Elementary Science Concepts 2

Cards · 30

You leave an ice cube out on a warm summer day, and it turns into water. What change of state happened?

Melting! The ice changed from a solid to a liquid because heat was added.

You boil water in a pot, and steam starts rising into the air. What process is this?

Evaporation! The liquid water heated up and turned into a gas called water vapor.

You pour cold juice into a glass, and water droplets form on the outside. Why does this happen?

Condensation! Warm water vapor in the air cooled down when it touched the cold glass and turned back into liquid water.

You put liquid juice into the freezer to make popsicles. What change of state is occurring?

Freezing! The liquid juice lost heat and turned into a solid.

You drop a marble into a cup of water, and it sinks to the bottom. What property of matter causes this?

Density! The marble is denser than the water, so it sinks.

You blow air into a balloon, and it expands. What state of matter is inside the balloon?

Gas! Gas takes the shape of its container and expands to fill the space.

You press on a wooden desk, and it keeps its shape. What state of matter is the desk?

Solid! Solids have a definite shape and a definite volume.

You pour milk from a carton into a bowl, and it changes shape. What state of matter is the milk?

Liquid! Liquids flow and take the shape of the container they are in, but their volume stays the same.

A plant is growing toward a sunny window. Which characteristic of living things is it showing?

Responding to the environment! Living things react to changes around them, like light.

A baby puppy grows into a large dog over two years. Which trait of living things is this?

Growth and development! All living things grow larger and change over time.

A mother cat gives birth to four little kittens. Which characteristic of living things does this show?

Reproduction! Living things produce offspring to make more of their own kind.

A kid runs around the playground and gets hungry, so they eat an apple. Why do they need food?

Energy! Living things need food and nutrients to get energy to move, grow, and survive.

You look at a mushroom under a microscope and see tiny building blocks. What are these blocks called?

Cells! Cells are the basic building blocks of all living things.

A plant stands tall in a strong wind without falling over. Which plant part holds it firmly in the ground?

Roots! Roots anchor the plant in the soil so it stays upright.

A gardener waters the soil around a plant. How does the water get from the soil to the leaves?

Roots absorb water from the soil, and the stem carries it up to the leaves.

You look at a green leaf in the sunlight. What special process is the leaf doing to make food?

Photosynthesis! Leaves use sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to make sugar and oxygen.

Why are most plant leaves green instead of blue or red?

Chlorophyll! Leaves contain a green pigment called chlorophyll that absorbs sunlight for photosynthesis.

A plant needs gas from the air to make its own food. Which gas does it absorb through its leaves?

Carbon dioxide! Plants take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen during photosynthesis.

When you walk near a forest, the air feels fresh. What gas do plants release that humans need to breathe?

Oxygen! Plants produce oxygen as a byproduct of making food.

A bee flies from flower to flower gathering nectar. How does this help the plant?

Pollination! The bee carries pollen from flower to flower, helping the plant make seeds and fruit.

You crack open a peanut shell and find a hard little piece inside. What is its job?

A seed! A seed contains a baby plant and stored food to help a new plant grow.

A dandelion seed floats away in the breeze like a tiny parachute. What is the plant doing?

Seed dispersal! The plant uses the wind to scatter its seeds so new plants can grow in new places.

You plant a bean seed in damp soil, and a tiny green shoot sprouts up. What is this process called?

Germination! Germination is when a seed begins to sprout and grow into a young plant.

A bright red apple covers the seeds inside. What plant structure is the apple?

Fruit! The fruit protects the seeds and helps attract animals to spread them.

A colorful butterfly lands on bright petals. Why do flowers have colorful petals?

To attract pollinators like bees, butterflies, and birds to help the flower make seeds.

A tree trunk feels thick and woody compared to a flower stem. What main job does the stem do?

The stem supports the plant's leaves and flowers and carries water and nutrients throughout the plant.

Is a plastic toy car considered a living thing or a non-living thing? How do you know?

Non-living! It does not grow, breathe, eat food, or reproduce on its own.

You drop a stone into a graduated cylinder with water, and the water level rises. What are you measuring?

Volume! You are measuring how much space the stone takes up.

You place a rock on a balance scale to see how heavy it is. What property of matter are you measuring?

Mass! Mass is the amount of matter inside an object.

A cactus lives in a dry desert where it rarely rains. How do its thick stems help it survive?

Storage! The thick stems store water so the cactus can survive long dry periods.