The Gizmos listed in this chart are correlated to standards in which students have tested lower

in (according to MCA Benchmarks) on the 5th grade Science MCA the past two years at SEA.
Strand/Sub
strand
Physical
Science
Matter

Standard
4.2.1.1.1: Measure
temperature, volume,
weight and length using
appropriate tools and units.

Gizmos Links
Measuring Trees
Gizmos Overview
Page
Measuring Trees
Gizmo

Energy

4.2.3.1.1 Describe the

transfer of heat energy
when a warm and cool
object are touching or
placed near each other.

Vocab: circumference, cross section,

diameter, drought, growth ring, precipitation
Warm-up: Students learn that a tree adds a
growth ring every year.
Activity A: Students measure height,
diameter, and circumference of several trees.
Activity B: Students see how precipitation
affects tree growth.
Extension: Students make a graph of tree
growth

Measuring Volume
Gizmos Overview
Page

Vocab: cubic centimeter, diameter, graduated

cylinder, meniscus, milliliter, pipette, radius,
rectangular prism, sphere, volume, water
displacement

Measuring Trees
Gizmo

Activity A: Students use graduated cylinders

to measure the volumes of liquids
Activity B: Students use a ruler and
calculator to find the volumes of regular solids.
Activity C: Students use water displacement
to measure the volumes of regular and
irregular solids.

Weight and Mass

Gizmos Overview
Page

Vocab: balance, force, gravity, mass, newton,

spring scale, weight

Weight and Mass

Gizmo

Physical
Science

Notes

Heat Absorption
Gizmos Overview
Page
Heat Absorption
Gizmo

Activity A: Students measure the weight of 3

objects on different planets.
Activity B: Students measure the mass of the
same 3 objects on different planets
Extension: Students calculate the ratios
between mass and weight on different
planets.
Vocab: absorb, greenhouse, radiation, reflect,
thermal energy
Activity A: Students investigate the
relationship between light angle and heating
Activity B: Students explore heating with
different colors of light and of materials
Activity C: Students compare the heating of
different materials: water, metal, brick, and
wood
**Great to use for reviewing seasons, sun
declination, clinometers

Physical

5.2.2.1.1: Give examples

Ants on a Slant

Vocab: friction, work, inclined plane

Science
Motion

Physical
science
Motion

of simple machines and

demonstrate how they
change the input and
output of forces and
motion.

Gizmos Overview
Page

5.2.2.1.3: Demonstrate
that a greater force on an
object can produce a
greater change in motion

Force and Fan Carts

Gizmos Overview
Page

Ants on a Slant
Gizmo

Force and Fan Carts

Gizmo

Activity A: Students examine the basics of

inclined planes, and consider their advantages
and disadvantages.
Activity B: Students study the quantitative
relationship between force and length of
the plane. They are also introduced to the
notion of work.
Activity C: Students explore the effect of
friction on inclined planes.
Vocab: force, friction, speed
Activity A: Students study force and motion,
using different fan speeds.
Activity B: Students explore the effects of
friction by selecting different surfaces.
Activity C: Students investigate the speed
and position data to find patterns.