your fingers?
  • A.Gritty
  • B.Silky
  • C.Sticky
5.What could a gardener dig into sticky clay soil to help it?
  • A.More clay
  • B.Plastic
  • C.Compost, to make it more crumbly
6.Which soil would you choose for a tray of seeds?
  • A.Dry sand that water runs through
  • B.Wet clay that stays soggy
  • C.Crumbly soil that holds water but does not go soggy
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 25 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Three Soils, Three Pots

Set 25. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.1. Water ran straight through the gritty sand. 2. More seedlings might grow, because the sand dried out within a day. 3. The same seeds, the same pots, the same windowsill and the same water. 4. 5 tall green seedlings.
  2. 2.They mix it and make tunnels that let air and water in
  3. 3.The rotting leaves add food to the soil and help it hold water
  4. 4.Gritty
  5. 5.Compost, to make it more crumbly
  6. 6.Crumbly soil that holds water but does not go soggy
  7. 7.Clay

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