Conductor or Insulator? is a free printable Grade 5 science worksheet on identifying materials by whether they let electricity or heat through, aligned to NGSS performance expectation 5-PS1-3. It prints 3 questions with an answer key on its own sheet of paper, in 25 versions that each ask different questions, so no two students in the class work from the same page. Print it from the browser or download it as a PDF — no account, no email.
Set 1 of 25 · the same problems every time you open this link.
1.Sort each one: Conductor: lets electricity or heat through or Insulator: blocks electricity or heat?
Sort: Rubber glove: the bulb stayed off when it closed the gap, Woolly sock: a jar of hot water wrapped in it stayed hot longest, Copper wire: the bulb lit when it closed the gap, Iron nail: the bulb lit when it closed the gap
Conductor: lets electricity or heat throughInsulator: blocks electricity or heat
2.Sort each one: Conductor: lets electricity or heat through or Insulator: blocks electricity or heat?
Sort: Wooden spoon: its handle stayed cool when stood in hot water, Cork: the bulb stayed off when it closed the gap, Copper pan base: the water above it heated quickly, Aluminum foil: the bulb lit when it closed the gap
Conductor: lets electricity or heat throughInsulator: blocks electricity or heat
3.Sort each one: Conductor: lets electricity or heat through or Insulator: blocks electricity or heat?
Sort: Glass rod: the bulb stayed off when it closed the gap, Brass key: the bulb lit when it closed the gap, Plastic ruler: the bulb stayed off when it closed the gap, Steel spoon: its handle grew hot when stood in hot water
Conductor: lets electricity or heat throughInsulator: blocks electricity or heat
LessonPrint · 5-PS1-3 · Set 1 · free to copy for classroom use
Answer key — Conductor or Insulator?
Set 1. Prints on its own sheet.
1.1. Copper wire: the bulb lit when it closed the gap — Conductor: lets electricity or heat through 2. Iron nail: the bulb lit when it closed the gap — Conductor: lets electricity or heat through 3. Rubber glove: the bulb stayed off when it closed the gap — Insulator: blocks electricity or heat 4. Woolly sock: a jar of hot water wrapped in it stayed hot longest — Insulator: blocks electricity or heat
2.1. Aluminum foil: the bulb lit when it closed the gap — Conductor: lets electricity or heat through 2. Copper pan base: the water above it heated quickly — Conductor: lets electricity or heat through 3. Cork: the bulb stayed off when it closed the gap — Insulator: blocks electricity or heat 4. Wooden spoon: its handle stayed cool when stood in hot water — Insulator: blocks electricity or heat
3.1. Brass key: the bulb lit when it closed the gap — Conductor: lets electricity or heat through 2. Glass rod: the bulb stayed off when it closed the gap — Insulator: blocks electricity or heat 3. Plastic ruler: the bulb stayed off when it closed the gap — Insulator: blocks electricity or heat 4. Steel spoon: its handle grew hot when stood in hot water — Conductor: lets electricity or heat through
Questions about Conductor or Insulator?
What does the Conductor or Insulator? worksheet cover?
It practices identifying materials by whether they let electricity or heat through — 3 questions for Grade 5, all on NGSS 5-PS1-3: Identify a material by its properties. The instruction to students is “Sort each material into the right group”, and the answer key follows on the next sheet.
Which NGSS performance expectation does Conductor or Insulator? practice?
5-PS1-3, under Physical Science for Grade 5. The published performance expectation reads: “Make observations and measurements to identify materials based on their properties.” The worksheet assesses that performance expectation rather than a paraphrase of it.
What age or grade is this worksheet for?
Conductor or Insulator? is written for Grade 5, typically ages 10-11. It is one of the sheets on 5-PS1-3, so it suits any student working at that standard — including older students revisiting it and younger ones working ahead.
Does Conductor or Insulator? come with an answer key?
Yes. All 3 answers are generated from the same problems as the questions, so the key cannot drift out of step with the sheet. It starts on a fresh sheet of paper, after the questions, so it is not handed out with the class by accident.
How many different versions of Conductor or Insulator? can I print?
25 — one per student, and all 25 ask different questions. Set 1 downloads the whole class as a single PDF. Every version is fixed to its own address, so a sheet printed today holds the same problems when you reopen it next week.
Is Conductor or Insulator? free to print and photocopy?
Yes. Conductor or Insulator?, its answer key and its 25 versions are free to print and photocopy for your own class, with no account, no email capture and no subscription at the download step. Please do not resell them or republish them as your own.