Earth in Space and Time
What is the name of the star at the center of our solar system?
Sun.
What is the name for solid rock material that makes up Earth’s outer layer?
Bedrock or rock (crust).
What should scientists use when they ask questions about the natural world? (name one thing)
Observations, evidence, questions, and reference materials (books/websites) — any one is acceptable.
Name two forms of energy students learn about.
Examples: light and heat; sound and electrical; motion and heat, etc.
Give one example of a familiar change in materials that creates a new material (pick from: rusting, burning, cooking, decaying).
Examples: rusting (iron → rust), burning wood → ash and gases, cooking eggs → cooked egg, decaying leaves → soil changes.
What causes day and night on Earth?
Earth’s rotation on its axis causes day and night.
What do we call the loose material made of tiny rock pieces, sand, and soil on Earth's surface?
soil
If two groups do the same investigation but get different results, what should they do next?
Compare methods and measurements, check tools and procedures, and look for reasons for differences.
What happens to energy when a toy car moves after you push it? (Which form of energy causes motion?)
The push gives the car mechanical energy (energy of motion); stored energy (like from a spring or battery) may convert to motion.
When bread is toasted, does it change into a new material with different characteristics? Explain briefly.
Yes; toasting changes texture and color and produces new compounds (chemical change) — tastes and properties change.
Name the planet we live on and one reason it can support life.
Earth (or planet Earth). Reason: has water, atmosphere, suitable temperatures, etc.
Name one natural resource that comes from Earth’s crust and is used for building or energy.
Examples: coal, limestone, granite, metals (iron, copper), sand, gravel.
True or false — Science always follows one single fixed set of steps called "the scientific method." Explain your answer in one sentence.
False — science uses observations and evidence but does not always follow one rigid method; investigations vary.
How is sound produced? Give a simple description.
Sound is produced by vibrating objects (e.g., a guitar string vibrates).
What is the difference between an observation and an inference when looking at a chemical change like rust?
Observation: the metal turned orange-brown and flaky. Inference: the metal reacted with oxygen to form rust.
What do we call the path Earth follows as it moves around the Sun?
Orbit.
What is erosion? Give one example of something that causes erosion.
Erosion is the wearing away or removal of soil and rock by wind, water, or ice. Example: river carrying away soil.
What is a model in science? Give one example.
A model is a representation used to explain or test ideas (examples: globe, diagram of the water cycle, computer simulation).
Give one example of how moving water can be used as a source of energy to do work.
Example: water flowing turns a turbine to make electricity (hydroelectric power).
Explain why burning a piece of paper produces ash that is different from the original paper.
Burning uses heat to change paper chemically into ash and gases; ash has different properties and is a new material.
Explain why we have different seasons during the year.
Seasons are caused by Earth’s tilt on its axis as it orbits the Sun; different parts of Earth get more direct sunlight at different times of year.
Describe how mountains can form (one sentence).
Mountains can form when tectonic plates push together and the crust folds or is pushed upward (or by volcanic activity).
Why is it important for scientists to keep records that separate actual observations from ideas or inferences?
So others can understand what was actually seen and separate facts from guesses; evidence-based explanations matter.
Describe how energy can change from one form to another in a toaster (which forms are involved).
Electrical energy heats the coil, producing heat energy that toasts the bread; some electrical energy becomes thermal energy and some light.
Describe a simple classroom investigation to show that some changes in matter produce new materials (list materials and one observation students should make).
Example investigation: Mix vinegar and baking soda in a bottle and observe fizzing and gas production; materials: vinegar, baking soda, balloon, bottle. Observation: balloon inflates from produced gas; new properties (gas) are produced.