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  • 5th Grade

    Structure and Properties of Matter

Students who demonstrate understanding can:

Performance Expectations

  1. Develop a model to describe that matter is made of particles too small to be seen. 5-PS1-1

    Clarification Statement and Assessment Boundary

  2. Measure and graph quantities to provide evidence that regardless of the type of change that occurs when heating, cooling, or mixing substances, the total weight of matter is conserved. 5-PS1-2

    Clarification Statement and Assessment Boundary

  3. Make observations and measurements to identify materials based on their properties. 5-PS1-3

    Clarification Statement and Assessment Boundary

  4. Conduct an investigation to determine whether the mixing of two or more substances results in new substances. 5-PS1-4

    Clarification Statement and Assessment Boundary

A Peformance Expectation (PE) is what a student should be able to do to show mastery of a concept. Some PEs include a Clarification Statement and/or an Assessment Boundary. These can be found by clicking the PE for "More Info." By hovering over a PE, its corresponding pieces from the Science and Engineering Practices, Disciplinary Core Ideas, and Crosscutting Concepts will be highlighted.

Science and Engineering Practices

Developing and Using Models

Modeling in 3–5 builds on K–2 experiences and progresses to building and revising simple models and using models to represent events and design solutions.

Planning and Carrying Out Investigations

Planning and carrying out investigations to answer questions or test solutions to problems in 3–5 builds on K–2 experiences and progresses to include investigations that control variables and provide evidence to support explanations or design solutions.

Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking

Mathematical and computational thinking at the 3–5 level builds on K–2 experiences and progresses to extending quantitative measurements to a variety of physical properties and using computation and mathematics to analyze data and compare alternative design solutions.

Disciplinary Core Ideas

Crosscutting Concepts

By clicking on a specific Science and Engineering Practice, Disciplinary Core Idea, or Crosscutting Concept, you can find out more information on it. By hovering over one you can find its corresponding elements in the PEs.

Planning Curriculum

Common Core State Standards Connections

ELA/Literacy

  • RI.5.7 - Draw on information from multiple print or digital sources, demonstrating the ability to locate an answer to a question quickly or to solve a problem efficiently. (5-PS1-1)
  • W.5.7 - Conduct short research projects that use several sources to build knowledge through investigation of different aspects of a topic. (5-PS1-2), (5-PS1-3), (5-PS1-4)
  • W.5.8 - Recall relevant information from experiences or gather relevant information from print and digital sources; summarize or paraphrase information in notes and finished work, and provide a list of sources. (5-PS1-2), (5-PS1-3), (5-PS1-4)
  • W.5.9 - Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research. (5-PS1-2), (5-PS1-3), (5-PS1-4)

Mathematics

  • 5.MD.A.1 - Convert among different-sized standard measurement units within a given measurement system (e.g., convert 5 cm to 0.05 m), and use these conversions in solving multi-step, real world problems. (5-PS1-2)
  • 5.MD.C.3 - Recognize volume as an attribute of solid figures and understand concepts of volume measurement. (5-PS1-1)
  • 5.MD.C.4 - Measure volumes by counting unit cubes, using cubic cm, cubic in, cubic ft, and improvised units. (5-PS1-1)
  • 5.NBT.A.1 - Recognize that in a multi-digit number, a digit in one place represents 10 times as much as it represents in the place to its right and 1/10 of what it represents in the place to its left. (5-PS1-1)
  • 5.NF.B.7 - Apply and extend previous understandings of division to divide unit fractions by whole numbers and whole numbers by unit fractions. (5-PS1-1)
  • MP.2 - Reason abstractly and quantitatively. (5-PS1-1), (5-PS1-2), (5-PS1-3)
  • MP.4 - Model with mathematics. (5-PS1-1), (5-PS1-2), (5-PS1-3)
  • MP.5 - Use appropriate tools strategically. (5-PS1-2), (5-PS1-3)

Model Course Mapping

First Time Visitors

Resources & Lesson Plans

  • More resources added each week!
    A team of teacher curators is working to find, review, and vet online resources that support the standards. Check back often, as NSTA continues to add more targeted resources.
  • Composites Engineering Design Challenge Part 2

    This is a two part review of a 10-day module in which students work on several mini-design challenges that culminate in a multi-day engineering design challenge. In the first 6 modules, students focus on Structure and Properties of Matter t ...

  • Teaching Grade 5 Structure and Properties of Matter

    In the lesson outlined in this article, students use kinesthetic modeling to explain the states of matter. Solids have a definite shape and volume. Liquids have a definite volume, but take the shape of their container and gases take the shape of ...

  • Embedding Formative Assessment into the 5 E instructional Model (Conservation of Matter)

      This article shows how formative assessment probes can be embedded into a sequence of  5E Instructional Model lessons for grade 5 students focusing on the conservation of matter. In the lessons, students make their thinking visibl ...

  • Chemical Reaction Vehicles

    In this engineering design challenge, students use their knowledge of science to help design and build a vehicle that is powered solely by a chemical reaction. First, they figure out the most effective combination of substances and water to create a ...

  • Clean It Up

    This NSTA Science & Children article details how fifth graders used the context of oil spills and soil contamination to model how scientists separate mixtures. This work has students in the role of environmental engineers designing solu ...

  • Crime Scene Soil Investigation

    Billy's bike has been stolen and it is up to your students to crack the case by analyzing the soil tagged as evidence at the crime scene. Students use handheld digital microscopes connected to iPads to capture images of the soil for analysis ...

  • Nails in A Jar

    "Nails in a Jar" is a formative assessment from Page Keeley's Uncovering Student Ideas in Science, Volume 4. Studens are asked whether the mass of a sealed jar of wet nails would change as the nails rusted. The probe elic ...

  • Teacher and Student Discourse Moves Combined Tool

    This is a chart designed to assist teachers in facilitating and supporting scientific discourse between students in their classrooms. The "teacher's back pocket" chart is double sided: one with prompts for teachers, and t ...

  • Sugar Water: Uncovering Student Ideas Volume 4

    This probe introduces the phenomena of dissolving sugar and elicits students understanding of what happens when substances are added to a liquid, what happens when sugar dissolves in water. The probe is designed as a formative ass ...

  • Now You See it Now, Now You Don't ...Dissolving Matter

    Students explore mixtures and solutions in this 5E lesson. Students add soil to water, stir it and repeat the procedure with salt, then compare the two. Students then collaborate to explain differences in changes between the mixtures, ...

  • The Cookie Dilemma Chapter 21 Everyday Physical Science Mysteries

    This lesson invites students to plan an investigation and use their collective knowledge to identify individual substances in a “mystery mix.” The resource includes a story that provides context and relevance for st ...

  • Changes : Addressing Students Misconceptions about Physical and Chemical Changes

    Students investigate and describe multiple indicators of both physical and chemical changes over a 10 day unit. The learning opportunities students were provided specifically addressed misconceptions about the reversibility of changes and the co ...

  • Seedlings in A Jar-Uncovering Student Ideas in Science, Volume 1: 25 Formative Assessment Probes (PDF e-book)

    In this probe, teachers are trying to elicit student ideas about conservation of matter in a closed system. Students read through the scenario and then choose the statement that best describes the matter in the jar and explain their thinkin ...

  • Cookie Crumbles- Uncovering Student Ideas in Science, Volume 1: 25 Formative Assessment Probes (PDF e-book)

    Students are presented with 4 possibilities about what happens to the weight of a cookie when it is broken. They are asked to choose one and then explain their thinking. The intent of this formative assessment probe is to determine student ...

  • Mystery Powders

    Students investigate the physical properties of five powders to determine their identity. In a follow up investigation, students observe changes to the powders when a drop of iodine is added to determine whether or not new ma ...

  • Air, A Gas

    In this instructional sequence students investigate air to better model and understand how it is a form of matter, has weight, and takes up space like solids and liquids, but is invisible because the particles are spread too far a ...

  • Chemical Cafe

    In this set of learning experiences arranged in a the linear 5 E lesson format, students will perform a series of investigations to further their understanding of the structures and properties of matter;and more specifically, what happens to matter w ...

  • What’s the Matter in Mr. Whisker’s Room?

    This classroom read-aloud leads students to engage in the science and engineering practices through the exploration of the structure and properties of matter. Questions presented by Mr. Whisker's facilitates student obser ...

  • Modeling Particles of Matter

    This is the first instructional sequence in a teacher's guide built with the purpose of helping students build a deeper understanding of the Structures and Properties of Matter standard.Students have the opportunity to engage with interactive simula ...

  • Water, A Liquid

    This review is on the first segment of the Grade 5 curriculum of "The Inquiry Project: Seeing the World Through the Scientists' Eyes." Water, A Liquid is a series of 5 investigations about water. Students use readily available materials ...

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Planning Curriculum gives connections to other areas of study for easier curriculum creation.