Formative Assessments:
R.A.F.T. - This is a writing strategy where students are given a Role, Audience, Format, and Topic (RAFT). The role is the point of view from which the student is writing (i.e. the first cell). The audience is to whom the writing is addressed (i.e. self, government, pen pal, etc.). The format is the style of writing which the student is asked to follow (i.e. newspaper journalist, diary, travel journal, etc.) The topic is the specific science concept the student is to write on (i.e. mitosis, acid rain, etc.). This allows students who are literary or artistic use their creativity to show their content knowledge, and helps those who lack in these areas to get practice. Also, the NSES are formulated to produce a scientifically literate society, and this assessment will encourage this development.
Fist-To-Five - This assessment is a quick way for students to indicate their understanding of a concept or procedure. Students are asked to raise one hand, showing a fist or any number of fingers, where a higher number of fingers raised represents a higher level of understanding. It can be used multiple times in a period as necessary. This allows the teacher to keep tabs on students who are slow learners who may need a slower pace and more direct questioning and engagement.
Summative Assessments
Evolution Test - This test is a traditional assessment in that it is comprised of multiple choice, matching, and short-answer questions. This will help prepare the students to be familiar with the assessments that will be common in high school and college level courses.
Reproductive System Test - This test incorporates a pre-test that students took at the beginning of the unit, so that it re-enforces concepts students are familiar with. The flower diagram is also one that students looked at and labeled on a worksheet for them to complete. These components were added because I noticed that many of my students are visual learners, so seeing terms, definitions, and a picture which they had seen before would help them in their recall for this assessment.
R.A.F.T. - This is a writing strategy where students are given a Role, Audience, Format, and Topic (RAFT). The role is the point of view from which the student is writing (i.e. the first cell). The audience is to whom the writing is addressed (i.e. self, government, pen pal, etc.). The format is the style of writing which the student is asked to follow (i.e. newspaper journalist, diary, travel journal, etc.) The topic is the specific science concept the student is to write on (i.e. mitosis, acid rain, etc.). This allows students who are literary or artistic use their creativity to show their content knowledge, and helps those who lack in these areas to get practice. Also, the NSES are formulated to produce a scientifically literate society, and this assessment will encourage this development.
Fist-To-Five - This assessment is a quick way for students to indicate their understanding of a concept or procedure. Students are asked to raise one hand, showing a fist or any number of fingers, where a higher number of fingers raised represents a higher level of understanding. It can be used multiple times in a period as necessary. This allows the teacher to keep tabs on students who are slow learners who may need a slower pace and more direct questioning and engagement.
Summative Assessments
Evolution Test - This test is a traditional assessment in that it is comprised of multiple choice, matching, and short-answer questions. This will help prepare the students to be familiar with the assessments that will be common in high school and college level courses.
Reproductive System Test - This test incorporates a pre-test that students took at the beginning of the unit, so that it re-enforces concepts students are familiar with. The flower diagram is also one that students looked at and labeled on a worksheet for them to complete. These components were added because I noticed that many of my students are visual learners, so seeing terms, definitions, and a picture which they had seen before would help them in their recall for this assessment.