Praxis 5001 Science and STEM Education 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which physical science concept do elementary students explore when they investigate how pushing or pulling objects affects their motion?
- Electromagnetic waves
- Forces and interactions (Correct answer)
- Chemical reactions
- Thermal energy transfer
Correct answer: Forces and interactions
Investigating pushing and pulling connects to the NGSS physical science core idea of Forces and Interactions, where students learn how forces affect the motion of objects.
Question 2: A teacher uses the 5E instructional model. Which phase asks students to apply their new understanding to a new but similar situation?
- Engage
- Explore
- Explain
- Elaborate (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Elaborate
The Elaborate phase of the 5E model challenges students to apply and extend their understanding to new contexts, deepening and transferring their learning.
Question 3: Which earth science concept is introduced in elementary grades through studying weather patterns and seasons?
- Plate tectonics
- Earth's systems and patterns of weather (Correct answer)
- Atomic structure of minerals
- Deep ocean circulation
Correct answer: Earth's systems and patterns of weather
Elementary NGSS earth science standards include observing, describing, and predicting patterns in weather and the relationship between seasons and climate.
Question 4: An elementary teacher assigns a STEM engineering challenge where students design a bridge from index cards. Which STEM practice does this primarily develop?
- Scientific hypothesizing only
- The engineering design process: define, design, test, improve (Correct answer)
- Memorizing engineering formulas
- Reading technical manuals
Correct answer: The engineering design process: define, design, test, improve
Engineering design challenges develop the iterative engineering design process — defining a problem, developing solutions, testing, and improving based on results.
Question 5: When a student claims 'my plant died because I forgot to water it,' which science practice is the student attempting to use?
- Developing a model
- Constructing explanations (Correct answer)
- Obtaining and evaluating information
- Planning an investigation
Correct answer: Constructing explanations
Constructing explanations involves using evidence and reasoning to account for phenomena; the student is explaining the plant's death using a causal claim.
Question 6: Which strategy best supports elementary students' development of scientific vocabulary?
- Providing a list of terms to memorize before instruction
- Embedding vocabulary in the context of hands-on investigations (Correct answer)
- Having students write definitions without engaging with phenomena
- Using only technical scientific terms from the beginning
Correct answer: Embedding vocabulary in the context of hands-on investigations
Learning science vocabulary in the context of hands-on investigations connects terms to meaningful experiences, leading to deeper and more durable understanding.
Praxis 5001 Science and STEM Education 2
Which physical science concept do elementary students explore when they investigate how pushing or pulling objects affects their motion?