DC CAPE 2.0 Science Grade 5 case studies
DC CAPE 2.0 Science Grade 5 · Put your knowledge to work in context.
DC Science is the District of Columbia's statewide science assessment, part of the broader DC CAPE system that also includes English language arts/literacy and mathematics. It is built on the Next Generation Science Standards and was first administered in 2019. The test is given in Grade 5, Grade 8, and high school Biology, so the Grade 5 administration is the elementary checkpoint that gives families and schools information about how students are progressing toward DC's science standards. DC Science is not a fact-recall test. The DC CAPE 2.0 Science Grade 5 case studies are 5 cases and about 2,439 words.
1The Watering Schedule Investigation
A fifth-grade class is testing whether the amount of water affects how tall bean plants grow. They plant 12 identical bean seeds in identical pots with the same soil and place them on the same windowsill.
497 words, about 2 min2Designing a Roof for a Rain Barrel
A school wants to collect rainwater in a barrel to water its garden. The barrel has an open top with a diameter of 60 cm and can hold 200 liters.
491 words, about 2 min3The Melting Ice Puddle Mystery
Two students place identical ice cubes on two identical plates. Plate 1 sits in the sun on a black metal tray; Plate 2 sits in the shade on a white plastic tray.
450 words, about 2 min4Modeling the Water Cycle in a Bag
A class builds a model of the water cycle by sealing a small amount of warm water in a clear plastic bag and taping it to a sunny window. After 30 minutes, they observe droplets forming on the inside of the bag near the top and a small puddle at the bottom.
526 words, about 3 min5The Lunchroom Litter Problem
A fifth-grade class notices that the school lunchroom has a lot of litter on the floor - mostly wrappers and napkins. The principal asks them to reduce litter.
475 words, about 2 min