5-PS1-1 | Particle Nature of Matter · NYS standard · Grade 5 test questions
Develop a model to describe that matter is made of particles too small to be seen.
Clarification statement: Examples of evidence supporting a model could include adding air to expand a basketball, compressing air in a syringe, dissolving sugar in water, and evaporating salt water.
Assessment boundary: Assessment does not include the atomic-scale mechanism of evaporation and condensation or defining the unseen particles.
Grade 5 Science Test Questions
Released New York State Grade 5 science test questions that assess 5-PS1-1 are listed here by test and question cluster. Each link opens the question with its answer key.
| Exam | Cluster | Question |
|---|---|---|
| Spring 2025 Grade 5 Test | Properties of Substances | Question 8 |
| Spring 2024 Grade 5 Test | Identifying Substances | Question 20 |
Vocabulary
Terms from the Elementary Science Glossary that come from this standard or from the released Grade 5 Science Test questions that assess it.
- atomic scale
- compression
- condensation
- dissolving
- evaporation
- evidence
- expansion
- matter
- model
- particle
- particles too small to be seen
- phenomenon
- real-world phenomenon
- relative scale
- investigation – Spring 2025
- mixing – Spring 2024
- water particle – Spring 2025
Performance Level Descriptions
Every Grade 5 Science Test question on 5-PS1-1 is written to match one of the performance level descriptions (PLDs) below.
Resources
Examples and discussion of resources for the learning, teaching, and assessment of 5-PS1-1.
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