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 18 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: Foam cup: the outside stayed cool with hot water inside, Copper pan base: the water above it heated quickly, Iron nail: the bulb lit when it closed the gap, Rubber glove: the bulb stayed off 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: Glass rod: the bulb stayed off when it closed the gap, Wooden spoon: its handle stayed cool when stood in hot water, Aluminum foil: the bulb lit 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: Plastic ruler: the bulb stayed off when it closed the gap, Woolly sock: a jar of hot water wrapped in it stayed hot longest, Pencil lead: the bulb glowed dimly when it closed the gap, Copper wire: the bulb lit when it closed the gap
Conductor: lets electricity or heat throughInsulator: blocks electricity or heat
LessonPrint · 5-PS1-3 · Set 18 · free to copy for classroom use
Answer key — Conductor or Insulator?
Set 18. Prints on its own sheet.
1.1. Copper pan base: the water above it heated quickly — Conductor: lets electricity or heat through 2. Foam cup: the outside stayed cool with hot water inside — Insulator: blocks electricity or heat 3. Iron nail: the bulb lit when it closed the gap — Conductor: lets electricity or heat through 4. Rubber glove: the bulb stayed off when it closed the gap — Insulator: blocks electricity or heat
2.1. Aluminum foil: 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. Steel spoon: its handle grew hot when stood in hot water — Conductor: lets electricity or heat through 4. Wooden spoon: its handle stayed cool when stood in hot water — Insulator: blocks electricity or heat
3.1. Copper wire: the bulb lit when it closed the gap — 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. Plastic ruler: 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
Last reviewed 2026-09-05. Aligned to 5-PS1-3 of the Next Generation Science Standards.