þ Tiered questions that probe lower and higher-order thinking þ Differentiated for upper elementary and intermediate students þ Addresses NGSS and many state science standard concepts By Stephanie Elkowitz
ABOUT THIS PRODUCT Task cards are an important tool to use in your classroom. They can be used to assess your students or for students to self-assess themselves. Task cards can be used at science centers, set up in a room-circuit format and/or given to students for independent study or review. These task cards cover concepts that should be understood by upper elementary and/or middle school students according to most state science standards as well as Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). These task cards are differentiated and tiered. A colored shape code is denoted on each task card to help you differentiate the concepts. A signal strength is also denoted on each task card to help you probe lower, mid and higher order thinking. Concepts are differentiated by a colored shape code: Cards with a green circle deal with basic key ideas and understandings meant for upper elementary (grade 3-5) students. These concepts can or should be reviewed with intermediate/middle school (grade 6-8) students. Cards with a blue square deal with intermediate key ideas and understandings meant for middle school students. These concepts may be appropriate for high-achieving upper elementary students Cards with a black diamond cover advanced, traditionally high school, concepts. Some of these concepts may be appropriate for your intermediate students. Questions are tiered by a signal strength code: Cards with a low signal strength assess students on the 1 st and 2 nd level of Bloom s taxonomy (knowledge and comprehension). These questions assess whether students can remember, recall and understand facts. Cards with a medium signal strength asses students on the 3 rd and 4 th level of Bloom s taxonomy (application and analysis). These questions assess whether students can apply information to new situations and examine information in detail. Cards with a high signal strength assess students on the 5 th and 6 th level of Bloom s taxonomy (synthesis and evaluation). These questions assess how students use information. They assess whether students can make predictions using their knowledge and whether students can evaluate, judge or interpret new information using their knowledge.
Question Breakdown Q Level Tier Answer 1 2 3 4 Light Years 5 Light Years 6 Celestial Objects 7 Celestial Objects 8 Celestial Objects 9 Our Solar System 10 Our Solar System 11 Our Solar System 12 Our Solar System 13 Stars 14 Stars 15 Stars 16 Stars 17 Stars 18 Extraterrestrial objects 19 Extraterrestrial objects 20 Extraterrestrial objects Q Level Tier Answer 21 Stars vs. Planets 22 Planet vs. Moons 23 Our Solar System 24 Our Solar System 25 Stars 26 Stars 27 Stars 28 Extraterrestrial objects 29 30 Our Solar System 31 Stars 32 Extraterrestrial objects 33 Composition of the Universe 34 Composition of the Universe 35 Composition of the Universe 36 Types of Galaxies 37 Types of Galaxies 38 Types of Galaxies 39 Formation of our Solar System 40 Formation of our Solar System
Question Breakdown Q Level Tier Answer 41 Stars 42 Stars 43 Life of a Star 44 Life of a Star Q Level Tier Answer 61 Big Bang Theory 62 Big Bang Theory 63 Big Bang Theory 64 Big Bang Theory 45 Composition of the Universe 46 Formation of our Solar System 47 Formation of our Solar System 48 Formation of our Solar System 49 Our Solar System 50 Our Solar System 51 Life of a Star 52 Life of a Star 53 Our Solar System 54 Our Solar System 55 Life of a Star 56 Life of a Star 57 Big Bang Theory 58 Big Bang Theory 59 Big Bang Theory 60 Big Bang Theory
The universe includes: A. All the stars that exist B. All the planets that exist C. All the gas and dust that exists D. All of the above 1 2 What is a galaxy? A. A large, sphere object that orbits a star B. A hot sphere of plasma that produces its own energy C. A cluster of stars, dust, gas and matter D. A system of planets that orbit a star 3 What is a planetary system? A. A cluster of solid and rocky objects in space B. A system of stars that orbit a planet C. A system of planets that orbit a star D. A cluster of stars, dust and planets How do we measure the distance between galaxies and distant stars? A. Meters B. Kilometers C. Sound Years D. Light Years 4 5
A light year is approximately: A. 600 miles B. 600,000 miles C. 6 million miles D. More than 6 trillion miles 5 What is a celestial object? A. A type of star B. A type of planet C. A man-made object found in space D. Any natural object found in space 6 7 Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a planet? A. A planet orbits a star. B. A planet s gravity is great enough so that its shape is round. C. A planet has cleared its orbital path of other celestial objects. D. A planet has at least one moon. What is a moon? A. A small object that orbits a star B. An object that orbits a planet C. A very small planet D. A celestial object that reflects light from stars 8 6
Which of the following is NOT a gas giant? A. Venus B. Jupiter C. Saturn D. Uranus 9 Which planet is closest to the sun? A. Mars B. Mercury C. Venus D. Earth 10 Which planet is often identified by its prominent ring structure? A. Venus B. Jupiter C. Saturn D. Neptune 11 Which planet(s) is/are known to harbor life? (In other words, on which planet(s) can living things survive?) A. Venus B. Earth C. Mars 12 D. All of the above 7
The color of a star tells you about: A. the size of the star B. the brightness of the star C. how far away the star is D. the surface temperature of the star 13 What term do we use to describe the brightness of the star? A. Radiation B. Luminosity C. Color D. Spectroscopy 14 What type of star is the sun? A. Main Sequence Star B. Red Giant C. Supergiant D. White dwarf 15 Which statement does NOT correctly describe our sun? A. Our sun is an average sized star B. Our sun is a very old star C. Our sun has an average brightness D. Our sun is yellow-white 16 8
Which star is considered to be an old star? A. Main Sequence Star B. Red Giant C. The sun D. Blue Giant 17 18 Most asteroids are found: A. in a region between Mars and Jupiter B. in a region between Mercury and the sun C. in a region that extends beyond Neptune D. Both A and C When passing near the sun, a comet: A. burns up and disintegrates B. solidifies C. spews off gas and dust, producing a tail behind it D. fuses atoms to produce gas, which produces a haze around the comet 19 20 Complete the statement. A meteoroid that penetrates Earth s atmosphere is called a and a meteoroid that impacts Earth s surface is called a. A. asteroid, meteor B. asteroid, meteorite C. meteor, meteorite D. meteorite, meteor 9
What is the difference between a star and a planet? 21 Compare the orbital path of a planet to the orbital path of a moon. 22 23 What are differences between the four inner planets and the four outer planets? How is Uranus different from all other planets? 24 10
Why is the sun the brightest star in the sky? 25 26 What is the relationship between the size, temperature and brightness of a main sequence star? Compare and contrast the size, color/ temperature and brightness of red giant to a white dwarf star. 27 28 What is one characteristic that asteroids, comets and meteoroids have in common? What is a unique characteristic of each? 11
Rank the following objects from smallest to largest: Galaxy Moon Planet Planetary System Star Universe 29 30 What characteristic of Earth makes it a habitable place for life? In other words, what does Earth have that no other planet has and why is it so important to the existence of life? What will happen to a white dwarf? 31 32 What type of object, if it impacted Earth s surface, would have the most devastating effect - an asteroid, comet or meteoroid?? 12
The majority of our universe is made of: A. Dark energy B. Light energy C. Hydrogen and helium D. Dark matter 33 34 Which of the following is thought to be responsible for the expansion of our universe? A. Dark energy B. Light energy C. Dark matter D. Ordinary matter What are the two most common elements in the universe? A. Hydrogen and carbon B. Hydrogen and helium C. Helium and neon D. Carbon and oxygen 35 Identify the three types of galaxies below: A. B. 36 C. 13
The Milky Way is: A. an elliptical galaxy B. a spiral galaxy C. an irregular galaxy D. none of the above 37 Which type of galaxy often has a supermassive black hole at its center? A. Elliptical galaxy B. Irregular Galaxy C. Spiral Galaxy 38 39 40 How did our solar system form? Small rocky objects orbit the sun in a region A. Inside a star known as: B. Very early in the creation of the universe A. the asteroid belt, between the inner and C. From a cloud of dust and gas called a molecular cloud B. outer planets the Kuiper belt, located in the outermost D. From space debris produced by exploding part of our solar system planets C. the meteor belt, located in an orbit very close to the sun D. Both A and B 14
What process takes place inside stars? A. Radioactive decay B. Fission C. Fusion D. The formation of magnets 41 Complete the statement. A star fuses together to make and massive amounts of energy. A. hydrogen, gold B. hydrogen, helium C. helium, hydrogen D. helium, gold 42 All stars form from: A. A stellar nebula B. A planetary nebula C. An exploding planet D. A black hole 43 44 What do we call a star explosion? A. A black hole B. A neutron explosion C. A nebula D. A supernova 15
What is the difference between dark matter and ordinary matter? 45 46 Compare the formation of the inner planets to the outer planets. Why are the inner planets smaller and rocky? Why are scientists so interested in studying objects in the Asteroid belt and Kuiper belt? 47 48 Sequence the following events that led to the formation our Solar System in correct order: A. Hydrogen clumped together to form the sun B. Dust and gas clumped together as it orbited the sun, forming small planets C. Gas and dust formed a spinning disk around the sun D. Primitive planets collided with each other to form larger planets and moons 16
49 What is the relationship between a planet s distance from the sun and its period of revolution (around the sun)? 50 The density of the outer planets is much less than the density of the inner planets. However, the size of the outer planets is much greater than the size of the inner planets. Explain these relationships. 51 Sequence the following events in the life of an average star: A. The star sheds its outer layers and forms a planetary nebula B. The star spend its life burning hydrogen C. When the star begins to run out of hydrogen, it becomes a Red Giant D. The star is formed from a stellar nebula E. The core of the star remains as a white dwarf What is the difference between a neutron star and a black hole? 52 17
53 How would Earth s period of rotation most likely change if Earth was a larger planet (had a larger diameter)? 54 What would happen to Earth if it was located outside the Goldilocks Zone? In other words, what would happen if Earth was closer to the sun or further away from the sun? How will the life of a massive star end? 55 How would the universe be different if supergiant stars did not explode? 56? 18
The Big Bang Theory explains: A. How the universe was created B. How galaxies formed C. When time began D. All of the above 57 Which of the following is NOT a piece of evidence that supports the Big Bang Theory? A. The red-shift of light emitted by stars B. The blue-shift of light emitted by stars C. Comic background radiation D. The composition of stars 58 59 60 Which statement best describes what the universe was like one second after the big What were the first elements to form in the universe? bang? A. Carbon and oxygen A. Cool and slowly expanding B. Carbon and iron B. Hot and rapidly expanding C. Hydrogen and helium C. Very small with new stars rapidly forming D. Aluminum and gold D. Very large with many young galaxies 19
What does the red-shift of light emitted by stars tell us about our universe? 61 62 Sequence the following events in correct order: A. The first stars die, producing heavy elements B. The first atoms form C. The universe is cold and the first galaxies form D. The universe rapidly expands from an incredibly small point to bigger than a galaxy in less than one second 63 Compare the age of our planetary system (the solar system) to the age of our galaxy (the Milky Way) and the age of the universe. How would the universe be different if stars never died? 64 20
Name: Date: Level Questions Only 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. à à à à à (smallest) (largest) 21
Level Questions Only 30. 31. 32. 22
Name: Date: Level and Questions Only 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. à à à à à (smallest) (largest) 23
Level and Questions Only 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. A. B. C. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. à à à 49. 50. 51. à à à à 52. 53. 54. 55. 56. 24
Name: Date: All Questions 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. à à à à à (smallest) (largest) 25
All Questions 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. A. B. C. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. à à à 49. 50. 51. à à à à 52. 53. 54. 55. 56. 26
57. 58. 59. 60. All Questions 61. 62. à à à 63. 64. 27
Name: Date: KEY D C C B C D D B D A D B D B 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. B D A C B C 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. A star is a hot sphere of plasma that produces its own light. A planet is made of solid, liquid or gas and orbits a star. It does not produce its own light. 22. A planet orbits a star. A moon orbits a planet. 23. The 4 inner planets are smaller and rocky (terrestrial). The 4 outer planets are large and gaseous (Jovian). 24. Uranus rotates on its side - its axis of rotation is sideways, not straight up and down like Earth and the other planets. 25. The sun is the closest star to Earth so it appears to be the brightest star in the 26. sky. In reality, the sun is average size star and has average brightness. As the size of a star increases, its brightness/luminosity increases and its temperature increases. A red giant is large, red, cool and bright. A white dwarf is small, white/blue, hot and dim. 27. 28. They are all natural objects. An asteroid is large and rocky. A comet is icy and produces a haze & tail when it passes close to the sun. A meteoroid is small and does not always orbit the sun. 29. à à à à à Moon Planet Star Planetary Galaxy Universe System (smallest) (largest) 28
KEY 30. Earth has liquid water. Liquid water is required by living things in order for living things to survive. 31. A white dwarf will slowly cool and dim. It will turn into a black dwarf (a dead star). 32. An asteroid because it s the largest of the three objects. It s also made of solid rock. A C 33. 34. 35. 36. A. B. C. 37. 38. A D B C Spiral Irregular Elliptical B B A C D 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. Dark matter is a hypothetical substance. It is not made of atoms and atomic particles that we are familiar with. It does not block, reflect or emit light so you cannot see it. 46. The inner planets formed from less common, heavier elements (solids) that could orbit close to the sun. The outer planets formed from common light elements (gases) that could not orbit close to the sun. The objects in these belts are most likely remnants from the formation of our SS. Studying these objects will give us information about our SS s formation. 47. 48. A à C à B à D 49. The greater the distance from the sun, the greater (longer) the planet s period of revolution around the sun. 50. Inner planets are small bur dense because they are rocky. The outer planets are much larger but they are less dense because they are made of gas. 51. D à B à C à A à E 52. A neutron star is an extremely dense star made of neutrons. It spins and emits light energy. A black hole is a collapsed star. Gravity is so strong that light cannot escape, so it appears black. 53. It s period of rotation would most likely decrease - it would spin faster. 54. If Earth was located closer to the sun, it would be too warm for liquid water to exist on Earth. It Earth was located further away, it would be too cold for liquid water to exist on Earth. 55. A massive star will become a supergiant. It will explode in an event known as a supernova. If the core survives, the star will become a neutron star or a black hole. 56. We would not have all the elements that exist in the universe today. Many heavy elements can only be formed during a supernova (star explosion. 29
KEY 57. A 58. B 59. B 60. C 61. The red shift of light tells us that stars are moving away from us and our universe is expanding. 62. D à B à C à A 63. The universe is 14 billion years old. Our galaxy formed 13.2 billion years ago. Our sun formed 4.6 billion years ago and the planets of our solar system formed 4.5 billion years ago. 64. If stars never died, we would not have all the different elements that exist in the universe. Many elements can only form during a supernova (explosion of an old and large star). 30
THANK YOU! Copyright 2016 Stephanie Elkowitz Terms of Use: All rights reserved. Purchase of this item entitles the purchaser the right to reproduce the pages for individual classroom use only. Duplication for an entire school, an entire school system or for commercial purposes is strictly forbidden without written permission from the author. The content of this file is not to be reproduced, edited, or used elsewhere. Posting this item or any part thereof on the Internet is strictly prohibited. Placing any part of this product on the Internet is a violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Credits: Fonts by KG Fonts Graphics by Stephanie Elkowitz, www.mycutegraphics.com and www.sweetclipart.com I hope you enjoy this product and find it useful! Please email me with questions, concerns or comments about this product. Follow me on TpT to receive updates on new product postings and check out my website for teaching ideas and product uses! Site TpT Email