Soil Science Experiment Kit (4 Pots) – Compare Growing Media, with Curriculum & Worksheets

Not all soil is the same, and plants respond differently depending on what they grow in. In this hands-on experiment, students test, observe, and compare how different growing media affect plant growth, using real seeds and controlled side-by-side setups. Sprouting typically begins in 3–7 days.

Subject: Earth & Life Science / Soil Science
Grade levels: K–5 or 6–12 (choose at checkout)
Includes: grade-level curriculum and student worksheets

Choose Your Grade Level

Select Grades K–5 or Grades 6–12. The physical kit is the same for both; your selection determines which curriculum and worksheets you receive. The curriculum and worksheets are digital and are emailed to you after purchase.

Learning Objectives

Grades K–5

• Describe how potting soil and coconut coir look and feel different
• Understand what makes a test "fair" (changing only one thing)
• Observe and compare how seeds grow in each pot
• Record results with drawings and simple charts

Grades 6–12

• Compare soil and coco coir in structure, moisture retention, and aeration
• Identify independent, dependent, and controlled variables
• Measure germination speed, plant height, and root development
• Graph results and draw evidence-based conclusions

What's Included

• 4 × 3-inch peat pots
• Traditional potting mix
• Coconut coir pellets (expandable growing medium)
• 2 different seed varieties (selected for fast germination)
• Grade-level curriculum (digital, emailed after purchase)
• Student experiment worksheets (digital, emailed after purchase)

Curriculum Overview

Grades K–5 (5 lessons): 1) What is soil? 2) Designing a fair test 3) Planting the four pots 4) Watching and measuring growth 5) Sharing what we found

Grades 6–12 (5 lessons): 1) Soil composition and growing media 2) Experimental design and variables 3) Setup and planting 4) Data collection and measurement 5) Graphing, analysis, and conclusions

Student Worksheets

• Experiment planning sheet (which seed goes in which pot, and why)
• Side-by-side growth tracking chart
• Results reflection (K–5) or lab report template with graph (6–12)

How the Experiment Works

• Plant the same seeds in different growing media
• Plant different seeds in the same growing medium
• Track germination speed, growth, and plant health on the worksheet

Customer Learning Community

Every purchase includes an invitation to Aardvark's Seed Planting For Little Hands, our private support group for students and families using our kits. Members share progress photos, ask questions, troubleshoot experiments, and learn alongside other growers. The group is open to customers — after your order, request to join and we'll add you.

Designed for homeschool and classroom science instruction. No prior teaching experience required.

You have 30 days after receiving your item to request a return. Items must be unused and in original packaging. Email aleksandr.gordon@gmail.com to start a return.