Here are some science questions from the Standards for Grades 2-5 to help you test your knowledge of the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards.
The questions are chosen randomly, so this quest will be different each time you reload the page.
* Click here to see only the most recently added questions.

This is common, table salt. Is it:
-
a rock?
Partly correct. Table salt, also known as halite, is both a rock and a mineral. -
a mineral?
Partly correct. Table salt, also known as halite, is both a rock and a mineral. -
Neither a rock nor a mineral?
No. Table salt, also known as halite, is both a rock and a mineral.
Click to see which state standards this question tests, and which of my videos, experiments, and other resources support that topic.
Florida
SC.4.E.6.2 Identify the physical properties of common earth-forming minerals, including hardness, color, luster, cleavage, and streak color, and recognize the role of minerals in the formation of rocks.
Definition of a Mineral | video, checked |
What is a Mineral? | video, checked |
Identifying Minerals | video, learnalong |
Minerals Around You | text page, learnalong, checked |
Review Minerals-2 | practice |
Review Minerals-3 | practice |
Review Minerals-4 | practice |
Review Minerals-5 | practice |
Review Minerals-6 | practice |
Review Minerals-7 | practice |
Review Minerals-8 | practice |
Review Minerals-1 | practice |
Utah
UT.4.III.1.b Observe rocks using a magnifying glass and draw shapes and colors of the minerals.
Definition of a Mineral | video, checked |
What is a Mineral? | video, checked |
Identifying Minerals | video, learnalong |
What is a Rock? | video, learnalong, checked |
Review Minerals-3 | practice |
Review Minerals-4 | practice |
Review Minerals-5 | practice |
Review Minerals-6 | practice |
Review Minerals-7 | practice |
Review Minerals-8 | practice |
UT.8.III.1.b Observe and describe the minerals found in rocks (e.g., shape, color, luster, texture, hardness).
Definition of a Mineral | video, checked |
What is a Mineral? | video, checked |
Identifying Minerals | video, learnalong |
What is a Rock? | video, learnalong, checked |
Review Minerals-1 | practice |
Review Minerals-2 | practice |
Review Minerals-3 | practice |
Review Minerals-4 | practice |
Review Minerals-5 | practice |
Review Minerals-6 | practice |
Review Minerals-7 | practice |
Review Minerals-8 | practice |
NGSS
5-PS1-3 Make observations and measurements to identify materials based on their properties.
Fireworks Colors | video |
Iron Cereal | video, ClosedCaptions, checked |
Density: Ice, Oil, and Water | video, checked |
Wax and Wood, part 1 | video, checked |
Wax and Wood, part 2 | video, checked |
What is a Mineral? | video, checked |
Identifying Minerals | video, learnalong |
Raw Egg or Boiled? | video, checked |
Making Turmeric Paper | video, checked |
Testing for Tannic Acid | video |
Definition of a Mineral | video, checked |
Floating Bubbles | video, checked |
Finding Fat in Foods | video, ClosedCaptions, checked |
A Cool Change | text page |
Acid Hunt | text page |
Review Minerals-2 | practice |
Review Minerals-3 | practice |
Review Minerals-4 | practice |
Review Minerals-5 | practice |
Review Minerals-6 | practice |
Review Minerals-7 | practice |
Review Minerals-8 | practice |

Which of these is NOT a form of energy?
-
Light
No. Light is a form of kinetic energy. -
Thermal
No. Thermal is a form of kinetic energy. -
Fire
Yes. Fire is a chemical reaction that can produce forms of energy such as light, heat, and motion, but fire is NOT a form of energy. -
Motion
No. Motion is a form of kinetic energy.
Click to see which state standards this question tests, and which of my videos, experiments, and other resources support that topic.
Florida
SC.4.E.6.3 Recognize that humans need resources found on Earth and that these are either renewable or nonrenewable.
Recycle | video |
Review Energy-4 | quest |
Review Energy-1 | practice |
Utah
NGSS
4-ESS3-1 Obtain and combine information to describe that energy and fuels are derived from natural resources and their uses affect the environment.
Investigating Acid Rain | video, checked |
Solar Power | video, checked |
Review Energy-4 | quest |
Review Energy-1 | practice |
5-ESS3-1 Obtain and combine information about ways individual communities use science ideas to protect the Earth’s resources and environment.
Recycle | video |
Review Energy-4 | quest |

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Condenses
No. Condensation happens when water vapor changes from a gas to a liquid. -
Contracts
No. Water does not take up less space when it freezes. -
Expands
Yes! Unlike most substances, water expands to take up more space when it freezes. -
Gains mass.
No. Changing from one state to another does not cause a change in mass.
Click to see which state standards this question tests, and which of my videos, experiments, and other resources support that topic.
Florida
SC.3.P.9.1 Describe the changes water undergoes when it changes state through heating and cooling by using familiar scientific terms such as melting, freezing, boiling, evaporation, and condensation.
Photographing Snowflakes | video, checked |
Ice Cream Science | video, checked |
Cloud Formation, part 1 | video, ClosedCaptions, checked |
The Water Cycle | video, checked |
A Model of the Water Cycle | video, ClosedCaptions, checked |
Cloud Formation, part 2 | video |
Making a Solar Still | video |
Wonderful Water | video, checked |
A Watched Pot | video |
Why We Sweat | video, checked |
What Really Happens With Evaporation? | text page, free, checked |
Review Weather-1 | practice |
Review Weather-2 | practice |
Review Weather-10 | practice |
SC.4.P.8.2 Identify properties and common uses of water in each of its states.
Wonderful Water | video, checked |
A Watched Pot | video |
Wax and Wood, part 1 | video, checked |
Wax and Wood, part 2 | video, checked |
Photographing Snowflakes | video, checked |
Ice Cream Science | video, checked |
75% Water | video, checked |
Crushed Can | video, checked |
A Boat Full of Holes | video, checked |
A Bouncing Water Balloon | video |
Cloud Types | video |
Making a Solar Still | video |
Water on a String | video, blog, ClosedCaptions |
A Clean Trick | text page |
Adding to a Full Cup | text page |
What Really Happens With Evaporation? | text page, free, checked |
Review Weather-8 | practice |
Review Weather-10 | practice |
SC.5.E.7.1 Create a model to explain the parts of the water cycle. Water can be a gas, a liquid, or a solid and can go back and forth from one state to another.
>>> Teacher Page: Water Cycle
A Model of the Water Cycle | video, ClosedCaptions, checked |
Cloud Formation, part 2 | video |
Cloud Types | video |
Making a Solar Still | video |
A Watched Pot | video |
Photographing Snowflakes | video, checked |
The Water Cycle | video, checked |
Review Weather-1 | practice |
Review Weather-2 | practice |
Review Weather-8 | practice |
Review Weather-10 | practice |
SC.5.P.8.1 Compare and contrast the basic properties of solids, liquids, and gases, such as mass, volume, color, texture, and temperature.
>>> Teacher Page: States of Matter
Wax and Wood, part 2 | video, checked |
Ice Cream Science | video, checked |
Raw Egg or Boiled? | video, checked |
Air Space | video |
A Bouncing Water Balloon | video |
Egg States | video, checked |
Experimenting with Dry Ice | video, free, checked |
Wax and Wood, part 1 | video, checked |
Air has Weight | text page |
Teach It Right the First Time. | text page, free |
Review Matter-2 | practice |
Review Matter-1 | practice |
Review Matter-3 | practice |
Review Weather-10 | practice |
SC.6.E.7.2 Investigate and apply how the cycling of water between the atmosphere and hydrosphere has an effect on weather patterns and climate.
Weather and Climate | video |
Cloud Types | video |
Nephoscope | video, checked |
The Water Cycle | video, checked |
Pine Cone Weather | text page, free |
Review Weather-8 | practice |
Review Weather-9 | practice |
Review Weather-10 | practice |
Utah
UT.4.I.2.b Describe the processes of evaporation, condensation, and precipitation as they relate to the water cycle.
The Water Cycle | video, checked |
A Model of the Water Cycle | video, ClosedCaptions, checked |
Making a Solar Still | video |
Wonderful Water | video, checked |
A Watched Pot | video |
Photographing Snowflakes | video, checked |
Cloud Formation, part 1 | video, ClosedCaptions, checked |
A Cool Experiment | text page |
What Really Happens With Evaporation? | text page, free, checked |
Review Weather-8 | practice |
Review Weather-10 | practice |
UT.4.I.2.c Identify locations that hold water as it passes through the water cycle (e.g., oceans, atmosphere, fresh surface water, snow, ice, and ground water).
Photographing Snowflakes | video, checked |
A Model of the Water Cycle | video, ClosedCaptions, checked |
75% Water | video, checked |
Review Weather-8 | practice |
Review Weather-10 | practice |
NGSS
MS-ESS2-4 Develop a model to describe the cycling of water through Earth’s systems driven by energy from the sun and the force of gravity.
The Water Cycle | video, checked |
A Model of the Water Cycle | video, ClosedCaptions, checked |
Cloud Formation, part 2 | video |
Making a Solar Still | video |
Wonderful Water | video, checked |
Cloud Formation, part 1 | video, ClosedCaptions, checked |
Review Weather-8 | practice |
Review Weather-10 | practice |

Answer:
Click to see which state standards this question tests, and which of my videos, experiments, and other resources support that topic.
Florida
SC.2.L.17.2 Recognize and explain that living things are found all over Earth, but each is only able to live in habitats that meet its basic needs.
Hunting with an Umbrella | video, free, ClosedCaptions, Updated |
A Walk in the Park | video, checked |
Review Weather-9 | practice |
SC.5.E.7.6 Describe characteristics (temperature and precipitation) of different climate zones as they relate to latitude, elevation, and proximity to bodies of water.
Weather and Climate | video |
Review Weather-7 | practice |
Review Weather-9 | practice |
SC.6.E.7.2 Investigate and apply how the cycling of water between the atmosphere and hydrosphere has an effect on weather patterns and climate.
Weather and Climate | video |
Cloud Types | video |
Nephoscope | video, checked |
The Water Cycle | video, checked |
Pine Cone Weather | text page, free |
Review Weather-8 | practice |
Review Weather-9 | practice |
Review Weather-10 | practice |
SC.6.E.7.6 Differentiate between weather and climate.
Weather and Climate | video |
Review Weather-9 | practice |
Utah
UT.4.V.1.a Compare the physical characteristics (e.g., precipitation, temperature, and surface terrain) of Utah's wetlands, forests, and deserts.
Weather and Climate | video |
Review Weather-9 | practice |
UT.4.V.1.c Locate examples of areas that have characteristics of wetlands, forests, or deserts in Utah.
Review Weather-7 | practice |
Review Weather-9 | practice |
NGSS
MS-ESS2-6 Develop and use a model to describe how unequal heating and rotation of the Earth cause patterns of atmospheric and oceanic circulation that determine regional climates.
Cloud Formation, part 2 | video |
Global Science | video, ClosedCaptions |
Weather and Climate | video |
Review Weather-9 | practice |
3-ESS2-2 Obtain and combine information to describe climates in different regions of the world.
Weather and Climate | video |
Review Weather-9 | practice |

Which of the following statements is scientifically testable?
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These alligators are scary.
No. Being scary is not a physical property. Instead, it is an opinion. Some people might think they are scary, while other people might think they are not. -
These alligators have sharp teeth.
Yes! Careful observation would show that all three of these alligators have very sharp teeth. Anyone who put their hand into the mouth of these alligators would find out quickly that sharp teeth are a measurable, physical property that is scientifically testable.Remember that scientifically testable properties are going to be the same, no matter who tests them. For example, these alligators each have four legs, scaly skin, and lungs for breathing air. They are carnivorous, which means that they eat other animals. They are reptiles, and they lay eggs.
All of that information is based on physical evidence that can be checked and verified. You could count their legs, examine their skin, etc. These things are scientifically testable.
On the other hand, opinions are a property of the observer, not the object. I may think alligators are interesting. Someone else may thing they are scary, or ugly, or boring. You could test different people, to see if they think alligators are scary, but you can't test the alligator to see if it is scary. Opinions are not scientific evidence about the object.
-
These alligators have ugly eyes.
No. Again, this is an opinion, not a measurable, physical property. I happen to think that alligators have pretty eyes. -
These alligators are lazy.
No. Lazy is not a measurable property. I might call them lazy, but you might think that they are just waiting for something tasty to walk by. Lazy is an opinion, and is not scientifically testable.
Click to see which state standards this question tests, and which of my videos, experiments, and other resources support that topic.
Florida
SC.5.N.2.1 Recognize and explain that science is grounded in empirical observations that are testable; explanation must always be linked with evidence.
My Position on Science and Religion | video |
What is Science?: Objective | video |
Mobius Strip | video |
Is Your Project Scientifically Testable? | text page |
Is Your Project Scientifically Testable? Part 2 | text page |
Review Scientific Process-8 | practice |
Review Scientific Process-3 | practice |
Review Scientific Process-4 | practice |
SC.8.N.2.1 Distinguish between scientific and pseudoscientific ideas.
What is Science? | video, ClosedCaptions |
I Saw It on the Internet, part two | text page |
I Saw It on the Internet, part one | text page |
Feeding Bread to Birds | text page |
Fact checking GMOs | text page |
I Saw It on the Internet, part four | text page |
I Saw It on the Internet, part three | text page |
Review Scientific Process-4 | practice |
Review Scientific Process-8 | practice |
Review Scientific Process-3 | practice |