Too Small to See is a free printable Grade 5 science worksheet on modeling matter as particles too small to be seen, aligned to NGSS performance expectation 5-PS1-1. It prints 8 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.A balloon is inflated. What model explains why it is heavier?
A.The rubber grew heavier
B.Air is made of particles, and more have been put in
C.Air has no mass
2.What does a good model of matter have to do?
A.Be complicated
B.Look attractive
C.Explain the observations and predict new ones
3.Sugar water is left to evaporate. What is left behind, and why?
A.New sugar made by the water
B.Nothing at all
C.The sugar, because its particles stayed when the water left
4.Sugar stirred into water disappears from view. What has happened to it?
A.It has turned into water
B.It has broken into particles too small to see, spread through the water
C.It has been destroyed
5.Which observation is best explained by particles too small to see?
A.Ice is cold
B.A dissolved solid can be recovered by evaporating the liquid
C.Water is wet
6.A smell spreads across a room. What does a particle model say?
A.Particles from the source spread out through the air
B.Air carries nothing
C.The smell has no substance
7.Why can a particle model be used if nobody can see the particles?
A.It explains and predicts what we can measure
B.Models must be visible
C.It cannot be used
8.How could you show the sugar is still there?
A.Taste it, or evaporate the water and weigh what is left
B.Look harder
C.Stir it faster
LessonPrint · 5-PS1-1 · Set 1 · free to copy for classroom use
Answer key — Too Small to See
Set 1. Prints on its own sheet.
1.Air is made of particles, and more have been put in
2.Explain the observations and predict new ones
3.The sugar, because its particles stayed when the water left
4.It has broken into particles too small to see, spread through the water
5.A dissolved solid can be recovered by evaporating the liquid
6.Particles from the source spread out through the air
7.It explains and predicts what we can measure
8.Taste it, or evaporate the water and weigh what is left
Questions about Too Small to See
What does the Too Small to See worksheet cover?
It practices modeling matter as particles too small to be seen — 8 questions for Grade 5, all on NGSS 5-PS1-1: Model matter as particles far too small to see. The instruction to students is “Circle the best answer”, and the answer key follows on the next sheet.
Which NGSS performance expectation does Too Small to See practice?
5-PS1-1, under Physical Science for Grade 5. The published performance expectation reads: “Develop a model to describe that matter is made of particles too small to be seen.” The worksheet assesses that performance expectation rather than a paraphrase of it.
What age or grade is this worksheet for?
Too Small to See is written for Grade 5, typically ages 10-11. It is one of the sheets on 5-PS1-1, so it suits any student working at that standard — including older students revisiting it and younger ones working ahead.
Does Too Small to See come with an answer key?
Yes. All 8 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 Too Small to See 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 Too Small to See free to print and photocopy?
Yes. Too Small to See, 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.
Is there a lesson plan to teach 5-PS1-1?
Yes — “Too Small to See” is a 60-minute Grade 5 plan for 5-PS1-1, timed section by section, with the misconceptions to expect and an exit ticket. Too Small to See is the practice that follows it.
More practice for 5-PS1-1
Model matter as particles far too small to see.
Teaching this next? Too Small to See is the 60-minute plan for it, with the misconceptions to expect.