Science Tests

Last week, I posted a little about our science unit on the solar system.  Over the last year, I introduced "science tests" to my monthly science units.  My kids take the same test once at the beginning of the month (as a pre-assessment) and again at the end of the month (as a post-assessment).  I was shocked the first time we took the test as a group at how many of my kids were cheating (although secretly, I was kind of proud of how smart they were to think of cheating!).  We had to have a conversation about cheating, put up some dividers while we take tests, and move our desks apart from one another to deter cheating!  But then, we were good to go for test-taking behavior....until it came time to grading our tests.  I seriously think I made half the kids cry because they were sad they didn't get 100% (again...kind of proud that getting a good score is important to them!).  So needless to say, I am a little reluctant to give our science test on the solar system this week!  What do our science tests look like?  Well, see the picture below to find out!

This month's test has some basic questions as well as matching.  Other tests have also included multiple choice, labeling, or fill in the blank type questions.  It is surprising that even though my students can demonstrate that they know this information while talking with you, they still get the questions wrong on the test.  So many of them see the word "name" in the first question ("Name 2 planets") and they instantly write their first name in one box and their last name in the other.  Using these short, simple tests, are a great way to test generalization as well as demonstrate direction following!

Here are some of the worksheets my kids worked on over the month as well to help prepare them for the test.  A following directions coloring sheet.

Some multiple choice questions about the solar system.

A sheet where the kids matched their vocabulary words to the correct definitions.

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