4-ESS3-1 | Energy and Fuels: Natural Resources and the Environment · NYS standard · Grade 5 test questions

Obtain and combine information to describe that energy and fuels are derived from natural resources and their uses affect the environment.

Clarification statement: Examples of renewable energy resources could include wind, water behind dams, and sunlight; non-renewable energy resources are fossil fuels and fissile materials. Examples of environmental effects could include loss of habitat due to dams, loss of habitat due to surface mining, and air pollution from burning of fossil fuels.

Grade 5 Science Test Questions

Released New York State Grade 5 science test questions that assess 4-ESS3-1 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	Natural Energy Resources	Question 33

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

air pollution
burning of fossil fuels
dam
effect on the environment
energy
environment
environmental effect
fissile material
fossil fuel
fuel
habitat
loss of habitat
natural resource
non-renewable
non-renewable energy resource
obtain and combine information
renewable
renewable energy resource
sunlight
surface mining
water behind dams
wind

From released test questions

coastal region – Spring 2026
coastline – Spring 2026
drilling – Spring 2026
marine – Spring 2026
noise pollution – Spring 2026
ocean – Spring 2026
ocean floor – Spring 2026
offshore drilling – Spring 2026
oil pocket – Spring 2026
oil spill – Spring 2026
pollution – Spring 2026
shoreline – Spring 2026

Performance Level Descriptions

Every Grade 5 Science Test question on 4-ESS3-1 is written to match one of the performance level descriptions (PLDs) below.

Level 1: Given information, identify an energy and/or fuel derived from natural resources that affects the environment.

Level 2: Identify from the given information how the use of energy and/or fuels derived from natural resources affect the environment. Spring 2026 Question 33

Level 3: Obtain and combine information to describe that energy and fuels are derived from natural resources and their uses affect the environment.

Level 4: Obtain and combine information to describe how using energy and fuels that are derived from natural resources can cause an effect on the environment in multiple ways.

Resources

Examples and discussion of resources for the learning, teaching, and assessment of 4-ESS3-1.

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Page contributors: Conrad Richman

Grades 3–5 science standards | 4. Energy