grade 5 science fcat april 13-14, 2015 department of science

Department of Science

Informationand

Test Taking Strategies

for Students

Grade 5 Science FCATApril 13-14, 2015


Reporting Categories• EARTH & SPACE: 29%• PHYSICAL SCIENCE : 29%• LIFE SCIENCE: 25%• NATURE OF SCIENCE: 17%

Item types and Numbers• MC 100%• Total Items 60 –

65

Grade 5 Science FCAT will be administered in two 80 minutes sessions with a break in the middle of each session over a period of two days, April 13th and 14th.

http://www.fldoe.org/core/fileparse.php/5423/urlt/FCAT2FS2014-15.pdf




Test Taking Strategy for Multiple Choice Questions

PART 1: What is the question all about?• Read the Question First• Underline key words within the Question• Read the background information and/or analyze the

diagramsPART 2: Process of Elimination • Read the Answer Choices• Cross out two of the choices that you know are 100% wrong.• Re-Read the two remaining choices and ask yourself which one

of the two choices is wrong?

“Distracters” – Don’t be distracted!


FCAT Science 2.0Thinking Test

• Three Levels of Complexity– The Demands on Thinking that an Item

(QUESTION) makes.

– What the Item (QUESTION) will Require you, the student to recall, understand, analyze, and do!

THINK… THINK… THINK…


Key Words Used…

• Low Complexity Questions–Identify, recognize, retrieve,

calculate

Very little thinking; either you know it or you don’t!



Forms of Energy

SC.5.P.10.1

1. Miguel is rolling a ball down a hill. This is an example of which form of energy?

A. chemical energy B. electrical energy C. mechanical energy D. thermal energy

Florida Achieves


Key Words Used…

• Moderate Complexity Items–Apply, infer, predict, compare &

contrast

Thinking requires making connections; problem-solving.



Forms of Energy Quiz

SC.5.P.10.4

2. Which of the following lists the forms of energy that electricity can be transformed into?

A. heat, kinetic, light, and sound energy B. chemical, heat, light, and solar energy C. heat, kinetic, nuclear, and sound energyD. gravitational, kinetic, solar, and sound energy

Florida Achieves


Key Words Used…

• High Complexity Items–Construct a model, draw

conclusions, design, explain, justify, interpret

Thinking requires abstract reasoning.


Grade 5 SC.5.P.13.1 Sample MC Item

3. Marla throws a paper airplane. The airplane flies for several meters, then slows down and begins to fall to the ground. What two forces cause the airplane to slow down and fall to the ground?

A. Friction from Marla’s hand makes it slow down, and a magnetic force pulls it to Earth.B. Air resistance slows it down, and gravity pulls it to Earth.C. Gravity makes it slow down, and the pull of the Moon makes it fall to Earth.D. Gravity makes it speed up, and the pull of the Moon makes it fall to Earth



Multiple Choice (MC): 1 Minute per question

More Practice Test Items

http://www1.free-clipart.net/cgi-bin/clipart/directory.cgi?action=view&link=clipart/Education/Classroom_And_Activities&image=Student_Raising_Hand.jpg&img=54

Grade 5 SC.5.P.8.1. Sample MC Item

4. These two cubes are exactly the same size.

Which of the following MUST also be the same?

A densityB massC temperatureD volume


Grade 5 SC.4.L.17.3 Sample MC Item

5. Study the food chain below. Which of the following provide energy for the rabbit?

A pantherB apples and nutsC other rabbitsD The rabbit makes its own energy.


Grade 5 SC.4.E.5.3 Sample MC Item

6. Keisha knows that Earth rotates on its axis. What evidence indicates Earth is rotating on its axis?

A. There is a day and a night. B. There are 365 days in each year. C. There are four phases of the Moon. D. There are different seasons of the year.


Grade 5 SC.5.L.14.2 Sample MC Item

7. Plants and animals have similar structures to help them survive. How is skeletal system similar to the stem of a plant.

A. The skeletal system absorbs energy from the sun.

B. The skeletal system supports the body and the stem supports the plant.

C. Both the skeletal system and the stem transport nutrients throughout the body.

D. The stem helps the plant to make food and the skeletal system helps the body to make food.



Claims Evidence ReasoningCER

As a Test Taking Strategy

A CER can be used to justify an answer choice for an FCAT type question that includes evidence in the scenario and/or data table and reasoning in the scenario .

Claims Evidence Reasoning Multiple Choice Question

• Claim -The correct answer choice is …• Evidence - Facts from the scenario - Data from the table or graph if applicable• Reasoning - Scientific background knowledge that explains why the answer is correct beyond what is given in the graph, table or background information. - Reasons for excluding other answer choices.

Example of FCAT type question that includes evidence in the data table and reasoning in the scenario “A CER Works”

Sample FCAT 2.0 Science Question

A radiometer is a device with fins that spin when light energy strikes them.

A picture of a radiometer is shown below. As part of an experiment, a light

source was placed 50 centimeters (cm) from a radiometer. The light

source gave off four different-colored lights for 30 seconds (s) each. After

each color of light was turned off, the amount of time the fins on the

radiometer spun was recorded. The results are shown in

the table.

Which color of light provided the greatest amount of light energy according to the data in the table? F. red G. green H. blue I. white

claim

reasoning

evidence

1. Two animals that live in Florida are the American bittern and the Key deer. The bittern is a bird that has a buff and brown colored back that allows it to blend in with the sawgrass of the lakes it lives near. When it feels threatened, the bittern freezes and points its head skyward to resemble a reed. The Key deer is brown in color, lives in the forest, and freezes when it feels threatened.How do these two animals use similar adaptations in order to survive in their very different environments?

A. Both the bittern and the deer use their small size to hide from approaching predators.

B. Both animals live in groups and huddle together with their family for protection from predators.

C. Both animals use their coloring and lack of big movement to avoid being seen by predators.

D. Both the bittern and the deer use the movement of the trees and bushes around them to distract predators so they can escape.

Reasoning Evidence

2. Will and Tammy are moving a dresser. They are arguing about which direction to move it. Will is pushing the dresser with a force of 5 newtons towards Tammy. Tammy is pushing the dresser towards Will with a force of 10 newtons.

What happens to the dresser?

A. The dresser does not move.

B. The dresser moves towards Will.

C. The dresser moves towards Tammy.

D. The dresser moves towards Tammy, then back towards Will.

Division of Science


3


Last Minute Tips for Success in the FCAT

• Eat a good breakfast and have a good night’s rest (8 hours of sleep).

• Use a dull #2 pencil.• Answer all questions.• Pace yourself and make sure to keep working through the test.

Try to give yourself enough time to go back and make sure you have answered all the questions.

• Read all answers carefully since two or more answers might be similar. Pick the Best explanation/answer.

• Need to guess on a multiple-choice test? First, eliminate the answers that you know are wrong. Make a selection and do not change your answer.

• Stay focused and relaxed and remember Do not quit - Give it your best!

Florida Education: The Next GenerationDRAFT

March 13, 2008Version 1.0

Questions?


grade 5 science fcat april 13-14, 2015 department of science

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