Which Soil Makes the Best Football Pitch?

Year 4 put their science skills to the test with a hands-on investigation to find the best soil for a new football pitch. The challenge? To figure out which type of soil—sandy, clay, or peaty—lets water drain through best, without making the pitch too dry or too muddy.

Working in small groups, the class made sure their test was fair by keeping everything the same: measuring the same amount of soil, pouring in the same amount of water, and timing how long it took to drain. Armed with stopwatches and recording sheets, they observed carefully, jotting down their results and turning them into graphs to spot patterns.

The verdict? Sandy soil drained super-fast but might make the pitch too dry and hard. Clay held onto the water for too long, meaning a muddy mess. Peaty soil was just right—it drained well but also held enough moisture to keep the pitch in good condition. Through this fun experiment, Year 4 didn’t just learn about permeability; they also practised key science skills like measuring, recording, fair testing, and explaining their findings.