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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 3 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. What would a third bed with even less light probably show?
  2. 2. What does this record not tell you?
  3. 3. What was the tallest plant in the sunny bed?
  4. 4. How do the two beds compare?
2.Two cuttings from one geranium grow on a sunny windowsill and in a dark corner. Which will probably have greener, sturdier leaves?
  • A.The one in the dark corner
  • B.The one on the sunny windowsill
  • C.Both exactly the same, because they came from one plant
3.How could you test whether light affects the height of a plant?
  • A.Grow one plant and measure it once
  • B.Grow different kinds of seed in the same place
  • C.Grow seeds from one packet, some in light and some in shade, with everything else the same
4.A kind of plant that normally grows tall is given too little water. What happens?
  • A.It grows taller than normal
  • B.It changes into a different kind of plant
  • C.It grows short and stunted
5.Why use seeds from the same packet when testing surroundings?
  • A.So they look the same in photos
  • B.So any difference is caused by the surroundings, not different parents
  • C.Because packets are cheaper
6.A dog is given too much food and little exercise. What may happen?
  • A.It grows a longer tail
  • B.It becomes overweight
  • C.Its puppies will be overweight
7.Identical twins grow up apart, and one does far more sport. One is much stronger. Inherited or surroundings?
  • A.Neither
  • B.Surroundings, because the twins started the same
  • C.Inherited, because they are twins

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

Answer key — Sunflowers in Sun and Shade

Set 3. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.1. Plants shorter than the shady bed's, if less sunlight means less growth. 2. It does not tell you how much sunlight each bed actually received. 3. 155 cm. 4. Every plant in the sunny bed was taller than every plant in the shady bed.
  2. 2.The one on the sunny windowsill
  3. 3.Grow seeds from one packet, some in light and some in shade, with everything else the same
  4. 4.It grows short and stunted
  5. 5.So any difference is caused by the surroundings, not different parents
  6. 6.It becomes overweight
  7. 7.Surroundings, because the twins started the same

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