Rocks & SoilGrade 2 Science for Kids

Different rocks, kinds of soil and the layers under our feet.

Rocks & Soil lets second graders test which rocks sink and which surprising rock floats, find out which soil lets water through and dig down through the layers of the ground. Earth science kids can get their hands into.

  • Grade 2 · Ages 7–8
  • 3 lessons
  • 3 experiments
  • 12 practice questions
  • About 25 min
Start Learning Free Open the Course
  • Rock Hunt
  • Rock Float Test
  • Kinds of Soil
  • Drain Test
  • Layers of the Ground
  • Dig Down

Science lab course · Grade 2

Rocks & Soil · Learning goals

What Your Child Will Learn

Test which rocks sink and which surprising rock floats, find out which soil lets water through, and dig down through the layers of the ground.

  • Most rocks sink, but pumice is full of air bubbles, so it floats.
  • Sand lets water through fast, clay holds it, and garden soil is in between.
  • The ground has layers: plants, topsoil, subsoil and bedrock.

Why it matters

Why This Matters for Kids

  • The ground beneath us

    Learning about rocks and soil helps kids understand the land where plants grow and houses stand.

  • Testing properties

    Comparing soils teaches kids to observe and test, key scientific skills.

  • Gardening science

    Knowing which soil holds water helps kids understand how gardens and farms work.

Inside Rocks & Soil

How the Course Works

Each level has a short read-aloud lesson, an interactive experiment and a mini quiz.

  1. Step 1 · Lesson

    Rock Hunt

    Rocks are hard, natural solids found all over the Earth.

  2. Step 2 · Experiment

    Rock Float Test

    Let's drop rocks into water. Will they all sink? Look out for a surprise!

  3. Step 3 · Lesson

    Kinds of Soil

    Soil is made of tiny bits of rock, dead plants and water. Worms live in it!

  4. Step 4 · Experiment

    Drain Test

    Let's pour water through sand, garden soil and clay. How much water drips out of each one?

  5. Step 5 · Lesson

    Layers of the Ground

    The ground has layers, like a cake!

  6. Step 6 · Experiment

    Dig Down

    Let's dig a deep hole! Put the layers of the ground in order, from the top to the bottom.

Lesson preview

A Peek Inside the Lesson

This is the real lesson text your child hears, read aloud by a friendly voice.

Rock Hunt

Rocks are hard, natural solids found all over the Earth.

Rocks come in many colors, sizes and textures: smooth, rough, shiny or dull.

Most rocks are heavy and sink in water. But one rock from volcanoes is full of air bubbles!

Kinds of Soil

Soil is made of tiny bits of rock, dead plants and water. Worms live in it!

Sand has big grains. Clay has tiny grains that stick together.

Garden soil, called loam, is a mix. Plants love it!

Layers of the Ground

The ground has layers, like a cake!

On top are plants and dark topsoil, full of life.

Below is subsoil, with clay and stones.

Deep down is solid rock called bedrock.

For parents

Try It at Home

Learning sticks best when kids use it in real life. Here are simple ideas from this course.

Parent Tip

Collect a few rocks on a walk and sort them by color, size and texture. Test which ones a nail can scratch.

Rock Float Test

  1. Collect 5 small rocks outside with a grown-up.
  2. Wash them and look with a magnifying glass.
  3. Sort them by color, size or how rough they feel.

Most rocks sink, but pumice is full of air bubbles, so it floats.

Drain Test

  1. Put a coffee filter in 3 cups with holes.
  2. Fill them with sand, soil and clay.
  3. Pour the same water in each. Which drips fastest?

Sand lets water through fast, clay holds it, and garden soil is in between.

Dig Down

  1. Put soil, water and a spoon of sand in a clear jar.
  2. Shake it (with the lid on!) and let it sit overnight.
  3. Look at the layers that settle.

The ground has layers: plants, topsoil, subsoil and bedrock.

Practice

Grade 2 Science Practice Questions

Real questions from Rocks & Soil. Try them with your child, then tap to see the answer.

  1. Question 1

    What are rocks?

    • A.Liquids
    • B.Living things
    • C.Hard natural solids
    Show answer

    Hard natural solids

  2. Question 2

    What is soil made of?

    • A.Bits of rock, dead plants and water
    • B.Only sand
    • C.Only water
    Show answer

    Bits of rock, dead plants and water

  3. Question 3

    Which layer is on top?

    • A.Bedrock
    • B.Topsoil
    • C.Subsoil
    Show answer

    Topsoil

The full course has 12 questions with instant feedback, stars and rewards. Create a free account to play them all.

Rocks & Soil · Questions from parents

Frequently Asked Questions

What age is this course for?

Rocks & Soil is a grade 2 science course for kids ages 7–8. That is Year 3 science in the UK and Year 2 in Australia. It also works well for review in the next grade, or as a challenge for a confident younger learner.

What will my child learn?

Test which rocks sink and which surprising rock floats, find out which soil lets water through, and dig down through the layers of the ground. Along the way they practice: Most rocks sink, but pumice is full of air bubbles, so it floats; Sand lets water through fast, clay holds it, and garden soil is in between; The ground has layers: plants, topsoil, subsoil and bedrock.

How long does the course take?

About 25 minutes in total, split into 3 short levels. Most kids finish it over two or three sessions. Progress is saved, so they can stop any time and pick up where they left off.

Is this course free?

Rocks & Soil is part of SkillBloom Premium, which unlocks every course in every subject. Each subject also has free courses, so your child can try SkillBloom before you decide.

Does my child need to read well to use it?

No. Every lesson has a friendly read-aloud voice, questions are read aloud too, and the pictures help kids follow along. Confident readers can turn the voice off.

Can we use it for homeschool?

Yes. SkillBloom is built for homeschooling families. Kids work through lessons, games and quizzes on their own, and the parent dashboard shows what they finished and which skills need more practice. It works on phones, tablets and laptops.

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