Grade Five Science Assessment
Earth and Sky
Answer Key
2nd Quarter
1.
2.
3.
4.
D
B
2 points: The answer talks about recycling and explains how it means to be changed
into something different–not just reused.
1 point: term is correct but without explanation or the term is incorrect with the
correct explanation.
0 point: no response, off the topic, or shows no understanding of the concept
4 points: 1 point for correctly drawing Venn diagram:
Star
Qui ckTim e™ an d a
TIFF (Uncompressed ) deco mpre ssor
are need ed to s ee thi s pictu re.
Planet
1 point for having two of the following facts about stars:
 produce own light
 appear to be fixed in the sky
 large, hot ball of gas
 part of a constellation
 have different degrees of brightness
 different colors due to temperature
 nuclear reaction occur at the center
 more stars than planets
1 point for having two of the following facts about planets
 travel around a star
 does not give off own light
 reflects light from a star
 appears to move among stars
 made of gases, molten rock, or hard rock
1 point for having one of the following facts in the intersection of the circles:
 in the universe or solar system
 part of a galaxy
 have gravity
 different sizes
 change over time
5.
2 points: answers should include the earth turning on its axis, rotating every 24
hours, facing the sun, away from the sun
1 point: partial explanation or incorrect information
0 point: answer show very little or no understanding of concept
2/1/07
6.
2 points:
7.
8.
9.
A
C
2 points: Fossil fuels-coal oil, and natural gas were formed over a long period of time
from the decay of ancient living things.
1 point: answer does not include that they were formed long ago or that it would take
a long period of time to replace them.
0 point: Answers show very little or no understanding of concept.
B
2 points: The North and South pole areas are colder. They receive slanted rays, and
do not receive direct sun rays.
a. Mercury, b. Earth, c Mars, d. Saturn, e. Neptune, f. Pluto
D
D
2 points: Objects in space are too far away to study, their size is too big, can’t hold
them, can’t see some of them without a telescope Problems: Size and/or distance
comparisons may not be accurate, characteristics of the model may not be the same.
1 point: infers/implies one of the above, but the answer is not stated clearly
0 point: irrelevant/illogical reasoning or incorrect answers.
C
A
D
C
A
C
A
B
B
B
C
B
2 points: answer includes 2 ways the sun affects life on earth (basis of
photosynthesis, warms us, gives us light, provides energy, etc.)
1 point: only 1 way mentioned or an incorrect answer
0 point: incorrect information or answer shows very little or nor understanding of
concept.
B
C
D
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
explains the representation and gives 1 limitation
shell represents the crust
white represents the mantle
yolk represents the core
limitation:
core is not a liquid
size proportions are incorrect
characters of the composition are not accurate
2/1/07
32.
33.
34.
35.
2 points: 2 correct explanations given (Earth’s atmosphere is made up of 78%
nitrogen and 21% oxygen; has living plants and animals-supports life, has moving
water has a magnetic field; one year is about 365 days, has a different temperature, or
any other correct explanation
1 point: 1 correct explanation
0 point: incorrect information or answers show little or no understanding of concept
C
C
D
2/1/07