Grade 2 Science Worksheet — Rocks & Soil (Age 8) | Cambridge Syllabus

Free worksheet covering Science for age 8 students. Created with Learning Corner's AI-powered tools.

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Instructions

Read each question carefully. For some questions, you will circle the best answer. For others, you will write your answer on the line provided. Try your best to answer all the questions!

Part 1: Objective Questions

A. Multiple Choice: Circle the best answer for each question.

  1. What is a rock?
    • A. A living thing
    • B. A hard, natural thing from the Earth
    • C. Something made of plastic
  2. Which of these is a use for rocks?
    • A. Drinking
    • B. Building houses
    • C. Eating
  3. Soil is made of tiny bits of rock and...
    • A. plastic
    • B. dead plants and animals
    • C. metal
  4. A natural material is something that...
    • A. is made in a factory
    • B. comes from nature
    • C. is made of glass
  5. Which one is NOT a natural material?
    • A. Wood
    • B. Plastic bottle
    • C. Cotton
  6. Sand is made of...
    • A. tiny pieces of glass
    • B. tiny pieces of rock
    • C. tiny pieces of wood
  7. Which word describes most rocks?
    • A. Soft
    • B. Hard
    • C. Stretchy
  8. Why is soil important for a plant?
    • A. It keeps it warm
    • B. It helps it grow
    • C. It makes it look nice
  9. A shiny, beautiful rock used in a necklace is called a...
    • A. Gem
    • B. Brick
    • C. Stick
  10. Which material comes from sheep?
    • A. Wood
    • B. Cotton
    • C. Wool

B. True or False: Circle 'True' or 'False' for each sentence.

  1. All rocks are the same color.
    True / False
  2. Soil is not important for farming.
    True / False
  3. We can use rocks to build roads.
    True / False
  4. A plastic toy is a natural material.
    True / False
  5. Wood comes from trees.
    True / False
  6. Some rocks are very smooth.
    True / False
  7. Soil is only made of sand.
    True / False
  8. Chalk is a type of soft rock.
    True / False
  9. You can easily bend a large, hard rock.
    True / False
  10. Pebbles are small, smooth rocks.
    True / False

C. Fill in the Blanks: Choose the correct word from the word bank to complete each sentence.

Word Bank: Soil, Hard, Natural, Buildings, Sand, Plants, Wood, Minerals, Clay, Cotton
  1. Rocks are made of things called __________________.
  2. We grow food for us to eat in the __________________.
  3. A material that comes from nature is called __________________.
  4. A rock is usually very __________________.
  5. We use stones and bricks to make __________________.
  6. The material that comes from a plant and is used for t-shirts is __________________.
  7. Tiny pieces of rock found on a beach are called __________________.
  8. Trees give us __________________, which we use to make furniture.
  9. __________________ need soil to grow their roots.
  10. __________________ is a sticky type of soil that can be used to make pots.

Part 2: Short Answer Questions

Write your answer on the line below each question.

  1. Name one thing rocks are used for.
    ____________________________________________________________
  2. Where can you find soil?
    ____________________________________________________________
  3. Is a leaf a natural material?
    ____________________________________________________________
  4. What two main things is soil made of?
    _________________________ and _________________________
  5. Why do plants need soil?
    ____________________________________________________________
  6. Name one material that comes from an animal.
    ____________________________________________________________
  7. How does a big rock become a small pebble?
    ____________________________________________________________
  8. Describe a piece of granite using one word.
    ____________________________________________________________
  9. What is sand?
    ____________________________________________________________
  10. Name something in your home made from a natural material.
    ____________________________________________________________
  11. Can rocks have different textures (feel different)? (Yes/No)
    ____________________________________________________________
  12. What natural material is paper made from?
    ____________________________________________________________
  13. What do you call a very beautiful and rare rock?
    ____________________________________________________________
  14. Why is it hard to dig through solid rock?
    ____________________________________________________________
  15. Name a place where you would see a lot of sand.
    ____________________________________________________________
  16. Besides small rocks, what else is in healthy soil?
    ____________________________________________________________
  17. What is one difference between sand and clay?
    ____________________________________________________________
  18. What do we call the shape of an ancient animal left in a rock?
    ____________________________________________________________
  19. Draw a line to match the material to its source:
    • Wool                     Tree
    • Wood                     Plant
    • Cotton                  Sheep
  20. Why are some rocks found in rivers very smooth?
    ____________________________________________________________

Part 3: Problem Solving

Think carefully and write or draw your answer in the space.

  1. You are building a path in a garden. Would you use sand or flat stones? Why?
    ____________________________________________________________
    ____________________________________________________________
  2. Sort these things into the two boxes below:
    Items: Paper, Marble Statue, Cotton T-shirt, Chalk, Wooden Chair, Sandcastle

    From Plants From Rocks
  3. If you put a handful of soil in a jar of water, shake it, and let it sit, what do you think will happen?
    ____________________________________________________________
    ____________________________________________________________
  4. Draw a picture of a house. Circle and label one part that is made from a rock material (like bricks or a stone wall).
  5. A builder needs a material that is strong and will not wash away in the rain to build a bridge support. What natural material should he use?
    ____________________________________________________________
  6. Why can't we grow big trees on a sandy beach?
    ____________________________________________________________
  7. Look at your pencil. What two natural materials is it made from?
    1. ____________________________     2. ____________________________
  8. You have three rocks: one is rough, one is smooth, and one is sparkly. How would you describe them to a friend who cannot see them?
    ____________________________________________________________
    ____________________________________________________________
  9. A gardener says her soil is "unhealthy" for her plants. What might be missing from it?
    ____________________________________________________________
  10. If rocks are so hard, how do they break down into sand? (Think about wind and water).
    ____________________________________________________________






Answer Key

Part 1: Objective Questions

  1. B. A hard, natural thing from the Earth
  2. B. Building houses
  3. B. dead plants and animals
  4. B. comes from nature
  5. B. Plastic bottle
  6. B. tiny pieces of rock
  7. B. Hard
  8. B. It helps it grow
  9. A. Gem
  10. C. Wool
  11. False
  12. False
  13. True
  14. False
  15. True
  16. True
  17. False
  18. True
  19. False
  20. True
  21. Minerals
  22. Soil
  23. Natural
  24. Hard
  25. Buildings
  26. Cotton
  27. Sand
  28. Wood
  29. Plants
  30. Clay

Part 2: Short Answer Questions (Example answers)

  1. Building houses, making roads, jewelry. (Any one)
  2. In the garden, on the ground, in a park.
  3. Yes.
  4. Tiny rocks and bits of dead plants/animals.
  5. To get water and nutrients to grow.
  6. Wool, leather, silk. (Any one)
  7. By being broken by weather (wind, rain, ice) over a long time.
  8. Hard, spotty, rough. (Any one)
  9. Very tiny pieces of rock.
  10. Wooden table, cotton shirt, paper book. (Any reasonable answer)
  11. Yes.
  12. Wood (from trees).
  13. A gem or gemstone.
  14. Because it is very hard and solid.
  15. A beach, a desert.
  16. Dead leaves, worms, bugs, water, air. (Any reasonable answer)
  17. Sand is grainy and loose. Clay is sticky when wet.
  18. A fossil.
  19. Wool -> Sheep; Wood -> Tree; Cotton -> Plant.
  20. The water tumbles them against other rocks, which smooths their edges.

Part 3: Problem Solving (Example answers)

  1. Flat stones. Because they are hard and won't be messy or wash away like sand.
  2. From Plants: Paper, Cotton T-shirt, Wooden Chair.
    From Rocks: Marble Statue, Chalk, Sandcastle.
  3. The parts of the soil will separate into layers. The heavy parts like sand and pebbles will sink to the bottom first.
  4. (Student's drawing should show a house with a part like a brick wall, stone chimney, or concrete foundation circled and labeled).
  5. He should use large, strong rocks or stone.
  6. The sandy soil doesn't hold enough water or nutrients for big trees.
  7. 1. Wood (the body) and 2. Graphite (the 'lead' inside, which is a mineral/rock).
  8. I would say one feels bumpy like sandpaper, one feels smooth like glass, and the last one shines and glitters in the light.
  9. It might be missing nutrients (from dead plants/animals) or not have enough water.
  10. Over many, many years, wind and rain and ice break small pieces off the rocks.
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