School Improvement in Maryland

Using the State Curriculum: Science, Grade 5

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

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Standard 1.0 Skills and Processes

Topic A. Constructing Knowledge

Indicator 1. Gather and question data from many different forms of scientific investigations which include reviewing appropriate print resources, observing what things are like or what is happening somewhere, collecting specimens for analysis, and doing experiments.

Objective f. Identify possible reasons for differences in results from investigations including unexpected differences in the methods used or in the circumstances in which the investigation is carried out, and sometimes just because of uncertainties in observations.

Selected Response Item

A teacher told four students to each measure the mass of a closed container of water. The students took turns measuring the mass. Their data are shown in the table below.

Question Image

Which statement best explains why there are four different measurements?

  1. The balance was new.
  2. Each measurement was done at a different time.
  3. Each student used a different process to find mass.
  4. Movement caused the container to lose or gain mass.
/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_science_5_002.xml

Correct Answer:
C

Selected Response Item

Use the passage 'Making Fresh Water from Salt Water' to answer the following question.

Five students distilled equal masses of salt water in identical distillation devices. After several hours, the students measured a different amount of fresh water in each of the cups.

What is the best explanation for the different amounts of water in each of the cups?

  1. Equal amounts of salt were present in the water.
  2. Some of the distillation devices were in the shade.
  3. Each student timed the distillation process differently.
  4. Each student measured the temperature of the water incorrectly.
/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_science_5_099.xml

Correct Answer:
B