USVI NGSS Science Grade 5 case studies
USVI NGSS Science Grade 5 · Put your knowledge to work in context.
The USVI NGSS Science Grade 5 assessment is the U.S. Virgin Islands' end-of-year science test for fifth graders, built around the Next Generation Science Standards that the territory's schools use for science instruction. It is written for students, not for certification or licensure - so if you are a teacher, parent, or tutor, this page is for you, and if you are a student, the goal is simply to show what you understand about the world and how scientists explain it. The test blends content knowledge with science practices: reading data tables and graphs, designing fair tests, supporting a claim with evidence, and recognizing when a model is too simple to explain what is observed. The USVI NGSS Science Grade 5 case studies are 5 cases and about 3,899 words.
1The Sealed Bag and the Open Cup
Thomas, a fifth-grade team investigates a fizzing reaction. Group A puts 5.0 g of baking soda into a heavy zip-top bag, adds 30 mL of vinegar, squeezes out the extra air, seals the bag, and finds the sealed bag's mass is 78.4 g.
778 words, about 4 min2The Block on Three Surfaces
A fifth-grade class pulls a wooden block with a spring scale, adjusting the pull each time so the block slides at a steady speed. On smooth tile the scale reads 1.6 N; on carpet, 3.4 N; on waxed paper, 1.2 N.
722 words, about 4 min3Parrotfish, Algae, and the St. Croix Transect
On a reef transect near St. Croix, students count organisms along the same 50 m strip in 2019 and again in 2024.
764 words, about 4 min4Rain on the Paved Hillside
Builders cleared a grassy hillside above a bay on St. John to make a parking lot.
793 words, about 4 min5Moving 20 Liters Uphill
A fifth-grade team must move 20 L of rainwater from a rain barrel to a garden bed 8 m away and 1.2 m higher, without using electricity from a wall outlet. The requirements are: cost under $25, move the 20 L in under 10 minutes, and survive being left outdoors through tropical rain.
842 words, about 4 min