Life, Earth, and Space Science Assessment Probes 20 What Are Clouds Made Of? Six friends were looking at large, white, puffy clouds in the sky. They wondered what the clouds were made of. This is what they said: Trista: Lee: I think clouds are made of large drops of water. I think clouds are made of soft, cottonlike material. Manny: I think clouds are made of smoke that rises from the land. Rosie: I think clouds are made of evaporated water in the form of a gas. Glenda: I think clouds are made of tiny drops of water or tiny ice crystals. Leticia: I think clouds are made of a spongy material that holds water in it. Which friend do you most agree with? Describe your thinking. Explain the reason for your answer. 155
Copyright 2005 NSTA. All rights reserved. Licensed to Miami-Dade Co Public Schools. Physical Science Assessment Probes 5 Ice Cubes in a Bag You are having an argument with your friend about what happens to the mass when matter changes from one form to another. To prove your idea, you put three ice cubes in a sealed bag and record the mass of the ice in the bag. You let the ice cubes melt completely. Ten minutes later you record the mass of the water in the bag. Which of the following best describes the result? Circle your prediction. A The mass of the water in the bag will be less than the mass of the ice in the bag. B The mass of the water in the bag will be more than the mass of the ice in the bag. C The mass of the water in the bag will be the same as the mass of the ice cubes in the bag. Describe your thinking. Provide an explanation for your answer. 49
Copyright 2005 NSTA. All rights reserved. Licensed to Miami-Dade Co Public Schools. Physical Science Assessment Probes 10 Is It Matter? Listed below is a list of things that are considered matter and things that are not considered matter. Put an X next to each of the things that you consider to be matter. rocks salt baby powder Mars milk Jupiter air steam light rotten apples dust heat love sound waves cells water atoms bacteria fire oxygen gravity dissolved sugar smoke stars magnetic force electricity Explain your thinking. Describe the rule or reason you used to decide whether something is or is not matter. 79
Physical Science and Nature of Science Assessment Probes 12 Doing Science Four students were having a discussion about how scientists do their work. This is what they said: Antoine: I think scientists just try out different things until something works. Tamara: I think there is a definite set of steps all scientists follow called the scientific method. Marcos: I think scientists use different methods depending on their question. Avery: I think scientists use different methods but they all involve doing experiments. Which student do you most agree with? Explain why you agree with that student and include why you disagree with the other students. 93
Physical Science and Nature of Science Assessment Probes 3 Thermometer Mr. Martinez placed a thermometer in a jar of very hot water. His students watched what happened to the thermometer. Immediately the level of the red liquid in the thermometer went up. His students disagreed about why the red liquid in the thermometer rose when the thermometer was placed in hot water. This is what they said: Jean-Paul: Pita: Jonathan: Jimena: Molly: Greta: Keanu: The hot water pushed it up. The mass of the red liquid increased. The heat inside the thermometer rises. The air inside the thermometer pulls it up. The molecules of the red liquid are further apart. The number of molecules in the red liquid increased. The molecules of the red liquid are getting bigger. Which student do you most agree with? Explain why you think that student has the best explanation. 33