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.
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This is common, table salt. Is it:
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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.
What is a Mineral? | video, checked |
Identifying Minerals | video, learnalong |
Definition of a Mineral | video, checked |
Minerals Around You | text page, 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 |
Utah
UT.4.III.1.b Observe rocks using a magnifying glass and draw shapes and colors of the minerals.
What is a Mineral? | video, checked |
Identifying Minerals | video, learnalong |
What is a Rock? | video, learnalong, checked |
Definition of a Mineral | video, 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).
What is a Mineral? | video, checked |
Identifying Minerals | video, learnalong |
What is a Rock? | video, learnalong, checked |
Definition of a Mineral | video, 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.
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 |
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 |
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 |

We enjoy the hummingbirds that visit our feeders. I am trying to find the mixture of sugar and water that they like the best.
Each day, I put out four feeders with different amounts of water and sugar. At the end of each day, I measure to see how much of each the hummingbirds drank. Which of the following is NOT an important part of this experiment?
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One of the feeders should only contain water, with no sugar.
No. This IS an important part of the experiment. The feeder without any sugar is the control. If the hummingbirds drink just as much pure water, it would indicate that the sugar is not important. -
The feeders should be placed randomly every day.
No. This IS an important part of the experiment. If you always put the same mixture in the same location, the results may be because the birds like that location instead of because they like the amount of sugar. -
I should repeat this experiment every day for several weeks.
No. This IS an important part of the experiment. The more times you repeat the same test, the more likely you are to get accurate results. -
The different mixtures should be colored different colors with nontoxic food coloring.
Yes. This is NOT an important part of the experiment. It would add a second variable to the experiment, which is a bad thing. You want everything to be the same for each sample, with the only difference being the amount of sugar. If you used different colors and different amounts of sugar, you would not know whether the results were due to the color or the sugar.
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.1.4 Identify a control group and explain its importance in an experiment.
Bacteria and Antibiotics | video, ClosedCaptions |
Testing a Leaf for Starch | video, ClosedCaptions |
Review Scientific Process-1 | practice |
Review Scientific Process-2 | practice |
Review Scientific Process-9 | practice |
Review Scientific Process-11 | practice |
SC.7.N.1.4 Identify test variables (independent variables) and outcome variables (dependent variables) in an experiment.
Floating Cups | video, checked |
Testing for Tannic Acid | video |
Review Scientific Process-1 | practice |
Review Scientific Process-2 | practice |
Review Scientific Process-9 | practice |
Review Scientific Process-11 | practice |
Utah
NGSS
3-5-ETS1-3 Plan and carry out fair tests in which variables are controlled and failure points are considered to identify aspects of a model or prototype that can be improved.
What is Science? | video, ClosedCaptions |
Review Scientific Process-1 | practice |
Review Scientific Process-2 | practice |
Review Scientific Process-7 | practice |
Review Scientific Process-9 | practice |
Review Scientific Process-10 | practice |
Review Scientific Process-11 | practice |

From our new home in Utah, the stars are so bright that we can even see the Milky Way Galaxy. How far is the Milky Way Galaxy from Earth?
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923 light years.
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92.3 light years.
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9.23 light years.
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We are in the Milky Way Galaxy.
Think about it, and when you think you know the answer, then continue.
The Sun and you and me and all the stars that we can see are in the galaxy we call the Milky Way.
923 light years.
92.3 light years.
9.23 light years.
We are in the Milky Way Galaxy.
Think about it, and when you think you know the answer, then continue.
The Sun and you and me and all the stars that we can see are in the galaxy we call the Milky Way.
Click to see which state standards this question tests, and which of my videos, experiments, and other resources support that topic.
Florida
SC.5.E.5.1 Recognize that a galaxy consists of gas, dust, and many stars, including any objects orbiting the stars. Identify our home galaxy as the Milky Way.
Review Space-2 | practice |
Review Space-1 | practice |
Review Space-10 | practice |
SC.8.E.5.1 Recognize that there are enormous distances between objects in space and apply our knowledge of light and space travel to understand this distance.
Sunprints | video |
Making a Scale Model of the Solar System | video, ClosedCaptions |
Global Science | video, ClosedCaptions |
Sunglass Science: Birefringence | video, free, Updated |
Sunglass Science: Polarized Light | video, free, Updated |
A Color You Can't See | video, free, checked |
How Far is That Planet? | text page |
CD Spectrum | text page |
Review Space-1 | practice |
Review Light-3 | practice |
Utah
UT.6.IV.1.d Compare the size of the Milky Way galaxy to the size of the known universe.
Review Space-1 | practice |
NGSS
2-LS2-1 Plan and conduct an investigation to determine if plants need sunlight and water to grow.
Measuring Photosynthesis | video, checked |
Testing a Leaf for Starch | video, ClosedCaptions |
Review Plants-1 | practice |

I used a Density Column to show that olives are denser than cherry tomatoes. To follow proper scientific procedure, the experiment needs to be checked by repetition and replication. What is the difference between repetition and replication?
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Repetition means that I do the same experiment again. Replication means that other people do exactly the same experiment again.
Yes! To confirm your results it is important for you to repeat exactly the same experiment again (repetition) and then for other people to do exactly the same experiment again. (replication). If any of the results from repetition or replication are different from your original data, your original results are NOT confirmed, and you need to do more work. -
Repetition means that I do the same experiment again. Replication means that I do the experiment again after correcting errors.
No. Replication is when other people to do exactly the same experiment. -
Repetition means that I do the same experiment again. Replication means that other people try to improve on my experiment.
No. Replication is when other people to do exactly the same experiment. -
Repetition means that I do the experiment again after correcting errors.. Replication means that other people do exactly the same experiment again.
No. Repetition means that I do the same experiment again.
Click to see which state standards this question tests, and which of my videos, experiments, and other resources support that topic.
Florida
SC.2.N.1.4 Explain how particular scientific investigations should yield similar conclusions when repeated.
What is Science? | video, ClosedCaptions |
Review Scientific Process-6 | practice |
Review Scientific Process-5 | practice |
Review Scientific Process-7 | practice |
Review Scientific Process-10 | practice |
SC.5.N.1.3: Recognize and explain the need for repeated experimental trials.
>>> Teacher Page: Nature of Science and Dissolving
What is Science? | video, ClosedCaptions |
What is Science?: Repeat and Replicate | video |
Review Scientific Process-7 | practice |
Review Scientific Process-10 | practice |
SC.5.N.2.2 Recognize and explain that when scientific investigations are carried out, the evidence produced by those investigations should be replicable by others.
>>> Teacher Page: Nature of Science and Dissolving
What is Science? | video, ClosedCaptions |
What is Science?: Repeat and Replicate | video |
Review Scientific Process-6 | practice |
Review Scientific Process-5 | practice |
Review Scientific Process-10 | practice |
SC.8.N.1.2 Design and conduct a study using repeated trials and replication.
What is Science?: Repeat and Replicate | video |
Review Scientific Process-6 | practice |
Review Scientific Process-5 | practice |
Review Scientific Process-7 | practice |
Review Scientific Process-10 | practice |
Utah
NGSS
3-5-ETS1-3 Plan and carry out fair tests in which variables are controlled and failure points are considered to identify aspects of a model or prototype that can be improved.
What is Science? | video, ClosedCaptions |
Review Scientific Process-1 | practice |
Review Scientific Process-2 | practice |
Review Scientific Process-7 | practice |
Review Scientific Process-9 | practice |
Review Scientific Process-10 | practice |
Review Scientific Process-11 | practice |

What do you have to do to replicate an experiment?
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You do the same experiment several times.
No. Doing the same experiment several times is repetition, not replication. -
You do the same experiment that someone else did.
Yes. By replicating an experiment exactly, you should get the same results as the original experiment. -
You do an improved version of someone's experiment.
For replication, you do the experiment exactly as the original scientist did, without making any changes. -
You look for errors in someone's experiment.
The purpose of replication is to verify, not to look for errors.
Click to see which state standards this question tests, and which of my videos, experiments, and other resources support that topic.
Florida
SC.2.N.1.4 Explain how particular scientific investigations should yield similar conclusions when repeated.
What is Science? | video, ClosedCaptions |
Review Scientific Process-6 | practice |
Review Scientific Process-5 | practice |
Review Scientific Process-7 | practice |
Review Scientific Process-10 | practice |
SC.5.N.2.2 Recognize and explain that when scientific investigations are carried out, the evidence produced by those investigations should be replicable by others.
>>> Teacher Page: Nature of Science and Dissolving
What is Science? | video, ClosedCaptions |
What is Science?: Repeat and Replicate | video |
Review Scientific Process-6 | practice |
Review Scientific Process-5 | practice |
Review Scientific Process-10 | practice |
SC.6.N.1.2 Explain why scientific investigations should be replicable.
What is Science? | video, ClosedCaptions |
What is Science?: Repeat and Replicate | video |
Review Scientific Process-6 | practice |
Review Scientific Process-5 | practice |
SC.7.N.1.2 Differentiate replication (by others) from repetition (multiple trials).
What is Science? | video, ClosedCaptions |
What is Science?: Repeat and Replicate | video |
Review Scientific Process-6 | practice |
Review Scientific Process-5 | practice |
SC.8.N.1.2 Design and conduct a study using repeated trials and replication.
What is Science?: Repeat and Replicate | video |
Review Scientific Process-6 | practice |
Review Scientific Process-5 | practice |
Review Scientific Process-7 | practice |
Review Scientific Process-10 | practice |