A Soil Types Cut-and-Paste Worksheet

Exploring soil types and their properties in your science unit this term? You’ve come to the right place!

This simple cut-and-paste worksheet has been designed by our experienced team of teachers to help you introduce the four main soil types to your students. The four main types of soil (sand, silt, loam and clay) are presented in a table. The students are required to cut out the soil properties and glue them under the correct soil type.

The properties of each soil type included in the resource are outlined below.

• Sand – Sand has the biggest particles. It has a rough texture.
• Silt – Silt is sticky when wet. It is found at the bottom of lakes.
• Loam – Loam is best for growing plants. It has worms, sticks and bugs in it.
• Clay – Clay has the smallest particles. It is cracked when dry.

Two versions of this cut-and-paste worksheet are included in the download. The first version uses short phrases to describe the properties of each soil type. The second version uses pictures to visually represent these soil properties. Choose the version that will best meet the needs of the learners in your class, or alternatively, provide different versions to different students based on their reading ability.

This soil worksheet downloads as a black-and-white PDF or an editable Google Slides file.

This resource would make a great addition to any lesson focused on introducing the four main soil types and their basic properties.

Maximize Your Use of This Soil Worksheet

This cut-and-paste worksheet may look deceptively simple at first, but it provides a great springboard for further exploration into soil types and their properties.

To liven up your lesson on the four types of soil, why not prepare samples of each soil type for students to explore? After examining each soil type, students could revisit the cut-and-paste worksheet and add additional properties to the table underneath each soil type. Alternatively, Teach Starter’s Observing Soil Worksheet is the perfect resource for younger students to use when making observations about the properties of various soil types.

How to Access This Types of Soil Worksheet

Use the Download button above to access either the printable PDF or the editable Google Slides version of this resource. (Note: You will be prompted to make a copy of the Google Slides template before accessing it).

This resource was created by Kaitlyn Blevins, a teacher in Georgia and a Teach Starter collaborator.

More Soil Activities for Elementary Students

Looking for more activities to enhance your science lessons on soil? Explore this great selection of teacher-created resources!

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Soil Word Wall Vocabulary Cards

Immerse your students in subject-specific vocabulary related to soil types and their properties with this set of 16 illustrated vocabulary cards.

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Types of Soil Mini-Book

Teach your students about the four main types of soil with this printable book, perfect for your science lessons!

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Types of Soil Chart

Remind your students about the four main types of soil with this soil chart for your classroom.