SCIENCE & TESTING

CMT-SCIENCE

• Given for the first time in Spring 2008 in grades 5 & 8

• Consists of multiple choice and open ended questions

• Based on student expected performances from state frameworks

• Covers Content, Inquiry, and Embedded Tasks

Content• Physical Science• Life Science • Earth Science• Inquiry or Process Skills

K – 5 Science Sequence Chart Time / Pacing

Grade

Fall

Sept.-Nov.

Winter

Dec.-March

Spring

April-June

K

Weather*

Senses

Healthy Body Measurement

Describing Animals

and Plants

1

Animals Shelter

Day Sky

Animals cont.

Soils

Plants

2

Night Sky

Food Resources*

Weather* Properties of Matter

Life Cycles

3

Living Organisms

Changes in Matter

Rocks & Minerals

Earth’s Waters

Resources

4

Changing

Landforms (Sept.-Oct.)

Electricity, Motion

& Magnetism (Nov.-Jan.)

Ecosystems(Feb.-April)

Plant Adaptations Animals

Adaptations & Endangered Species

(April-June)

5

Light & Vision

Sound & Hearing

Earth, Moon & Sun

Earth cont.

Flowering Plants

* Introduced but continued all year as appropriate/mod. 8/29/08

6 – 8 Science Sequence

Time / Pacing

Grade

1st Quarter

2nd Quarter

3rd Quarter

4th Quarter

6

Weather

& Climate

Ecosystems

Work

& Energy

Water Quality

7

Matter

Atomic Structure

Structure Cont’d.

Periodic Table

Structure

of the Earth

Earth’s Crust

Cells

Food Technology

8

Force

& Motion

Bridges

Solar

System

Human

Body Systems

(Digestive, Respiratory

& Circulatory)

Genetics

Human Body

Systems Cont’d.

Embedded Tasks

• Inquiry-based Investigations (Scientific inquiry is a thoughtful and coordinated attempt to search out, describe, explain and predict natural phenomena)

• Two parts- a structured investigation first, then students plan their own based on the problem given.

• Example: Soggy Paper-students first follow a procedure to compare paper towels, napkins and tissue paper in absorbing water, then they design their own experiment to compare two different brands of paper towels in absorbing water.

Embedded Tasks-Elementary School

• 3rd grade-Soggy Paper• 4th grade-Go With The Flow• 5th grade-Catch It

Embedded Tasks-Middle School• 6th grade-Dig It• 7th grade-LifeSavers/Sugar cube (district task)• 8th grade-Feel the Beat, Shipping and Sliding

CMT results-Grade 5-2009

• At/Above Proficiency-86.4%• 9 out of 12 schools above the state average in

proficiency.• 7 out of 12 schools showed an increase in

scores from last year.• We are first in our reference group.

CMT results-Grade 8-2009

• At/Above proficiency-66%• 1 school above the state average in

proficiency• 1 school showed an increase in scores.• We are 4 out of 9 in our reference group

Abilities Necessary to do Scientific Inquiry (5-8)

• Identifies questions that can be answered through scientific investigations.

• Design and conduct a scientific investigation.• Use appropriate tools to gather, analyze, and interpret data.• Develop descriptions, explanations, predictions, and models using

evidence.• Think critically and logically to make the relationships between evidence

and explanations.• Recognize and analyze alternative explanations and predictions.• Communicate scientific procedures and explanations.• Use mathematics in all aspects of scientific inquiry.• Understanding about scientific inquiry.

District Preparation• Aligned district curriculum with state frameworks• Introduced new state embedded tasks grades 3-8• Required written formal science lab reports each

year• Introduced district science unit assessments in all

topics• Introduced concepts of inquiry based science

instruction• Professional development given in main science

topic areas

Preparation cont.

• Assembled a bank of CMT like questions for ongoing practice and reinforcement

• Organized a CMT like practice exam for grades 8 and 5

• Organized grant opportunities with colleges and IFI for our teachers to attend

• Introduced technology-computers, software, probes and smart boards

CAPT SCIENCE TEST-10th GRADE

• Measures key concepts in Earth, Life and Physical Science as well as in Experimentation

• Consists of clustered multiple choice and open ended questions

• State mandated week- long lab investigation now being replaced by 5 embedded tasks

Experimentation• Recognize and define problems for scientific

investigations• Design appropriate problems to solve the problem• Predict the results based on knowledge of

problem-related content• Conduct investigations, collect data and record

observations• Interpret data, draw conclusions and assess their

validity

SCIENCE STRANDS

9th grade-Strand 1-Energy Transformations9th grade-Strand 2-Chemical Structures and

Properties9th grade-Strand 3-Global Interdependence

SCIENCE STRANDS cont.

10th grade-STRAND 4-Cell Chemistry and Biotechnology

10th grade-STRAND 5-Genetics, Evolution and Biodiversity

CAPT Results

• At/Above Proficiency-76%• 2 out of 3 schools showed increase in scores• Achievement gap smaller in Norwalk than the

state average• All 3 schools slightly below state average

DATA COLLECTED

• Individual scores-guides placement in grad prep course, assists teachers in giving in class support

• District scores- used for curriculum revisions• Released items-supports classroom

instruction and additional student practice

LIMITATIONS OF DATA

• Scores for each domain but not broken down by objective

• Not all topics covered equally in test questions• Released items only a sample from the test

What We HAVE DONE WITH RESULTS• Science graduation credits now increased to 3• Low level courses have been eliminated• All biology students now get a full lab experience• Emphasis on writing in all science classes• Grad prep classes offered for graduation• New science electives introduced- Meteorology, Science &

Society, Biotechnology, Anatomy & Physiology• 9th and 10th grade courses revamped based on new

frameworks and test results• Teacher resource guides for full year science courses• Introduced more inquiry-based lab investigations using the

CAPT lab rubric• Started a pre-engineering program with technology called

Project Lead The Way• Developed an accelerated sequence for 9th grades to take

Biology

OTHER ASSESSMENTS

• District unit exams and required labs in 9th and 10th grade science

• Close monitoring of AP enrollment and performance

• Embedded Tasks now part of our curriculum

New Developments

• National Science Standards Under Revision• State considering adopting new standards and

joining other states for testing• STEM initiatives part of new graduation

requirements• No changes to CMT and CAPT until 2014 or

later