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Uncovering Student Ideas Probes

Life Science

 

 

Life Science Probes

Lesson Plan

Baby Mice

The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit students’ ideas about heredity. The probe is designed to reveal how students think organisms inherit observable traits. ...

By Page Keeley

Middle School Assessment Life Science

Lesson Plan

Giant Sequoia Tree

The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit students’ ideas about the transformation of matter. The probe is designed to reveal whether students recognize that most of the matter that makes up the wood of a tree can be traced back to carbon d...

By Page Keeley

Middle School Assessment Life Science

Lesson Plan

Plants in the Dark and Light

The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit students’ ideas about plant growth. The probe is designed to find out whether students recognize that plants use their stored food to grow in the absence of light. ...

By Page Keeley

Middle School Assessment Life Science

Lesson Plan

Needs of Seeds

The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit students’ ideas about seeds. The probe is designed to find out what students think most seeds need to germinate. ...

By Page Keeley

Elementary Assessment Life Science

Lesson Plan

Is It a Plant?

The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit students’ ideas about the concept of a plant. The probe is designed to find out how students determine whether a living thing is considered to be a plant. ...

By Page Keeley

Elementary Assessment Life Science

Lesson Plan

Chicken Eggs

The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit students’ ideas about food, transformation of matter, growth and development, conservation of mass, and systems. The concepts underlying this probe are complex. It is not important that students kno...

By Page Keeley and Joyce Tugel

Middle School High School Assessment Life Science

Lesson Plan

Rotting Apple

The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit students’ ideas about decay and decomposers. The probe can be used to determine whether students recognize the need for a biological agent to break down once-living material as it uses it for energy...

By Page Keeley, Francis Eberle and Chad Dorsey

Assessment Life Science

Lesson Plan

Digestive System

The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit students’ ideas about the digestive system. The probe is designed to find out whether students realize a main function of the digestive system is to break food down into molecules that can be used b...

By Page Keeley and Joyce Tugel

Middle School Assessment Life Science

Lesson Plan

Adaptation

The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit students’ ideas about biological adaptation. The probe is designed to find out if students think animals intentionally adapt to a change in their environment. ...

By Page Keeley and Joyce Tugel

Middle School High School Assessment Life Science

Lesson Plan

Ecosystem Cycles

The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit students’ ideas about the transfer of matter and energy in ecosystems. The probe is designed to reveal whether students recognize that only matter is cycled through an ecosystem. ...

By Page Keeley

Middle School High School Assessment Life Science

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