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 14 of 25 · the same problems every time you open this link.
Set 1 has all 25 in a single PDF. All 25 sets ask different questions.
Conductor or Insulator?
5-PS1-3
NameDate
Sort each material into the right group.
1.Sort each one: Conductor: lets electricity or heat through or Insulator: blocks electricity or heat?
Sort: Woolly sock: a jar of hot water wrapped in it stayed hot longest, Copper pan base: the water above it heated quickly, Wooden spoon: its handle stayed cool when stood in hot water, Pencil lead: the bulb glowed dimly 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: Brass key: the bulb lit when it closed the gap, Foam cup: the outside stayed cool with hot water inside, Rubber glove: 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
3.Sort each one: Conductor: lets electricity or heat through or Insulator: blocks electricity or heat?
Sort: Iron nail: the bulb lit when it closed the gap, Copper wire: the bulb lit when it closed the gap, Glass rod: the bulb stayed off when it closed the gap, Cork: the bulb stayed off when it closed the gap
Conductor: lets electricity or heat throughInsulator: blocks electricity or heat
LessonPrint · 5-PS1-3 · Set 14 · free to copy for classroom use
Answer key — Conductor or Insulator?
Set 14. Prints on its own sheet.
1.1. Copper pan base: the water above it heated quickly — Conductor: lets electricity or heat through 2. Pencil lead: the bulb glowed dimly when it closed the gap — Conductor: lets electricity or heat through 3. Wooden spoon: its handle stayed cool when stood in hot water — 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. Brass key: the bulb lit when it closed the gap — Conductor: lets electricity or heat through 2. Foam cup: the outside stayed cool with hot water inside — Insulator: blocks electricity or heat 3. Rubber glove: 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
3.1. Copper wire: the bulb lit when it closed the gap — Conductor: lets electricity or heat through 2. Cork: the bulb stayed off when it closed the gap — Insulator: blocks electricity or heat 3. Glass rod: the bulb stayed off when it closed the gap — Insulator: blocks electricity or heat 4. Iron nail: the bulb lit when it closed the gap — Conductor: lets electricity or heat through
Last reviewed 2026-09-05. Aligned to 5-PS1-3 of the Next Generation Science Standards.