Heat Transfer & Thermal Energy
Reading Mystery Worksheets · Grades 4–5 · Physical Science
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Inside the case file
Conduction, convection, radiation — three ways heat moves, and one mystery to solve. This printable Heat Transfer & Thermal Energy Science Reading Mystery for Grades 4–5 turns a physical-science passage into a detective case, with no lab and no prep.
The text holds every clue: students answer, eliminate a suspect, and keep reading until the culprit is caught. Just print and teach.
Quick Details
Grade Levels: Grades 4–5
Format: Printable PDF (30 pages)
Resource Type: Science Reading Mystery worksheets
Reading Skills: Nonfiction science comprehension, text evidence, main idea, and science vocabulary
Science Standards: Supports NGSS 4-PS3 (Energy) — conduction, convection, and radiation
Tech Needed: None — no apps, locks, passwords, student logins, or lab equipment required
The Case
Heat keeps disappearing where it shouldn't, and a line-up of suspects is waiting. The only way to crack the case is to read closely about how thermal energy moves — conduction, convection, and radiation — using every comprehension answer as a clue to rule a suspect out, until just one remains.
How the Science Mystery Works
As Science Detectives, students read about heat transfer and thermal energy; each comprehension answer rules out a suspect until the culprit is all that's left. Every answer is in the text.
What's Included
- A "You are a detective" case-file page that sets the scene and the mission
- An engaging science reading passage on conduction, convection, and radiation
- Multiple-choice comprehension questions (all answers found in the text)
- Open-ended written response questions
- A suspect line-up page for eliminating suspects one clue at a time
- A science vocabulary word search and extension activities for early finishers
- A full answer key
- Color and black-and-white versions
- Print-and-go PDF format
Skills Covered
- Reading and understanding nonfiction science text
- Finding and using text evidence
- Conduction, convection, and radiation
- How thermal energy moves and transfers
- Cause and effect and drawing conclusions from evidence
- Science vocabulary in context
- Logic, reasoning, and critical thinking
Best Used For
- Energy, heat, and physical science units
- No-lab / sub-plan science days
- Science and nonfiction reading comprehension
- Science centers, review, and small groups
- Homeschool science
