Solids & Liquids
	Assessment Suggestions

HASP is in the process of learning about assessment. The assessment tools found here are suggestions and perhaps beginnings for your own assessment ideas. Since we are in the revision process, if you choose to use these assignments with your students, please send us your results via e-mail, hasp@dcs.edu.

Purpose:

To determine the student's ability to:

• describe the properties of solids and liquids
• compare and contrast properties of solids and liquids
• utilize observations and tests to draw conclusions

 

Objective:

Students will describe, compare, and record the properties of solids and liquids through observation and testing.

 

Materials:

piece of white Styrofoam - for example, white Styrofoam cup
milk in a clear container - for example, clear plastic cup
rock salt in a clear container - for example, clear plastic cup
CHALLENGE material -- white sand in a clear container
recording sheets - attached

 

Recommended Procedure:

Before class - Continue to display the Properties of Solids and Liquids charts in your classroom for review and referral. Make available any materials previously used by the students for testing, such as water and magnets, for the students to use in their testing procedures.

 

During class - Follow the steps listed below:

1. Review with the students the properties of solids and liquids.
2. Review with the students ways to test materials to determine if the observed material is a solid or a liquid.
3. Ask each student to gather his or her materials from the materials center.
4. Allow an ample amount of exploration time.
5. After exploration time, direct the students to individually record observations, comparisons, and contrasts using the Is It a Solid or a Liquid? student recording sheets.

Note: Please administer the performance assessment in a manner that will accommodate the developmental level of your students. For example, if you use the module at the beginning of the school year, you may want to script your student's responses. Also, you may want to consider administering the assessment in two sessions.

 

After class - Follow the steps listed below:

1. Analyze and critique the performance assessment according to the rubric guideline included in this module.
2. Use questioning strategies to clarify students' responses as necessary.
3. Provide any necessary comments concerning the observations of the students.

 

Teacher Scoring RubricStudent Recording Sheets (page 1) (page 2)

Record Sheet 11-A (page 1) (page 2)

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