School Improvement in Maryland

Using the State Curriculum: Science, Grade 4

Skills and Processes | Earth/Space | Life | Chemistry | Physics | Environmental

Public Release Items: 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.

Standard 5.0 Physics

Topic B. Thermodynamics

Indicator 1. Provide evidence that heat can be transferred in different ways.

Objective b. Observe, describe, and compare materials that readily conduct heat and those that do not conduct heat very well.

Selected Response Item

Use the information below to answer the following.

Sunlight enters a room through an open window. The sunlight shines on the wood table, area rug on the floor, and the plane mirror and metal spoon on the table. A spot of light appears on the wall opposite the window.

Which object in the room is the best conductor of heat?

  1. the area rug
  2. the wood table
  3. the plane mirror
  4. the metal spoon
/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_science_4_023.xml

Correct Answer:
D

Selected Response Item

Use the passage 'Glaciers and People' and the picture to answer the following question.

Why is plastic a good material to use to insulate icebergs?

  1. Plastic is expensive.
  2. Plastic conducts electricity well.
  3. Plastic does not conduct heat well.
  4. Plastic increases friction with the water.
/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_science_4_024.xml

Correct Answer:
C
Resources for Objective 5.B.1.b:
Clarifications | PUBLIC RELEASE ITEMS |