5th grade GMAS BLAST Lesson

1

Multiple Choice

We know that the planets of our solar system orbit the sun. Comets also orbit our sun—more than 4,000 of them. Most comets circle the sun very slowly. While the earth circles the sun once a year, many comets take thousands of years to complete just one orbit of the sun.

Comets are made of frozen gasses and bits of rock and dust. The solid part of most comets can be up to 10 miles across. As a comet gets close to the sun, the heat causes the comet’s frozen gasses to turn into a cloud of vapor and dust. The cloud can be thousands of miles across. Solar winds cause this vapor cloud to trail out behind the comet like a tail. This “vapor tail” can be hundreds of millions of miles long.

Sometimes comets are visible from earth. You might think that when this happens you would see the comet whizzing across the sky. But in fact, it would appear to be motionless. This is because both the comet and the earth are moving. The most famous comet is Halley’s Comet. Its orbit around the sun takes 76 years. This is pretty fast for a comet. There are records of sightings of Halley’s Comet from 2,500 years ago. The next time it will be visible from earth will be in 2061.

What is the main idea of the first paragraph?

1

The planets of our solar system orbit the sun.

2

Comets in our solar system orbit the sun.

3

The earth circles the sun once a year.

2

Multiple Choice

We know that the planets of our solar system orbit the sun. Comets also orbit our sun—more than 4,000 of them. Most comets circle the sun very slowly. While the earth circles the sun once a year, many comets take thousands of years to complete just one orbit of the sun.

Comets are made of frozen gasses and bits of rock and dust. The solid part of most comets can be up to 10 miles across. As a comet gets close to the sun, the heat causes the comet’s frozen gasses to turn into a cloud of vapor and dust. The cloud can be thousands of miles across. Solar winds cause this vapor cloud to trail out behind the comet like a tail. This “vapor tail” can be hundreds of millions of miles long.

Sometimes comets are visible from earth. You might think that when this happens you would see the comet whizzing across the sky. But in fact, it would appear to be motionless. This is because both the comet and the earth are moving. The most famous comet is Halley’s Comet. Its orbit around the sun takes 76 years. This is pretty fast for a comet. There are records of sightings of Halley’s Comet from 2,500 years ago. The next time it will be visible from earth will be in 2061.

What is the main idea of paragraph 2?

1

Solar winds cause a comet’s vapor cloud to trail out like a tail.

2

The solid part of a comet can be 10 miles across.

3

Comets are made of frozen gasses and bits of rock and dust.

3

Multiple Choice

We know that the planets of our solar system orbit the sun. Comets also orbit our sun—more than 4,000 of them. Most comets circle the sun very slowly. While the earth circles the sun once a year, many comets take thousands of years to complete just one orbit of the sun.

Comets are made of frozen gasses and bits of rock and dust. The solid part of most comets can be up to 10 miles across. As a comet gets close to the sun, the heat causes the comet’s frozen gasses to turn into a cloud of vapor and dust. The cloud can be thousands of miles across. Solar winds cause this vapor cloud to trail out behind the comet like a tail. This “vapor tail” can be hundreds of millions of miles long.

Sometimes comets are visible from earth. You might think that when this happens you would see the comet whizzing across the sky. But in fact, it would appear to be motionless. This is because both the comet and the earth are moving. The most famous comet is Halley’s Comet. Its orbit around the sun takes 76 years. This is pretty fast for a comet. There are records of sightings of Halley’s Comet from 2,500 years ago. The next time it will be visible from earth will be in 2061.

What is the main idea of the third paragraph?

1

A comet’s vapor tail can be hundreds of millions of miles long.

2

When comets are visible from earth, the appear to be motionless.

3

When comets are visible from earth, the appear to whiz across the sky.

4

Multiple Choice

We know that the planets of our solar system orbit the sun. Comets also orbit our sun—more than 4,000 of them. Most comets circle the sun very slowly. While the earth circles the sun once a year, many comets take thousands of years to complete just one orbit of the sun.

Comets are made of frozen gasses and bits of rock and dust. The solid part of most comets can be up to 10 miles across. As a comet gets close to the sun, the heat causes the comet’s frozen gasses to turn into a cloud of vapor and dust. The cloud can be thousands of miles across. Solar winds cause this vapor cloud to trail out behind the comet like a tail. This “vapor tail” can be hundreds of millions of miles long.

Sometimes comets are visible from earth. You might think that when this happens you would see the comet whizzing across the sky. But in fact, it would appear to be motionless. This is because both the comet and the earth are moving.

The most famous comet is Halley’s Comet. Its orbit around the sun takes 76 years. This is pretty fast for a comet. There are records of sightings of Halley’s Comet from 2,500 years ago. The next time it will be visible from earth will be in 2061.

What is the main idea of the fourth paragraph?

1

The most famous comet is Halley’s Comet.

2

The orbit of Halley’s Comet takes 76 years.

3

The next time Halley’s Comet will be visible will be in 2061.

5

Multiple Choice

Hydroponic Gardens

Have you ever wanted to have a garden but not had enough space? You should consider hydroponics. The word hydroponics comes from two Greek words meaning "water" and "work." It is the science of growing vegetables and flowers in water instead of in soil.

The idea of hydroponics has been around for centuries. For example, this process was used in the famous Hanging Gardens of Babylon. These gardens were located in a large group of terraces. Gardeners carried water up from the Euphrates River to the top level of the terraces. The water trickled down through the terraces and irrigated each level of the garden.

The ancient Aztecs also used a form of hydroponics. Their capital city was on an island in the middle of a lake. Aztec gardeners grew crops by placing small amounts of soil on rafts on the lake. The seeds would sprout roots, and the roots grew into water underneath the rafts.

In today's hydroponic gardens, seedlings float on the surface of water, and the roots descend into the water below. Nutrients are mixed in with the water to feed the roots. People can grow these gardens in containers on terraces or patios. Many hydroponic gardeners use food-storage coolers to grow their plants. They fill the coolers with water and nutrients. Then they plant the seedlings in cups that are filled with moss and have holes in the bottom. The cups float on the water, the roots descend into the water, and the seedlings grow.

There are many advantages to growing hydroponic gardens. One benefit is that they use less water. Hydroponic gardens use only 5 to 10 percent of the water that the same plants need on land. The water in these gardens can also be recycled. The water is less likely to be contaminated than regular garden soil is because sometimes soil is exposed to acid rain, garbage, or other environmental pollution. Another advantage is that hydroponic gardens can grow all year long instead of only during specific seasons. Finally, hydroponic gardens can produce higher yields. More plants can be grown with more blossoms because the roots don't have to compete for space. This lets the plants concentrate on growing and producing more. Overall, hydroponic gardens are a fantastic way to grow your own fruits and vegetables. You can get started today.

Choose the main idea found in the passage.

1

Hydroponic gardens have been around for centuries.

2

There are advantages to growing a hydroponic garden.

3

Hydroponic gardens use less water than soil-based gardens.

4

Hydroponic gardens can float in water.

5

Hydroponic gardens require little space.

6

Multiple Choice

I Will Think About It

“I will think about it.” It is easy to say this, but do you know what great things have come from thinking? We cannot see our thoughts, or hear, or taste, or feel them, and yet what mighty power our thoughts have!

Sir Isaac Newton was seated in his garden on a summer’s evening when he saw an apple fall from a tree. He began to think, and, in trying to find out why the apple fell, discovered how the earth, sun, moon, and stars are kept in their places.

A boy named James Watt sat quietly by the fireside watching the lid of the tea kettle as it moved up and down. He began to think; he wanted to find out why the steam in the kettle moved the heavy lid. From that time, he went on thinking and thinking, and when he became a man, he improved the steam engine so much that it could do the work of many horses with the greatest ease.

When you see a steamboat, a steam mill or a locomotive, remember that it would never have been built if it had not been for the hard thinking of someone.

A man named Galileo was once standing in the cathedral of Pisa when he saw a chandelier swaying to and fro. This set him thinking, and it led to the invention of the pendulum.

James Ferguson was a poor Scottish shepherd boy. Once, seeing the inside of a watch, he was filled with wonder.

“I should make a watch,” he thought. But how was he to get the materials to make the wheels and the mainspring? He soon found out how to get them. He made the mainspring out of a piece of whalebone. He then made a wooden clock which kept good time. He began, also, to copy pictures with a pen and portraits with oil colors.

In a few years, while still a small boy, he earned enough money to support his father. When he became a man, he went to London to live. Some of the wisest men in England, and the king himself, used to attend his lectures. His motto was, “I will think of it,” and he made his thoughts useful to himself and the world.

When you have a difficult lesson to learn, don’t feel discouraged, and ask someone to help you before helping yourselves. By thinking you will learn how to think to some purpose.

Which best describes James Ferguson?

1

rich

2

gives up easily

3

clumsy

4

curious

7

Multiple Choice

I Will Think About It

“I will think about it.” It is easy to say this, but do you know what great things have come from thinking? We cannot see our thoughts, or hear, or taste, or feel them, and yet what mighty power our thoughts have!

Sir Isaac Newton was seated in his garden on a summer’s evening when he saw an apple fall from a tree. He began to think, and, in trying to find out why the apple fell, discovered how the earth, sun, moon, and stars are kept in their places.

A boy named James Watt sat quietly by the fireside w atching the lid of the tea kettle as it moved up and down. He began to think; he wanted to find out why the steam in the kettle moved the heavy lid. From that time, he went on thinking and thinking, and when he became a man, he improved the steam engine so much that it could do the work of many horses with the greatest ease.

When you see a steamboat, a steam mill or a locomotive, remember that it would never have been built if it had not been for the hard thinking of someone.

A man named Galileo was once standing in the cathedral of Pisa when he saw a chandelier swaying to and fro. This set him thinking, and it led to the invention of the pendulum.

James Ferguson was a poor Scottish shepherd boy. Once, seeing the inside of a watch, he was filled with wonder.

“I should make a watch,” he thought. But how was he to get the materials to make the wheels and the mainspring? He soon found out how to get them. He made the mainspring out of a piece of whalebone. He then made a wooden clock which kept good time. He began, also, to copy pictures with a pen and portraits with oil colors.

In a few years, while still a small boy, he earned enough money to support his father. When he became a man, he went to London to live. Some of the wisest men in England, and the king himself, used to attend his lectures. His motto was, “I will think of it,” and he made his thoughts useful to himself and the world.

When you have a difficult lesson to learn, don’t feel discouraged, and ask someone to help you before helping yourselves. By thinking you will learn how to think to some purpose.

Which idea from the short story is an opinion?

1

Isaac Newton discovered how the earth, sun, moon, and stars are kept in their places.

2

It is easy to say, “I will think about this.”

3

The king attended the lectures of James Ferguson.

4

James Watt improved the steam engine.

8