Holding the Land in Place is a free printable Grade 2 science worksheet on comparing solutions that slow wind or water changing the land, aligned to Common Core standard 2-ESS2-1. It prints 8 questions with an answer key on its own sheet of paper, in 25 versions that each ask different questions, so no two pupils in the class work from the same page. Print it from the browser or download it as a PDF — no account, no email.
Set 1 of 25 · the same problems every time you open this link.
1.Test results: bare soil lost a big pile, grassed soil lost hardly any. Which solution worked better?
A.The grass, because hardly any soil washed down
B.Neither worked
C.The bare soil
2.What does a barrier at the bottom of a slope do?
A.Makes the slope steeper
B.Catches soil that has already washed down
C.Stops the rain falling
3.Why test two designs rather than just building the best-looking one?
A.The results show which actually holds the soil
B.Looks are what matter
C.Testing wastes time
4.Why does planting grass on a slope hold the soil?
A.The grass covers the soil so water cannot wash it away
B.Grass drinks all the water
C.Grass is heavy
5.Which would you choose to stop a sand dune blowing away?
A.A smooth plastic sheet
B.Plants with roots that hold the sand
C.Nothing at all
6.A plastic sheet let no soil wash off but the water ran off fast. What is the drawback?
A.Plastic is green
B.The fast water may wash soil away further down
C.There is no drawback
7.A wall stops soil washing down but costs a lot. How do you decide?
A.Always pick the cheapest
B.Always pick the strongest
C.Weigh how well it works against what it costs
8.What should be kept the same when comparing two slope designs?
A.Nothing at all
B.The same jug of water, the same slope and the same soil
C.The colour of the tray
LessonPrint · 2-ESS2-1 · Set 1 · free to copy for classroom use
Answer key — Holding the Land in Place
Set 1. Prints on its own sheet.
1.The grass, because hardly any soil washed down
2.Catches soil that has already washed down
3.The results show which actually holds the soil
4.The grass covers the soil so water cannot wash it away
5.Plants with roots that hold the sand
6.The fast water may wash soil away further down
7.Weigh how well it works against what it costs
8.The same jug of water, the same slope and the same soil
Questions about Holding the Land in Place
What does the Holding the Land in Place worksheet cover?
It practises comparing solutions that slow wind or water changing the land — 8 questions for Grade 2, all on Common Core 2-ESS2-1: Compare designs meant to stop wind or water reshaping the land. The instruction to pupils is “Circle the best answer”, and the answer key follows on the next sheet.
Which Common Core standard does Holding the Land in Place practise?
2-ESS2-1 — 2-ESS2-1, in the Earth and Space Science domain for Grade 2. The published standard reads: “Compare multiple solutions designed to slow or prevent wind or water from changing the shape of the land.” The worksheet assesses that standard rather than a paraphrase of it.
What age or grade is this worksheet for?
Holding the Land in Place is written for Grade 2, typically ages 7-8. It is one of the sheets on 2-ESS2-1, so it suits any pupil working at that standard — including older pupils revisiting it and younger ones working ahead.
Does Holding the Land in Place come with an answer key?
Yes. All 8 answers are generated from the same problems as the questions, so the key cannot drift out of step with the sheet. It starts on a fresh sheet of paper, after the questions, so it is not handed out with the class by accident.
How many different versions of Holding the Land in Place can I print?
25 — one per pupil, and all 25 ask different questions. Set 1 downloads the whole class as a single PDF. Every version is fixed to its own address, so a sheet printed today holds the same problems when you reopen it next week.
Is Holding the Land in Place free to print and photocopy?
Yes. Holding the Land in Place, its answer key and its 25 versions are free to print and photocopy for your own class, with no account, no email capture and no subscription at the download step. Please do not resell them or republish them as your own.
Is there a lesson plan to teach 2-ESS2-1?
Yes — “Holding the Land in Place” is a 50-minute Grade 2 plan for 2-ESS2-1, timed section by section, with the misconceptions to expect and an exit ticket. Holding the Land in Place is the practice that follows it.
More practice for 2-ESS2-1
Compare designs meant to stop wind or water reshaping the land.
Teaching this next? Holding the Land in Place is the 50-minute plan for it, with the misconceptions to expect.