WGU D671 Elementary Science Curriculum Objective
Assessment Actual Exam 2026/2027 | Complete
Exam-Style Questions with Detailed Rationales | Pass
Guaranteed – A+ Graded
Sections: Physical Science (10) | Life Science (10) | Earth & Space Science (8) |
Scientific Inquiry & Engineering Practices (8) | Crosscutting Concepts & NGSS Alignment
(4) | Science Instruction & Assessment Strategies (5)
Physical Science (10 Questions)
Q1: A third-grade teacher asks students to predict whether an object will sink or float in
water. Students test a penny, a cork, a rock, and a plastic bottle cap. Which scientific
practice are students MOST directly engaging in?
A. Analyzing data
B. Constructing explanations
C. Planning and carrying out investigations
D. Using mathematics and computational thinking
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because making predictions and testing objects in water is "planning
and carrying out investigations" (SEP3 in NGSS); students are actively experimenting,
,not just analyzing existing data or constructing explanations after the fact; this
hands-on approach builds understanding of buoyancy.
Q2: A student observes an ice cube melting on a counter. The student states, "The ice
cube disappeared because it turned into water vapor." Which misconception is the
student demonstrating?
A. Confusing evaporation with melting
B. Failing to conserve matter
C. Misunderstanding freezing point
D. Confusing mass with volume
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because the student states the ice cube "disappeared" rather than
recognizing that the liquid water is still present (just changed state); this is a common
conservation of matter misconception where students believe matter can be destroyed;
the correct explanation is melting (solid to liquid), not evaporation (liquid to gas).
Q3: Which of the following represents a chemical change rather than a physical change?
A. Crushing a can
B. Dissolving sugar in water
C. Burning a piece of wood
D. Melting butter in a pan
Correct Answer: C
, Rationale: Correct because burning wood produces new substances (ash, carbon
dioxide, water vapor) through a chemical reaction; crushing, dissolving, and melting are
physical changes because the substance's chemical identity remains the same and the
process is generally reversible.
Q4: A student places a metal spoon in a cup of hot cocoa and notices the handle
becomes warm. A second student holds a cup of hot cocoa and feels warmth on their
hands. Which two methods of thermal energy transfer are demonstrated?
A. Conduction and radiation
B. Convection and radiation
C. Conduction and convection
D. Convection and evaporation
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because the spoon handle warming is conduction (direct contact
transferring heat through the metal); feeling warmth from the cup without touching the
liquid involves air currents warmed by the cup rising and circulating, which is
convection; radiation would not require any medium or direct contact, and evaporation
is not a heat transfer method.
Q5: A student pushes a toy car with increasing force. The student observes that the car
moves faster when pushed harder. Which scientific law is the student demonstrating?
A. Newton's First Law (inertia)
B. Newton's Second Law (F = ma)
Assessment Actual Exam 2026/2027 | Complete
Exam-Style Questions with Detailed Rationales | Pass
Guaranteed – A+ Graded
Sections: Physical Science (10) | Life Science (10) | Earth & Space Science (8) |
Scientific Inquiry & Engineering Practices (8) | Crosscutting Concepts & NGSS Alignment
(4) | Science Instruction & Assessment Strategies (5)
Physical Science (10 Questions)
Q1: A third-grade teacher asks students to predict whether an object will sink or float in
water. Students test a penny, a cork, a rock, and a plastic bottle cap. Which scientific
practice are students MOST directly engaging in?
A. Analyzing data
B. Constructing explanations
C. Planning and carrying out investigations
D. Using mathematics and computational thinking
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because making predictions and testing objects in water is "planning
and carrying out investigations" (SEP3 in NGSS); students are actively experimenting,
,not just analyzing existing data or constructing explanations after the fact; this
hands-on approach builds understanding of buoyancy.
Q2: A student observes an ice cube melting on a counter. The student states, "The ice
cube disappeared because it turned into water vapor." Which misconception is the
student demonstrating?
A. Confusing evaporation with melting
B. Failing to conserve matter
C. Misunderstanding freezing point
D. Confusing mass with volume
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because the student states the ice cube "disappeared" rather than
recognizing that the liquid water is still present (just changed state); this is a common
conservation of matter misconception where students believe matter can be destroyed;
the correct explanation is melting (solid to liquid), not evaporation (liquid to gas).
Q3: Which of the following represents a chemical change rather than a physical change?
A. Crushing a can
B. Dissolving sugar in water
C. Burning a piece of wood
D. Melting butter in a pan
Correct Answer: C
, Rationale: Correct because burning wood produces new substances (ash, carbon
dioxide, water vapor) through a chemical reaction; crushing, dissolving, and melting are
physical changes because the substance's chemical identity remains the same and the
process is generally reversible.
Q4: A student places a metal spoon in a cup of hot cocoa and notices the handle
becomes warm. A second student holds a cup of hot cocoa and feels warmth on their
hands. Which two methods of thermal energy transfer are demonstrated?
A. Conduction and radiation
B. Convection and radiation
C. Conduction and convection
D. Convection and evaporation
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because the spoon handle warming is conduction (direct contact
transferring heat through the metal); feeling warmth from the cup without touching the
liquid involves air currents warmed by the cup rising and circulating, which is
convection; radiation would not require any medium or direct contact, and evaporation
is not a heat transfer method.
Q5: A student pushes a toy car with increasing force. The student observes that the car
moves faster when pushed harder. Which scientific law is the student demonstrating?
A. Newton's First Law (inertia)
B. Newton's Second Law (F = ma)
