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Controlled Experiment - Printable Science Worksheets year 5 - Wayground

Controlled Experiment

15 questions

5th - 5th Grade

Science

Controlled Experiment is a free printable Grade 5 science worksheet that develops students’ ability to identify testing and controlled variables and interpret evidence from simple experiments. Across 15 questions, students analyze diagrams, tables, and experimental scenarios involving light, sound, plant growth, solar cookers, force, mass, and cart motion. The worksheet uses five hotspot items, two dropdowns, three multiple-choice questions, three classification tasks, and two multiple-select questions. Students locate refraction, identify how sound travels, classify experiment variables, compare force and mass investigations, read race and motion data, and select evidence-based explanations such as why transparent plastic wrap helps a solar cooker. It includes a complete answer key and is designed for Grade 5 science instruction, review, or assessment.

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Worksheets

Controlled Experiment

Total questions: 15

Name
Class
Date
1.

Identify where the REFRACTION is happening in the picture with the laser and water.

A
B
C
D
2.

The girl can hear the sound from the guitar in the next room because the sound is ​ (a)   through the walls.

Choose from the below words
transmitting
reflecting
absorbing
refracting
3.

The light passing through this ​ (a)   lens is ​ ​ (b)   .

Choose from the below words
Convex
Concave
Refracting
Reflecting
Absorbing
4.

What was placed in the bottom of the tank to make this happen?

a)

Prism

b)

Mirror

c)

Fish

d)

Light Bulb

5.

What Variables were Controlled and what was the testing variable in this experiment?

Categorize the following

Daily Water

Light Bulbs

Tomato Seeds

Dirt

Controlled Variables
Testing Variable
6.

Why would you place plastic wrap over the hole in the pizza box for your Solar Cooker? (2 Answers)

a)

Plastic Wrap is transparent and allow light to pass into the box

b)

Plastic Wrap is translucent and allow light to pass into the box

c)

Plastic Wrap is opaque and allow light to pass into the box

d)

It will trap heat inside the box.

e)

It will block light from entering the box.

7.

What is the testing variable in this plant experiment?

a)

Turnip Seeds

b)

Daily Water

c)

Lights

d)

Soil

8.

Place the variables in the correct category for a controlled experiment.

Categorize the following

Fan Speed

Total Mass

Surface

Controlled Variables
Testing Variable
9.

These 4 carts are all pushed with a low force. Which cart will go the fastest speed?

a)

Orange Bottle Cart

b)

Red Book Cart

c)

Empty Cart

d)

Tool Box Cart

10.

Place the experiment variables in the correct category.

Categorize the following

Heat

Daily Water

Seed A

Lights

Controlled Variables
Testing Variable
11.

Runner 1 and Runner 3 are having a race. Data for 3 runners is shown in the table. Click on positions on the track for Runner 1 and Runner 3 based on their data. (At least one runner must be at the finish line, or both, you decide)

A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
12.

This 5th grade science experiment was testing the effect of: Force or Mass?

Click on the picture

A
B
13.

This 5th grade experiment was testing the effect of: Force or Mass?

Click on the picture.

A
B
14.

Which Cart reaches 5 m/s first?

Cart 1 or Cart 2 (Click on the picture)

Click on the the correct Reasoning on the picture as well. (click on the picture)

A
B
C
D
E
F
15.

A 5th Grade student did an experiment on growing seeds. The student chose 3 bags to try to grow the seeds in . Brown Paper Bag, Clear Sandwich Bag and White Grocery Bag. Which one did the best and why? (2 answers)

a)

Brown Paper Bag

b)

Clear Sandwich Bag

c)

White Grocery Bag

d)

It is translucent

e)

It is transparent

Answer Key

Controlled Experiment

Total questions: 15

1.
2.
transmitting
3.
Convex, Refracting
4.
b)

Mirror

5.
Controlled Variables

Light Bulbs

Tomato Seeds

Dirt

Testing Variable

Daily Water

6.
a)

Plastic Wrap is transparent and allow light to pass into the box

, d)

It will trap heat inside the box.

7.
b)

Daily Water

8.
Controlled Variables

Fan Speed

Surface

Testing Variable

Total Mass

9.
c)

Empty Cart

10.
Controlled Variables

Daily Water

Seed A

Lights

Testing Variable

Heat

11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
b)

Clear Sandwich Bag

, e)

It is transparent

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FAQs

What does this controlled experiment worksheet help Grade 5 students learn?

This 15-item Grade 5 science worksheet helps students identify testing and controlled variables and use evidence from experimental diagrams, tables, and scenarios. Its hotspot, dropdown, classification, multiple-choice, and multiple-select questions ask students to analyze refraction, sound transmission, plant growth, solar cookers, force and mass, and cart motion rather than recall a single definition.

How can I use this worksheet to teach controlled experiments and variables?

Introduce testing variables and controlled variables with a familiar plant-growth investigation, then model how to sort factors such as water, light, seeds, soil, or heat into the appropriate categories. Have students explain their choices in the classification items before completing the questions that interpret cart speed, runner data, and force-versus-mass diagrams. Use the solar-cooker and seed-bag items to prompt discussion about how transparent materials affect light and experimental results.

What mistakes should I watch for when students complete this controlled experiment worksheet?

Watch for students confusing the testing variable with factors that are kept the same, especially in the plant-growth and seed experiments. In the multiple-select items, students may choose a material description without selecting the related evidence, such as transparency and trapping heat for the solar cooker. Students may also misread the race or cart diagrams, confuse force with mass, or identify a light behavior such as reflection when the picture shows refraction.

How do I assign and grade this controlled experiment worksheet?

On Wayground, assign it as a printable PDF or as a digital quiz, and use the complete answer key to review the hotspot, classification, multiple-select, and other responses. Printable submissions can be graded by scanning student work with the Wayground for Teachers app.

How can I differentiate this worksheet for my students?

In the worksheet’s Advanced Settings, adjust font spacing or font size to make the classification directions and diagram-based questions easier to read. You can also enable a dyslexia-friendly font or translate the worksheet into another language, which may support access to the experiment descriptions and evidence-based answer choices.

Where can I find more worksheets like this on Wayground?

Wayground offers a broad collection of free printable worksheets and practice problems across subjects, with downloadable PDFs and answer keys to support essential skills and concepts. Browse more resources at https://wayground.com/en-us/worksheets.

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