ACT Interim Science Assessment

Third, fourth and fifth graders have recently completed ACT Interim Assessments in Math, Reading, and Science.  After taking the ACT Science Interim Assessment, fifth grade science teacher Ryan Hook had her students reflect on what the hardest part was and what they need to work on in order for students to feel more comfortable.  Here is what they said:

The hardest part was when we had to figure out data that was not there.
I think we need to deal more with graphs and find data from graphs.
I did not expect decimals.
We should study more diagrams.
I think we should start focusing more on math in science.
The hardest part of the test was trying to get centimeters.
To do better on the test, I would like to practice math with science.
The hardest part was graphs.
To do better, we should work more with graphs.
The hardest part of the test was math.
To do better on the test, we need to do more math and science.
To get my score up, we could work more on the tables and graphs.
The hardest part was the illustrated graphs.
To do better on the test, we should go over diameter and graphs.
We could do more with graphs.
We could practice tables more.
We could maybe work with graphs to do better on the test.

It isn't a surprise that so many students wrote about math as the number one thing they need to focus on.

From:  2016 Alabama Course of Study: Science
The main goal of the Alabama course of study for science is to give all Alabama students a solid foundation in science and engineering.  This course of study includes the most current scientific and engineering practices, cross-cutting concepts, and disciplinary core ideas our students need in order to become college and career ready.  

It is obvious that our standards and assessments call for far more than rote memorization of scientific facts.  Science is problem solving, and our students must be equipped to solve problems all day long throughout their lives.  Our students are aware that they will be required to think, use mathematics, and problem solve in science classes, on assessments, and throughout their lives.