Free 5th grade critical thinking science resources for Microsoft Word

Following Directions Test -- Fun Activity for Beginning of the Year

Created by

This is by far, my most absolute favorite beginning of the year activity! You've probably done this in school before, but many kids have never done it! It's the "Following Directions Test." I've written a blog post about how to use this test, so check it out for more information! Following Directions Test Blog Post ---------------------------------------------------------- Save Fred! is another fun Back to School community builder!

Subjects:

Science

Grades:

4th - 12th

Types:

Worksheets

Save Fred! Community and Teamwork Builder

Created by

Sally Spieckermann

Save Fred! is a great community builder and review of the Scientific Method. I've used this activity at the beginning of the year for 2 years with my 5th graders. They LOVE saving Fred and talk about it for the rest of the year! ---------------------------------------------------------- This goes along with the Save Fred! lesson on my blog. Save Fred! Blog Post ---------------------------------------------------------- The Following Directions Test is another fun Back to School activity!

Subjects:

Critical Thinking, General Science, Science

Grades:

3rd - 8th

Types:

Worksheets, Activities, Games

Test Taking Strategies / Follow Directions Prank/Fake Quiz

Created by

jts23

This quiz is a fun and funny way to get students to realize they need to pay attention to directions. There is a list of numerous steps to complete, which can actually be fun for students. HOWEVER, the first step says to "read all directions before continuing" and the last step says "only do..." so most students mess this up and do all the steps as they go along. Then you can give them the lesson at the end :) *Please rate 4 stars if this is useful! Thanks*

Subjects:

Critical Thinking, For All Subjects, Study Skills

Grades:

PreK - 12th

Types:

Activities, Assessment

Heat Transfer Vocabulary Notes for Convection, Conduction, and Radiation

Created by

EJTeachers

These scaffolded notes double as graphic organizers while students preview, discover, summarize, or review definitions and examples of convection, conduction, and radiation. This science activity aligns with vocabulary from Virginia Science SOL Standard 6.3b.

Subjects:

Basic Principles, Earth Sciences, Science

Grades:

5th - 7th

Types:

Worksheets, Graphic Organizers, Scaffolded Notes

Dichotomous Key Minion Notes & Practice

Created by

Court H

Dichotomous Key Notes with PracticeWorksheet explains the basic definition of what a dichotomous key is then students will use a dichotomous key to find the names of Gru's minions. 6 minion examples

Subjects:

Biology, General Science, Other (Science)

Grades:

5th - 8th

Types:

Worksheets, Activities, Homework

Double Bubble Map Template

Created by

Firsties and Fairy Tales

My school was required to use thinking maps this year, so we transitioned from Venn Diagrams to Double Bubble Maps. This is just an easy template to use to compare and contrast anything in any subject. This will help make sure the little ones have a neat map rather than having them try to draw their own! Enjoy! :)

Subjects:

English Language Arts, Science, Social Studies - History

Grades:

K - 5th

Types:

Graphic Organizers

Free Food Chain Card Game

Created by

STEM Mom

This free download includes 21 cards of varying images and the remaining cards have food chain vocabulary. These cards can be used at any age. I use them with kindergarten but vocabulary cards make the activity applicable to the higher grades. There are 4 pages of cards with 8 cards per page, ready to laminate and use with students. I include the vocabulary terms: Plant Eating (herbivore) Meat Eating (carnivore) Plant and Meat Eating (omnivore) Producer Decomposer Consumer Primary Consumer

Subjects:

Basic Principles, Biology, Earth Sciences

Grades:

K - 8th

Types:

Activities

Organelle Riddles Worksheet with Key

Created by

Ian Keith

I use this fun worksheet as a reinforcement tool for the functions of the organelles inside of a cell. This activity supports Grade Seven California State Science Standard 1B - Students know the characteristics that distinguish plant cells from animal cells, including chloroplasts and cell walls and Grade Seven California State Science Standard 1D - Students know that mitochondria liberate energy for the work that cells do and that chloroplasts capture sunlight energy for photosynthesis.

Subjects:

Biology, General Science, Other (Science)

Grades:

5th - 10th

Types:

Worksheets

30 Minute Library Lessons: What Am I? Genre Identification

Created by

30 Minutes or Less

In this 30 minute lesson, students work in pairs to write down clues about books to identify the genre. This activity requires little preparation and utilizes resources available in any library.

Subjects:

Critical Thinking, Library Skills, Literature

Grades:

3rd - 5th

Types:

Activities, Games

Pirate Island: A Hear! Think! Do! FREE Listening and Moving Activity!

Created by

Rebekah Brock

Are your students ready to get moving? Do they need to enhance their listening and recall skills? Pirate Island is the first in the Hear! Think! Do! Series, all of which build auditory skills and teach kids to listen, make connections, and get moving in fun ways! Pirate Island is an engaging activity that helps children of all ages practice hearing a verbal cue and recalling an action associated with that cue. You will love watching your children listen and recalling--and they'll love reme

Subjects:

Critical Thinking, Other (Specialty), Physical Education

Grades:

PreK - 5th

Types:

Activities, Games

Cars Down a Ramp Friction Lab

Created by

The Teaching Chick

This is an experiment for students dealing with friction, force, and motion. It will take students through each step of the scientific method. The students will be using a binder and matchbox car to discover how friction effects how far a car will go. They will make a car go down a binder, measure, and record how far it went. Then, they will put the car down the ramp again using sandpaper, wax paper, and bubble wrap. These results will be recorded. The students will finish by making a conclusion

Subjects:

Basic Principles, Physical Science, Science

Grades:

3rd - 7th

Types:

Activities, Assessment

5E Science Lesson Plan - States of Matter

Created by

The Peaceful Elementary Teacher

This lesson plan on states of matter is created using the 5E format. Enjoy!Other States of Matter resources can be found here:States of Matter Vocabulary Flash CardsProperties of Matter Vocabulary Flash CardsProperties of Matter Vocabulary Study Guides and QuizzesStates of Matter Vocabulary Study Guides and Quizzes5E Science Lesson Plan - States of MatterProperties of Matter Crossword Puzzle and Word SearchOther science resources and games can be found here:5th Grade Science Vocabulary Study Gui

Subjects:

Science

Grades:

4th - 6th

Types:

Lesson, Centers

Elephant Toothpaste Science Experiment K-5

Created by

Science for Little People

K-5 Students create a chemical reaction in small groups or individually. Great experiment for teacher demonstration. A precise mixture of Hydrogen Peroxide, dish soap, yeast, and food coloring creates a fountain of thick foam that pours our of a bottle or tube.

Subjects:

Basic Principles, Chemistry, Science

Grades:

PreK - 6th

Types:

Laboratory, Lesson

Science worksheets: Different types of energy

Created by

Science Workshop

Science worksheets: Different types of energyStudents have to identify different types of energy from the pictures (heat, kinetic, potential and sound energy)Word bank providedStudents can color in pictures once they are doneWorksheet aimed at higher kindergarten/lower primary level

Subjects:

General Science, Physics, Science

Grades:

K - 10th

Types:

Worksheets, Activities

Also included in: Primary Science worksheets: Forces and Energy Bundle (10 worksheets, 70% off)

Layers of the Earth Guided Notes and Worksheet

Created by

Brooklyn Science Gal

Use this worksheet with the Layers of the Earth powerpoint to teach your students about the layers of the Earth!

Subjects:

Earth Sciences, Science

Grades:

3rd - 9th

Types:

Handouts, Graphic Organizers, Scaffolded Notes

Bill Nye Erosion

Created by

PurplePanda

This 17 question worksheet provides a way for students to follow along with the Bill Nye Erosion video. The questions are mostly fill-in-the-blank with some short answer and multiple choice. The video and worksheet cover the following concepts: wind erosion, ice erosion, plant erosion, chemical erosion, causes of erosion, formations from erosion, and that erosion is a slow process. An answer key is included. Please see http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/PurplePanda for other related pr

Subjects:

Earth Sciences, Science

Grades:

3rd - 6th

Types:

Activities

Following Directions Activity / First Week of School Activity / Ice Breaker

Created by

Engage Learnability

The Following Directions Activity is designed to remind your students that it is important to read all directions and follow them before beginning an assignment. This is a great activity for the first week of school. I use this activity with my classes every year and ask them to promise not to discuss it with their friends until the end of the school day.Enjoy!SharhanStop by enagelearnability.com for more resources.Follow Engage Learnability on social media.Facebook: facebook.com/EngageLearnab

Subjects:

Classroom Management, Critical Thinking, For All Subjects

Grades:

3rd - 12th, Higher Education, Adult Education, Staff

Types:

Activities

Periodic Table Gossip

Created by

Learning Is Not Quiet

If elements could text what would they text about? The periodic table is often a boring subject to teach and difficult to make relevant to middle schoolers. I created this worksheet for my sixth graders and they had a lot of fun figuring out this periodic table gossip. It gives the students a chance to become familiar with finding elements on the periodic table without being overwhelmed.

Subjects:

Chemistry, Science

Grades:

5th - 8th

Types:

Worksheets

Charles Darwin Natural Selection Activity -- Student Choice Adventure Game

Created by

LessonExpress

Students will play an Evolution through Natural Selection choice game (via google forms) to see if they have what it takes to be a naturalist and explorer just like Charles Darwin. They will encounter many tough decisions on their journey to the Galapagos Islands, with their choices changing how the rest of the game will play out. The better their choices, the more likely they will be successful. As they play the game, students will come across scenarios that will allow them to come up with the

Subjects:

Biology, General Science, Science

Grades:

5th - 12th

Types:

Activities, Games

STEM Project: Egg Car Newton's 2nd Law of Motion

Created by

Kimberly Repking

This project correlates with my unit on forces and motion in my physical science middle school class. Over a span of three days, students design a car that will protect a raw egg from breaking when it hits the ground after being on a ramp. The students will then test and modify their design. Included are directions, student reflection questions, and a rubric to assess the student's egg car. This project was highly engaging and educative in my class. Students must use their critical thinking skil

Subjects:

General Science, Physical Science, Science

Grades:

5th - 9th

Types:

Projects

Heat Transfer: Conduction, Convection, Radiation sort

Created by

Ms Mas Classroom

Use this sort to help students understand and practice conduction, convection, and radiation.

Subjects:

Physical Science

Grades:

5th - 8th

Types:

Worksheets

Wall-E Movie Questions

Created by

Nicole Alexander

This worksheet is designed to give students the opportunity to watch a fun movie, Wall-E, and think about the message behind the cuteness. It asks critical thinking questions that require the students to think about what they are watching. Example questions include: "Describe and give characteristics that make WALL-E different from other robots. Give examples of how he shows human qualities." "Why does the plant that EVE brings to the Axiom mean so much? What does it represent?" These quest

Subjects:

Earth Day, Environment, Writing

Grades:

5th - 12th

Types:

Worksheets, Movie Guides