Unit Checkpoint
Review
Great job finishing this unit! Let's review everything you learned about simple experiments.
What You Learned in This Unit
Lesson 1: Asking Good Questions
- Scientists ask questions to learn about the world
- Good questions start with words like "What," "How," or "Why"
- Questions help us know what to investigate
Lesson 2: Testing Our Ideas
- Scientists test their ideas to find answers
- A fair test changes only one thing at a time
- We watch carefully to see what happens
Lesson 3: Investigation Lab
- Investigations help us find answers
- We gather materials and follow safety rules
- The steps are: Ask, Plan, Try, Think
Lesson 4: Data and Graphs
- Data is information we collect
- Tally marks help us count (IIII = 4)
- Graphs show data in pictures
Lesson 5: CER Writing
- C = Claim (your answer)
- E = Evidence (your data)
- R = Reasoning (why it makes sense)
Key Vocabulary
Make sure you know these important words:
- Investigation - A way to find answers to questions
- Data - Information you collect by watching, counting, or measuring
- Tally marks - Lines used to count things (IIII I = 6)
- Graph - A picture that shows data
- Claim - What you found out; your answer
- Evidence - Proof from your investigation
- Reasoning - Why the evidence supports your claim
- Fair test - A test where only one thing changes
Unit Checkpoint Questions
Answer these questions to show what you learned in this unit.
1. What is the FIRST step of an investigation?
A) Write your answer
B) Ask a question
C) Make a graph
D) Clean up
2. Why do scientists ask questions?
A) To be annoying
B) To learn about the world
C) To waste time
D) To be loud
3. What is data?
A) A type of food
B) Information you collect
C) A toy
D) A color
4. What does this tally show? IIII III
A) 5
B) 7
C) 8
D) 10
5. What does C stand for in CER?
A) Counting
B) Claim
C) Color
D) Clean
6. What does E stand for in CER?
A) Evidence
B) Eating
C) Energy
D) Exit
7. What does R stand for in CER?
A) Running
B) Reading
C) Reasoning
D) Resting
8. Why do scientists make graphs?
A) To hide information
B) To show data in a picture
C) To confuse people
D) To make things harder
9. Read this sentence: "The plant with water grew 8 inches. The plant without water grew 1 inch."
This sentence is an example of:
A) A claim
B) Evidence
C) Reasoning
D) A question
10. Read this sentence: "Plants need water to grow."
This sentence is an example of:
A) A claim
B) Evidence
C) Reasoning
D) A question
11. What should you do BEFORE starting an investigation?
A) Clean up
B) Write your CER
C) Gather your materials
D) Make a graph
12. Which is an important safety rule?
A) Run around the room
B) Put things in your mouth
C) Wash your hands when done
D) Leave your mess
Use this information for questions 13-15:
Amy wanted to know if balls bounce higher on grass or on concrete. She dropped a tennis ball from the same height on both surfaces. On concrete, the ball bounced 15 inches high. On grass, the ball bounced 8 inches high.
13. What was Amy's question?
A) Do balls roll?
B) Do balls bounce higher on grass or concrete?
C) What color is the ball?
D) Is the grass green?
14. Which is the BEST claim for Amy's investigation?
A) Balls are fun
B) Balls bounce higher on concrete than on grass
C) I like tennis
D) Grass is green
15. What evidence does Amy have?
A) Balls are round
B) The ball bounced 15 inches on concrete and 8 inches on grass
C) Amy likes science
D) Concrete is gray
Check Your Understanding
How did you do? Think about these questions:
- Can you explain the steps of an investigation?
- Do you know how to record data with tally marks?
- Can you read a simple graph?
- Do you understand Claim, Evidence, and Reasoning?
If you got most questions right, great job! If you need more practice, go back and review any lessons that were tricky.
Next Steps
- Celebrate your learning! You finished the Simple Experiments unit!
- Keep practicing by doing investigations at home
- Remember to use CER when you explain what you learn
- You are ready to explore more science topics!