Soil Water Lab Worksheet
Grade 1 Hands-On Science Investigation
Name: _________________ Date: ___________
Soil Water Lab: Where Does Water Go?
Explore how water moves through different soils: Sand, Garden Soil, and Clay!
Soil Detectives
1
Meet the 3 Soils: Touch & Look
Feel each dry soil sample with your fingers!
A. Sand Beach & Desert
Light tan color with tiny, rough grains.
Circle how it feels:
Gritty Soft Sticky
Draw grains of Sand:
B. Garden Soil Backyard
Dark brown with tiny leaves, sticks, and bits.
Circle how it feels:
Rough Crumbly Hard
Draw Garden Soil bits:
C. Clay Pottery / River
Red or gray powder packed tightly together.
Circle how it feels:
Smooth Powdery Stony
Draw tightly packed Clay:
2
Our Lab Equipment Checklist
Check each box when your station is ready!
3 Funnels with Coffee Filters 3 Clear Catch Cups Water Cup (Equal Scoops!) Timer or 10-Second Count
3
My Soil Predictions (Hypothesis)
What do you think will happen?
Question 1: Which soil will let water soak through the FASTEST?
○ Sand
○ Garden Soil
○ Clay
Question 2: Which soil will HOLD the water and make a puddle on top?
○ Sand
○ Garden Soil
○ Clay
Complete my sentence:
I predict water will soak fastest through because its grains are loose!
TURN OVER TO TEST WATER ABSORPTION & RECORD FINDINGS
Lab Experiment & Observation Step 4 & 5
The Water Soak Test! (What Happened?)
Pour equal water (1/2 cup) into each funnel!
4
Watch & Record: How Does Water Move?
Circle what you see & draw your cup!
Sample A: SAND
Water Speed:
🚀 Zoom! Super Fast
🚶 Drip-Drop Medium
🛑 Trapped / Puddle
Water in Catch Cup:
A Lot! Some Very Little
Draw what you saw:
(Drips in cup)
Sample B: GARDEN SOIL
Water Speed:
🚀 Zoom! Super Fast
🚶 Drip-Drop Medium
🛑 Trapped / Puddle
Water in Catch Cup:
A Lot! Some Very Little
Draw what you saw:
(Moist soil sponge)
Sample C: CLAY
Water Speed:
🚀 Zoom! Super Fast
🚶 Drip-Drop Medium
🛑 Trapped / Puddle
Water in Catch Cup:
A Lot! Some Very Little
Draw what you saw:
(Puddle on top)
5
Our Big Soil Discovery! (Circle the Correct Word)
- Water ran right through SAND the
FASTEST SLOWEST
- Water stayed trapped on top of CLAY because its particles are
TIGHT LOOSE
- Plants love GARDEN SOIL best because it holds water like a
SPONGE SLIDE
Scientist Self-Check: I made a prediction I tested carefully I cleaned up my station!
Lab Complete! ⭐
