5th Grade Science Review: Nature of Science

Based on evidence in the graph, what was most likely the population of orangutans in 2014?

• 6,800

• 7,200

• 5,000

• 2,000

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

J.P. and Rosa investigate which types of tomatoes grow best. They use three different types of tomato plants and different amounts of fertilizer. They water each plant with 20 mL water every other day. They recorded the growth rate of each plant and decide that the Beefsteak tomatoes grew best, but their results cannot be reproduced. Which mistake did they make?

• J.P. and Rosa would have had better results if they only used one type of tomato.

• Every plant is an individual, just like people. So, some grow faster than others.

• J.P. and Rosa needed to water their tomato plants every day to be more successful.

• J.P. and Rosa needed to use the same amounts of fertilizer for each type of tomato.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

Several students took part in a bird census (population count) for the month of October. Each student wrote a report to summarize their findings. Which has the most accurate observation from their census?

• Jake: There were plenty of birds flying north on Saturday.

• Carla: I saw three types of birds I could not recognize.

• Jun: I counted 42 tree swallows and 112 purple martins in three hours.

• Esteban: Most of the birds I saw, like ducks and flamingos, live in Florida all year long.

Mr. Howell's fifth grade is making homemade lava lamps. Each student is given the same materials: one clean, clear 600 mL soda bottle with a plastic cap; two fizzy antacid tablets; food coloring; 100 mL of vegetable oil; and 500 mL of water. They follow a set of specific instructions and record their results in their science notebooks. What makes this a replicable, or repeatable, experiment?

• Every student received a set of instructions.

• All students recorded the steps in a science notebook.

• Everyone in the class is making his or her own lava lamp.

• The materials were measured out and added in the order listed in the instructions.

Tags

NGSS.3-5-ETS1-3

Jenna goes to the doctor who looks at her throat, swabs it, and sends the swab to a laboratory. The technician observes bacteria. The doctor gets the report and writes a prescription. Which produced empirical evidence? (Empirical evidence is information gathered through direct observation or experimentation).

• The doctor looks at her throat.

• Her doctor takes a swab and sends it to a laboratory.

• The laboratory technician observes bacteria on the slide.

• The doctor gets the report and writes a prescription.

As part of an experiment, Jenna measured the mass of the red cube. Which best describes why she should record her experimental procedure?

• The exact experiment can be repeated by others, and the results can be compared.

• The data will help others to find other properties of the red block.

• By writing down her procedure, she does not have to tell anyone about her experiment.

• Others can change the experiment to get different results.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-2

During a science fair, students were asked to measure the temperature of a liquid over time. Which method ensures the most accurate data collection?

• Using a thermometer and recording the temperature every hour.

• Using a thermometer and recording the temperature every 5 minutes.

• Estimating the temperature by feeling the liquid with their hands.

• Recording the temperature once at the beginning and once at the end.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS3-4

In a study on plant growth, researchers used different amounts of sunlight for each plant. What is the independent variable in this experiment?

• The type of plant used.

• The amount of sunlight each plant receives.

• The amount of water given to each plant.

• The growth rate of the plants.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

Which of the following best describes a controlled experiment?

• An experiment where no variables are changed.

• An experiment where the results are not recorded.

• An experiment where only one variable is changed at a time.

• An experiment where all variables are changed at once.

Which of the following best describes a hypothesis in a scientific experiment?

• A detailed procedure of the experiment.

• A prediction that can be tested through experimentation.

• A summary of the experiment's results.

• A list of materials needed for the experiment.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-2