School Improvement in Maryland

Public Release Items: Grades 5 Science
Public release items have appeared on MSA forms and then are released for public viewing and use. Releasing items is one step to ensuring that schools, districts, and other stakeholders understand how the content standards are assessed on the MSA.

 (1) Brief Constructed Response Public Release

A student mixes water, a powdered drink mix, and sugar to make a flavored drink.

Question Image

Explain what happens when the materials are combined to make a mixture. In your explanation, be sure to include

  • the properties before they are mixed
  • how the properties were affected

Write your answer in the space provided.

Properties Before Mixing

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

Properties After Mixing

________________________________________________

________________________________________________



/share/assessment_items/xml/items/msa_science_5_055.xml

View annotated student responses

 
 (2) Brief Constructed Response Public Release

Read the passage 'Free Fall' to answer the following.



Two different-shaped objects were dropped from the same height. Data from the investigation was recorded, as shown below.

Question Image

Explain why the average times to fall were different for the two objects. In your explanation, be sure to include

  • the errors in this investigation
  • how these errors affected the outcome
  • how the investigation should be improved to obtain valid data

Write your answer on your answer document

/share/assessment_items/xml/items/msa_science_5_056.xml

View annotated student responses

 
 (3) Brief Constructed Response Public Release

Most organisms are made of many different types of cells. Each type of cell has a special role within the organism.



Multicellular organisms are made of groups of cells working together to do one job. These are called specialized cells. The diagrams show four types of specialized cells. Not all multicellular organisms need the same specialized cells.

Question Image

Explain why multicellular organisms only need certain specialized cells. In your explanation, be sure to include

  • a type of specialized cell not found in a plant
  • why this specialized cell is not needed by a plant

Write your answer on your answer document

/share/assessment_items/xml/items/msa_science_5_057.xml

View annotated student responses