ORANGE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
OFFICE OF CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION
OFFICE OF SCIENCE
GRADE 3
SCIENCE
Pre-Assessment
Directions, Answer Key, and Scoring Guide
School Year 2014-2015
Grade 3 Pre Assessment – School year 2014-2015
Directions, Answer Key, and Scoring Rubrics
Before the Test
Students need:
A copy of the examination (consumable)
Scrap Paper
One or more No. 2 pencils
During the Test:
Students should have a minimum of 45 minutes to complete the
test. At the teacher’s discretion, the test may be administered in
one or two sessions. In addition, the performance portion of the
test may be given to a portion of the class while the reminder of
the class is working on the written portion.
After the Test:
Student scores should be calculated as follows:
Page 2 of 10
Third Grade Pre-assessment Answer Guide
ANSWERS
SUN, MOON, AND STARS
Survey
sm1. a. In what direction did the Sun rise this
morning?
east
b. In what direction will the Sun set this evening?
west
c. Does the Sun rise and set in the same directions
each day?
yes
sm2. Which of the following Moon drawings is a crescent moon?
(Circle the one best answer.)
A.
B.
C.
C
..
sm3. What times might you be able to see the Moon in the sky?
(Mark all the correct answers.)
X
_____
_____
X
X
_____
X
_____
at night
during a new
moon
early in the
morning
just before sunset
just after sunrise
sm4. What instrument makes faraway objects seem closer?
(Circle the one best answer.)
A. microscope
B.B telescope
C. periscope
Page 3 of 10
Rubrics for Questions 1-4
1a.
Code
If the student...
3
writes “east.”
2
describes a landmark that is in the east.
0
writes any other answer or makes no attempt
1b.
Code
If the student...
3
writes “west.”
2
describes a landmark that is in the west.
0
writes any other answer or makes no attempt.
1c.
Code
If the student...
2
writes “yes.”
0
writes any other answer or makes no attempt.
2.
Code
If the student...
2
chooses C.
0
chooses A or B, or makes no attempt..
3.
Code
If the student...
2
marks all the correct answers.
0
marks any other answer or makes no attempt.
4.
Code
If the student...
2
chooses B.
0
chooses A or C, or marks more than one answer.
sm5. How many weeks are between full Moons?
(Circle the one best answer.)
A. one week
B. two weeks
C.C four weeks
.
sm6. What information can a shadow give you?
(Mark all the correct answers.)
Page 4 of 10
___X__the position of the Sun
___X__the time of day
_____how tall you are
___X__ where east and west are
sm7. a. When will your shadow be the longest?
(Circle the one best answer.)
A. noon in winter
B.
B sunrise in winter
. noon in summer
C.
b. When will your shadow be the shortest?
(Circle the one best answer.)
A. noon in winter
B. sunrise in winter
C noon in summer
C.
Rubrics for questions 5-7
sm5
sm6
sm7a
sm7b
Code
If the student...
2
chooses C.
0
chooses A or B, or makes no attempt..
Code
If the student...
2
marks all the correct answers.
0
marks any other answer or makes no attempt.
Code
If the student...
2
chooses B.
0
chooses A or C, or makes no attempt..
Code
If the student...
2
chooses C.
0
chooses A and B, or makes no attempt..
Page 5 of 10
Sm8. a. Draw an outline of the student’s shadow.
b. Why did you draw the shadow where you did?
Shadows are always on the opposite side from the Sun.
sm9. a. Why does the shape of the Moon appear to change each night?
(Circle the one best answer.)
A.
A The Moon revolves around Earth.
B. The Earth revolves around the Moon.
C. The Earth rotates on its axis.
b. Why does the Moon appear to move across the sky each night?
(Circle the one best answer.)
A. The Moon revolves around Earth.
B. The Earth revolves around the Moon.
C The Earth rotates on its axis.
C.
Rubrics for Questions 8 & 9
sm8a
sm8b
Code
If the student...
3
draws the outline to the right with the feet connected to the
figure.
2
draws the outline to the right, but it is standing upright next
to the figure.
0
draws the outline in any other position or makes no attempt.
Code
If the student...
2
writes that shadows are always on the opposite side from
the Sun.
0
gives vague or incorrect explanation or makes no attempt.
Page 6 of 10
sm9a
sm9b
Code
If the student...
2
chooses A.
0
chooses B. or C, or makes no attempt..
Code
If the student...
2
chooses C.
0
chooses A or B, or makes no attempt..
sm10. sm10. What star is closest to
Earth?
the Sun
sm11. Which flagpole shows a shadow in the late afternoon?
(Circle the one best answer.)
N
W
E
S
A.
C.
B
B.
sm12. a. Which of the following would be a good location to build a telescope?
(Circle the one best answer.)
A. downtown Los Angeles
B.
B a mountaintop in the Sierra Nevada
C. a beach near San Francisco
b. Why did you select this location?
less light from people, less pollution and fog, and a darker sky
Page 7 of 10
Rubrics for Questions 10-12
sm10
sm11
sm12a
sm12b
Code
If the student...
2
writes “the Sun.”
0
writes any other answer or makes no attempt.
Code
If the student...
2
chooses B.
0
chooses A or C, or makes no attempt.
Code
If the student...
2
chooses B.
0
chooses A or C, or makes no attempt.
Code
If the student...
2
writes there is less light, pollution, fog, or a darker sky.
0
takes wrong focus or makes no attempt.
sm13. What causes day and night on Earth?
(Circle the one best answer.)
A Earth rotates on its axis.
A.
B. Earth revolves around the Sun.
C. The Moon revolves around Earth.
sm14. What tool that makes distant objects look closer did Galileo Galilei use?
(Circle the one best answer.)
A. microscope
B.
B telescope
C. periscope
sm15. Describe the movement of the stars in the sky during night.
The stars rise in the east, move across the sky, and set in the west.
Page 8 of 10
sm16. A group of stars that forms a pattern that has a name is called
(Circle the one best answer.)
A.
A a constellation.
B. a solar system.
C. a galaxy.
sm17. Where is the Sun at noon?
(Circle the one best answer.)
A. at the horizon
B. at the equator
C.
C at its highest point in the sky
Rubrics for Questions 13-17
Sm13
Sm14
Sm15
Sm16
Code
If the student...
2
chooses A.
0
chooses B or C, or makes no attempt.
Code
If the student...
2
Chooses B.
0
marks A or C, or makes no attempt.
Code
3
If the student...
Writes that the stars rise in the east, move across the sky and set in
the west
1
Gives a vague answer or has a minor error
0
Is incorrect or makes no attempt.
Code
If the student...
2
chooses A.
0
chooses B and C, or makes no attempt
Sm17
Code
If the student...
2
Chooses C
0
chooses A or B or makes no attempt.
Page 9 of 10
sm18. Where will your shadow be if the Sun is behind you?
(Circle the one best answer.)
A in front of you
A.
B. behind you
C. beside you
sm19. Compare the motion of the stars at night and the Sun during the day.
a. How are they the same?
The stars and the Sun move across the sky
from east to west each day.
b. How are they different?
We see different stars in
winter and summer, but
we see the Sun every day
of the year.
Sm18
sm19a
sm19b
Code
If the student...
2
Chooses A
0
Chooses B or D, or makes no attempt.
Code
3
If the student...
Writes that stars and the Sun move across the sky form east to west
each day
2
Writes the stars and Sun move across the sky.
0
Writes wrong focus or makes no attempt
Code
2
If the student...
Writes that different stars appear in winter and summer but the Sun
always appears.
0
Writes wrong focus, or makes no attempt.
Grading Guide:
Maximum 46 pts = 100.28% Therefore, each point is worth 2.18. Total up student
points, multiply it by 2.18 and you will have their percentage.
After the Test:
Student
Page 10 of 10