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Sunflowers in Sun and Shade is a free printable Grade 3 science worksheet on using measured heights as evidence that surroundings change a trait, aligned to NGSS performance expectation 3-LS3-2. 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 16 of 25 · the same problems every time you open this link.

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Set 1 has all 25 in a single PDF. All 25 sets ask different questions.

Sunflowers in Sun and Shade

3-LS3-2

NameDate

Read the record, then answer the questions.

1.Read the record, then answer the questions.

Sunflowers From One Packet

Heights measured after ten weeks, from one packet of seed sown in two places. HEIGHTS AFTER TEN WEEKS Sunny bed: 148 cm, 152 cm, 139 cm, 155 cm, 144 cm Shady bed: 96 cm, 88 cm, 102 cm, 91 cm, 85 cm All seeds came from the same packet. All had the same soil and the same watering. Every plant had yellow flowers and a thick stem.

  1. 1. Why did plants from one packet end up different heights?
  2. 2. What claim does this record support?
  3. 3. What does this record not tell you?
  4. 4. What was the shortest plant in the shady bed?
2.A kind of plant that normally grows tall is given too little water. What happens?
  • A.It grows short and stunted
  • B.It grows taller than normal
  • C.It changes into a different kind of plant
3.How could you test whether light affects the height of a plant?
  • A.Grow different kinds of seed in the same place
  • B.Grow one plant and measure it once
  • C.Grow seeds from one packet, some in light and some in shade, with everything else the same
4.Identical twins grow up apart, and one does far more sport. One is much stronger. Inherited or surroundings?
  • A.Surroundings, because the twins started the same
  • B.Inherited, because they are twins
  • C.Neither
5.Two cuttings from one geranium grow on a sunny windowsill and in a dark corner. Which will probably have greener, sturdier leaves?
  • A.Both exactly the same, because they came from one plant
  • B.The one on the sunny windowsill
  • C.The one in the dark corner
6.Flamingos get their pink color from the food they eat. What does that show?
  • A.The color is only inherited
  • B.Their surroundings, through their food, affect a trait
  • C.All birds are pink
7.A dog is given too much food and little exercise. What may happen?
  • A.It becomes overweight
  • B.It grows a longer tail
  • C.Its puppies will be overweight

LessonPrint · 3-LS3-2 · Set 16 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Sunflowers in Sun and Shade

Set 16. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.1. The plants in the shady bed had less sunlight, which affected their growth. 2. Seed from one packet grew to different heights, so the sunny and shady beds changed how tall the plants grew. 3. It does not tell you how much sunlight each bed actually received. 4. 85 cm.
  2. 2.It grows short and stunted
  3. 3.Grow seeds from one packet, some in light and some in shade, with everything else the same
  4. 4.Surroundings, because the twins started the same
  5. 5.The one on the sunny windowsill
  6. 6.Their surroundings, through their food, affect a trait
  7. 7.It becomes overweight

Last reviewed 2026-09-05. Aligned to 3-LS3-2 of the Next Generation Science Standards.