Space
This is the path one object takes as it moves around another object in space.
What is an orbit/revolution?
This is energy of motion.
What is Kinetic Energy?
This is a trait or behavior that helps a plant or animal survive in its environment.
What is an Adaptation?
This is the process in which rock is broken down into smaller pieces.
What is Weathering?
This is information gathered during an investigation that is used to support a claim.
What is evidence?
This is a material that allows energy to pass through it easily.
What is a conductor?
Earth spins on its axis once about every 24 hours. This is called?
What is a rotation?
A battery-powered flashlight that turns on only when the circuit is complete is using this kind of circuit.
What is a closed circuit?
A plant’s roots are damaged. Which job will be most directly affected?
What is absorbing water and minerals from the soil?
Water droplets form on the outside of a cold glass. Which water cycle process caused the droplets to form?
What is Condensation?
A class tests whether bean plants grow better in sand, clay, or potting soil. What is the test variable in this investigation?
What is the type of soil?
A toy car rolls faster when pushed harder. What is the science term for the push or pull that changes the car’s motion?
What is a force?
A student says "Winter happens because Earth is farther from the Sun". Use what you know about Earth's motion to explain why that is NOT the best answer.
Seasons are caused by Earth's tilt and revolution, not simply by being further from the Sun.
A student rubs two blocks together and notices they get warmer. Which force caused the temperature to increase?
What is Friction?
A student sorts animals into two groups: those with backbones and those without backbones. What are those two groups called?
Vertebrates and Invertebrates
After a heavy rainstorm, a river carries soil from one place to another. Which Earth process is happening?
What is Erosion?
A student repeats the same experiment three times and gets slightly different results each time. Give one scientific reason this might happen.
Possible answers: small differences in conditions, measurement error, or natural variation in the trials.
A student places iron filings, sand, and pebbles in a tray. She uses a magnet to remove only the iron filings. Which physical property is she using?
What is magnetism?
A class observed the Moon for 4 weeks. They notice its shape appears to change, but the Moon itself does not make its own light. What is causing the appearance of the Moon to change shapes?
The Moon reflects sunlight, and as the Moon revolves around the Earth, we see different amounts of its lit half.
A roller coaster is pulled to the top of a hill, pauses, and then races downward. Describe how the energy changes from the top of the hill to the bottom.
Potential energy is greatest at the top, and as the coaster moves down, it changes into kinetic energy?
After a drought, much of the grass in a field dies. A few weeks later, the rabbit population drops. Explain why the rabbits decreased
Because the producer in the food chain decreased, so the rabbits had less food available.
One rock sample contains layers and pieces of shells. Another rock sample formed when melted rock cooled and hardened. Identify both rock types.
What are sedimentary rock for the layered shell sample and igneous rock for the cooled melted-rock sample?
A student says one brand of paper towel is best after testing only one sheet from each brand. What should the student do before making a stronger conclusion?
The student should repeat trials, test more samples, and collect more data.
A lizard sits on a warm rock in the sunlight. The rock becomes hotter during the morning. What is the original source of the energy heating the rock?
What is the Sun?
A student in Florida keeps a sky journal. In one entry, she writes that it is daytime in Florida while another part of Earth is having nighttime. In another entry, she notes that the Moon’s visible shape changes over the month. In a third entry, she explains why one year passes after Earth completes a trip around the Sun. Name the three motions or patterns that explain all of these observations.
During a storm, the power goes out. A family uses a battery lantern. When they switch it on, the bulb glows and the top of the lantern feels warm after a few minutes. Explain the energy transformations and the circuit condition needed for the lantern to work.
A student runs laps outside on a hot Florida day. Her breathing becomes faster, her heart beats faster, and sweat forms on her skin. Explain how at least two body organs or structures are helping her body during the run and why those changes are important.
The lungs take in more oxygen and remove carbon dioxide, the heart pumps blood faster to move oxygen and nutrients through the body, and the skin/sweat glands help cool the body. These structures work together to help her body keep moving and stay safe.
After a sunny morning, students notice a puddle on the playground gets smaller. Later, clouds form, rain falls, and water carries loose soil into a storm drain. Name four science ideas or processes shown in this scenario.
What are evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and erosion?
A class wants to find out which paper towel brand absorbs the most water. One group uses different-size sheets, pours different amounts of water each time, and tests each brand only once. They claim Brand C is best. Explain why this investigation is weak and describe two ways to improve it.
The investigation is weak because it did not control variables and did not include repeated trials. Improvements could include using the same-size sheets, pouring the same amount of water, and repeating each test several times before drawing a conclusion.
After a thunderstorm, a class notices three things: a puddle becomes smaller during the afternoon, a bean plant bends toward the classroom window, and a toy car rolls more slowly on carpet than on tile. Explain the three different science ideas shown in these observations.
The puddle is shrinking because of evaporation; the bean plant is bending because plants respond to light; and the toy car slows down more on carpet because friction is greater there.