5-PS1-3

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Make observations and measurements to identify materials based on their properties.

Clarification statement: Examples of materials to be identified could include baking soda and other powders, metals, minerals, and liquids. Examples of properties could include color, hardness, reflectivity, electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, response to magnetic forces, and solubility; density is not intended as an identifiable property.

Assessment boundary: Assessment does not include density or distinguishing between mass and weight.

Grade 5 Science Test Questions

Released New York State Grade 5 science test questions that assess 5-PS1-3 are listed here by test and question cluster. Each link opens the question with its answer key.

Exam	Cluster	Question
Spring 2026 Grade 5 Test	Minerals of New York State	Question 5
	Minerals of New York State	Question 6
	Minerals of New York State	Question 9
Spring 2025 Grade 5 Test	Properties of Substances	Question 9
	Properties of Substances	Question 10
Spring 2024 Grade 5 Test	Identifying Substances	Question 19
	Identifying Substances	Question 21
	Identifying Substances	Question 23

Vocabulary

Terms from the Elementary Science Glossary that come from this standard or from the released Grade 5 Science Test questions that assess it.

From this standard

• color
• density
• electrical conductivity
• hardness
• investigation
• liquid
• magnetic force
• mass
• material
• measurement
• metal
• mineral
• observation
• powder
• property
• reflectivity
• response to magnetic forces
• solubility
• thermal conductivity
• weight

From released test questions

• attract – Spring 2024
• beaker – Spring 2026
• conduct electricity – Spring 2024
• crystal – Spring 2026
• crystal shape – Spring 2026
• data table – Spring 2024
• electricity – Spring 2024
• evidence – Spring 2026
• experiment – Spring 2024
• filter – Spring 2025
• known substance – Spring 2024
• light – Spring 2025
• magnet – Spring 2025, Spring 2024
• magnetic property – Spring 2025, Spring 2024
• map – Spring 2025
• mining – Spring 2026
• mixing – Spring 2025
• model – Spring 2026
• non-metallic – Spring 2026
• particle – Spring 2025
• pie graph – Spring 2025
• reaction – Spring 2024
• reaction with vinegar – Spring 2024
• rock – Spring 2024
• rock formation – Spring 2026
• rock sample – Spring 2024
• safety equipment – Spring 2026, Spring 2024
• safety procedure – Spring 2026, Spring 2024
• sand – Spring 2025
• soluble – Spring 2024
• streak color – Spring 2026
• substance – Spring 2024
• texture – Spring 2024
• transparent material – Spring 2025
• unknown substance – Spring 2024

Performance Level Descriptions

Every Grade 5 Science Test question on 5-PS1-3 is written to match one of the performance level descriptions (PLDs) below.

Level 1: Identify an observation or measurement, from those given, that supports the identification of a material based on its properties. Spring 2026 Question 5, Spring 2026 Question 9, Spring 2025 Question 9, Spring 2024 Question 21

Level 2: From given observations and/or measurements, identify a material based on its properties. Spring 2026 Question 6, Spring 2025 Question 10, Spring 2024 Question 19, Spring 2024 Question 23

Level 3: Make observations and measurements to identify materials based on their properties.

Level 4: Plan and conduct an investigation to make observations and obtain measurements to identify materials based on their properties.

Notice: PLD levels!

Resources

Examples and discussion of resources for the learning, teaching, and assessment of 5-PS1-3.

This section could be expanded upon. You can help out by adding to this section.

Page contributors: Conrad Richman

Grades 3–5 science standards | 5. Structure and Properties of Matter