Science Test & Item Specifications Grade 5: Modifications in 2013 October 2013 Item Spec Fall 2012 version LS1A(1) Sort a set of organisms into groups based on characteristics such as their structures and/or behaviors (e.g., shape of leaves; presence of hair, feathers, or scales on their skin; grazing, hunting, or diving for food). LS2E(1) Predict or describe how a change made in an ecosystem by one population of plant or animal could impact the access to resources or population of another plant or animal population. Fall 2013 version Describe how organisms can be sorted into groups based on characteristics such as their structures and/or behaviors (e.g., shape of leaves; presence of hair, feathers, or scales on their skin; grazing, hunting, or diving for food). Predict or describe how a change made in an ecosystem by one population of plant or animal (e.g., less fruit produced; a new species enters area) could impact the access to resources or population of another plant or animal population. vocab added "respond" Grade 8: Item Spec Fall 2012 version SYSB(1) Describe where the boundaries of a system should be drawn to investigate a given scientific question. Fall 2013 version Explain where the boundaries of a system should be drawn to investigate a given scientific question. INQB(3) INQD(4) Describe a plan for an investigation using a model or simulation. ES1E(2) ES2H(1) vocab Describe a plan for a model or simulation. Identify any variables not controlled in an experiment and/or explain how they might affect results in a given description of a scientific investigation. Describe Earth’s position in the Solar System, the Solar System’s position in the Milky Way, and/or the Milky Way’s position among other galaxies. Describe Earth’s position in the Solar System, the Solar System’s position in the Milky Way, and/or the Milky Way’s position among other galaxies in the universe. Describe the processes involved in the rock cycle, including the formation of igneous, sedimentary, and/or metamorphic rock (e.g., igneous rock forms when magma cools, sedimentary rock forms by the compaction of eroded particles, metamorphic rock forms due to heat and pressure). Describe the processes involved in the rock cycle, including the formation of igneous, sedimentary, and/or metamorphic rock (e.g., igneous rock forms when magma or lava cools, sedimentary rock forms by the compaction of eroded particles, metamorphic rock forms due to heat and pressure). added "hypothesis" added Short Answer as a possible item format 1 Science Test & Item Specifications Biology: Modifications in 2013 October 2013 Item Spec Fall 2012 version SYSA(3) Describe the regulatory inputs and/or outputs of a given positive feedback system (e.g., after a cut, a clotting process cascades to form a scab; increased CO2 and methane inputs results in higher temperatures, decreased light reflected to space, ice caps melting, and sea levels rising). INQE(1) Identify a testable prediction or hypothesis that can be generated from a given model, theory, or new condition in an existing model. Fall 2013 version Describe the regulatory inputs and/or outputs of a given positive feedback system (e.g., after a cut, a clotting process cascades to form a scab; increased CO2 and methane inputs to the atmosphere result in higher temperatures, ice caps melt decreasing light reflected to space, and sea levels rise). Describe a testable prediction or hypothesis that can be generated from a given model, theory, or new condition in an existing model. INQH(3) Explain why honest acknowledgment of the contributions of others and/or information sources is necessary (e.g., undocumented sources of information prevents the verification of data and undermines the credibility of explanations and investigations). LS1A(1) Identify inputs and/or outputs of matter and/or energy in photosynthesis using words and/or chemical formulas (i.e., inputs are carbon dioxide/CO2, water/H2O, light energy; outputs include glucose/C6H12O6, oxygen/O2). Explain consequences of failure to provide appropriate citations and/or reasons for appropriately citing the contributions of others and/or information sources (e.g., undocumented sources of information prevents the verification of data and undermines the credibility of explanations and investigations). Identify inputs and/or outputs of matter and/or energy in photosynthesis using words and/or chemical formulas (i.e., inputs of matter are carbon dioxide/CO2 and water/H2O; outputs of matter are glucose/C6H12O6 and oxygen/O2; input energy form is light energy; output energy form is chemical energy). LS1B(3) Describe the inputs and/or outputs of matter and/or energy in cellular respiration and/or in combustion (i.e., inputs include glucose or large carbohydrates and oxygen, outputs include carbon dioxide, water, and energy/ATP). Describe the inputs and/or outputs of matter and/or energy in cellular respiration and/or in combustion (i.e., inputs of matter include glucose/ C6H12O6 or other large carbohydrates and oxygen/O2; outputs of matter include carbon dioxide/CO2, water/H2O, and ATP; input form of energy is chemical energy in carbohydrates; output form of energy is chemical energy in ATP). LS1D(1) Describe the structure of the cell membrane as a bilayer with embedded proteins capable of regulating the flow of materials into and out of the cell. Describe the structure of the cell membrane as a lipid bilayer with embedded proteins capable of regulating the flow of materials into and out of the cell. LS1F(2) Describe that cells build large molecules required for cell functions from smaller molecules (i.e., proteins from amino acids, carbohydrates from simple sugars, fats from fatty acids, DNA from nucleotides). Describe that cells transfer chemical energy from food to special molecules (i.e., ATP, fat, carbohydrates) through a process that involves enzymes, to be used later by the cell. Describe that cells build large molecules required for cell functions from smaller molecules (i.e., proteins from amino acids, carbohydrates from simple sugars, lipids/fats from fatty acids, DNA from nucleotides). Describe that enzymes regulate the reactions that transfer chemical energy from food molecules to special molecules that store the chemical energy (i.e., ATP, lipids/fats, carbohydrates). LS1F(4) 2 Science Test & Item Specifications Biology (continued): Modifications in 2013 October 2013 Item Spec Fall 2012 version LS1F(5) Describe that chemical energy stored in special molecules (i.e., ATP, fat, carbohydrate) is used by cells to drive cell processes. Fall 2013 version Describe that chemical energy stored in special molecules (i.e., ATP, lipids/fats, carbohydrate) is used by cells to drive cell processes. LS1I(7) Describe the possible combinations of offspring in a simple Mendelian genetic cross for two traits (e.g., given a Punnett square for two traits, fill in missing cell(s); given parent genotypes determine genotypic/phenotypic ratios of offspring). LS1I(8) LS2A(3) LS2A(4) LS3A(2) LS3B(2) vocab Describe the possible combinations of offspring in a simple Mendelian genetic cross for two traits (e.g., given a Punnett square for two traits, fill in one missing cell). Describe the possible combinations of offspring in a genetic cross involving codominance or incomplete dominance for a single trait. removed Describe the cycle of nitrogen through ecosystems (e.g., nitrogen in air is taken in by bacteria in soil, then made directly available to plants through the soil, and returned to the soil and atmosphere when the plants decompose). Describe the cycle of nitrogen through ecosystems (e.g., nitrogen in air is taken in by bacteria in soil, then made directly available to plants through the soil or to the plants through animal waste, and returned to the soil and atmosphere when the plants decompose). Describe the transfers and transformations of matter and/or energy in an ecosystem (e.g., sunlight transforms to chemical energy during photosynthesis, chemical energy and matter are transferred when animals eat plants or other animals, carbon dioxide produced by animals during respiration is used by plants and transformed to glucose during photosynthesis, decomposition of organisms produces carbon dioxide). Describe that some traits will improve an individual’s survival rates and subsequent reproduction in environments with a finite supply of resources. Describe the molecular processes and/or environmental factors by which mutations can occur (e.g., insertion, deletion, substitution, or UV radiation in sunlight). Describe the transfers and transformations of matter and/or energy in an ecosystem (e.g., sunlight transforms to chemical energy during photosynthesis, chemical energy and matter are transferred when animals eat plants or other animals, carbon dioxide produced by animals and plants during respiration is used by plants and transformed to glucose during photosynthesis, decomposition of organisms produces carbon dioxide). Describe that some traits will improve an individual’s survival rate and subsequent reproduction in environments with a finite supply of resources. Describe the molecular processes (e.g., insertion, deletion, substitution) and/or environmental factors (e.g., UV radiation in sunlight) by which mutations can occur. added "lipid" and "stability" 3