Uncovering Student Ideas in Science
Index of Formative Assessment Probes Connecting to
Georgia Performance Standards for 6th Grade Earth & Space Science
S6E1.Students willexplorecurrent scientific views of the universe and how those viewsevolved.a.Relate the Nature of Science to the progression of basic historical scientific models(geocentric, heliocentric)as they describe our solar system, and the Big Bang as it describes the formation ofthe universe.
b.Describe the positionof the solar system in the Milky Way galaxy and the universe.
c.Compare and contrast the planets interms of
- Size relative to the earth
- Surface and atmospheric features
- Relative distance from the sun
- Ability to support life
e.Explain that gravity is the force that governs the motion in the solar system.
f.Describe the characteristics of comets, asteroids, and meteors.
Emmyʼs Moon and Stars (Keeley et al., 2007)
scale size and distance in the universe, stars, moon / p. 177 / Vol. 2
Where Do Stars Go? (Keeley et al., 2008) stars / p. 191 / Vol. 3
Pizza Sun (Keeley and Sneider, 2012) apparent vs. actual size, Sun: size / AST
How Far Away Is the Sun? (Keeley and Sneider, 2012) apparent vs. actual size, Sun: distance, Sun: location relative to Earth
Sunspots (Keeley and Sneider, 2012)
solar system objects: spin, Sun: surface features
Changing Constellations (Keeley and Sneider, 2012) objects in the sky, seasons: cause, seasons: constellations, solar system objects: orbits, solar system objects: spin
Where Do You Find Gravity? (Keeley and Sneider, 2012) gravity, other planetary systems, solar system objects: identity, solar system objects: orbits, space exploration
Shooting Star (Keeley and Sneider, 2012)
objects in the sky, solar system objects: identity, stars: locations
Is the Sun a Star? (Keeley and Sneider, 2012) apparent vs. actual size, solar system objects: identity, stars: brightness and distance, stars: locations
Where Are the Stars in Orion? (Keeley and Sneider, 2012)
objects in the sky, stars: brightness and distance, stars: locations
Which Is Bigger? (Keeley and Sneider, 2012)
apparent vs. actual size, solar system objects: identity, stars: size
What Are Stars Made of? (Keeley and Sneider, 2012) stars: composition
What Happens to Stars When They Die? (Keeley and Sneider, 2012)
stars: evolution
Do Stars Change? (Keeley and Sneider, 2012)
stars: brightness and distance, stars: composition, stars: evolution, stars: size
Are We Made of Star Stuff? (Keeley and Sneider, 2012)
stars: composition, stars: evolution,stars: origin of elements
Seeing into the Past (Keeley and Sneider, 2012)
galaxies, speed of light, stars: brightness and distance
What Is the Milky Way? (Keeley and Sneider, 2012)
galaxies, objects in the sky, stars: locations
Expanding Universe (Keeley and Sneider, 2012)
big bang theory, galaxies, speed of light
Is the Big Bang Just a Theory? (Keeley and Sneider, 2012) big bang theory
S6E2.Students will understand theeffects of therelative positionsof theearth, moonand sun.
a.Demonstrate the phases of the moon by showing the alignment of the earth, moon, and sun.
b.Explainthealignment of the earth, moon, and sun during solar and lunar eclipses.
c.Relate the tilt of the earth to the distribution of sunlight throughout the yearand its effect onclimate.
Gazing at the Moon (Keeley et al., 2005) moon phases / p. 177 / Vol. 1
Going Through a Phase (Keeley et al., 2005) moon phases / p. 183
Darkness at Night (Keeley et al., 2007) day/night cycle, Earth's axis, rotation / p. 171 / Vol. 2
Objects in the Sky (Keeley et al., 2007) light reflection, light source, stars, moon, Sun / p. 185
Summer Talk (Keeley et al., 2008) Earth-Sun system, seasons / p. 177 / Vol. 3
Me and My Shadow (Keeley et al., 2008) Sun-Earth system, shadows / p. 185
Moonlight (Keeley and Tugel, 2009) light reflection, moon, moon phases / p. 161 / Vol. 4
Lunar Eclipse (Keeley and Tugel, 2009) / p. 167
Solar Eclipse (Keeley and Tugel, 2009) / p. 173
What Causes Night and Day? (Keeley and Sneider, 2012)
day-night cycle, Earth: shape, Earth: spin / AST
The 2 Rʼs(Keeley and Sneider, 2012)
day-night cycle, Earth: orbit, Earth: seasons, Earth: spin
Where Did the Sun Go? (Keeley and Sneider, 2012)
day-night cycle, Earth: shape, Earth: spin
Sunrise to Sunset (Keeley and Sneider, 2012) objects in the sky, seasons: cause, seasons: length of day, solar system objects: spin, Sun: altitude at noon, Sun: path in sky
No Shadow (Keeley and Sneider, 2012) objects in the sky, seasons: cause, solar system objects: spin, Sun: altitude at noon, Sun: path in sky
Whatʼs Moving? (Keeley and Sneider, 2012) seasons: constellations, solar system objects: orbits, solar system objects: spin, Sun: location relative to Earth
Shorter Days in Winter (Keeley and Sneider, 2012)
seasons: cause, seasons: length of day, solar system objects: spin, Sun: path in the sky
Changing Constellations (Keeley and Sneider, 2012) objects in the sky, seasons: cause, seasons: constellations, solar system objects: orbits, solar system objects: spin
Why Is It Warmer in Summer? (Keeley and Sneider, 2012) seasons: cause, seasons: constellations, seasons: length of day, solar system objects: orbits, Sun: altitude at noon, Sun: distance, Sun: path in the sky
Seeing the Moon (Keeley and Sneider, 2012)
Moon: appearance, objects in the sky, solar system objects: identity
Sizing Up the Moon (Keeley and Sneider, 2012)
apparent vs. actual size, Moon: appearance, Moon: size
Does the Moon Orbit the Earth? (Keeley and Sneider, 2012)
gravity, Moon: orbit, solar system objects: orbits, solar system objects: spin
Earth or Moon Shadow? (Keeley and Sneider, 2012)
Moon: appearance, Moon: orbit, Moon: phase, objects in the sky
Moon Phase and Solar Eclipse (Keeley and Sneider, 2012) Moon: appearance, Moon: eclipse, Moon: orbit, Moon: phase, solar system objects: orbits, Sun: eclipse
Comparing Eclipses (Keeley and Sneider, 2012)
Moon: appearance, Moon: eclipse, Moon: orbit, Moon: size, Sun: eclipse
Moon Spin (Keeley and Sneider, 2012)
Moon: appearance, Moon: orbit, Moon: spin, objects in the sky, solar system objects: spin
Chinese Moon (Keeley and Sneider, 2012)
Moon: appearance, Moon: phases, objects in the sky
Crescent Moon (Keeley and Sneider, 2012) Moon: appearance, Moon: phase
How Long Is a Day on the Moon? (Keeley and Sneider, 2012)
Moon: orbit, Moon: spin, solar system objects: orbits, solar system objects: spin
Does the Earth Go Through Phases? (Keeley and Sneider, 2012)
Moon: orbit, Moon: phase, solar system objects: spin
Is the Moon Falling? (Keeley and Sneider, 2012)
gravity, Moon: orbit, solar system objects: orbits
Whatʼs Inside Our Solar System? (Keeley and Sneider, 2012)
objects in the sky, solar systm objects: identity
How Do Planets Orbit the Sun? (Keeley and Sneider, 2012)
gravity, solar systm objects: identity, solar system objects: orbits
Is It a Planet or a Star? (Keeley and Sneider, 2012)
apparent vs. actual size, objects in the sky, solar system objects: identity
Human Space Travel (Keeley and Sneider, 2012)
gravity, other planetary systems, solar system objects: identity, space exploration, stars: locations
Gravity in Other Planetary Systems (Keeley and Sneider, 2012)
gravity, solar system objects: orbits, solar system objects: spin, space exploration
S6E3.Students will recognize the significant role of water in earth processes.
a.Explain that a large portion of the Earth’s surface is water, consisting of oceans,rivers, lakes, underground water, and ice.
b.Relatevariousatmospheric conditions to stages of the water cycle.
c.Describe the composition, location, and subsurface topography of the world’s oceans.
d.Explain the causes of waves, currents, and tides.
Wet Jeans (Keeley et al., 2005) water cycle, evaporation / p. 155 / Vol. 1
Beach Sand (Keeley et al., 2005) weathering, erosion, deposition / p. 163
What Are Clouds Made of? (Keeley et al., 2008)
clouds, condensation, water cycle, water vapor / p. 155 / Vol. 3
Where Did the Water Come From? (Keeley et al., 2008)
condensation, evaporation, water cycle, water vapor / p. 163
Rainfall (Keeley et al., 2008) clouds, gravity, precipitation, rain, water cycle / p. 171
S6E4.Students will understandhow the distributionof land and oceans affects climate andweather.
a.Demonstratethat land and water absorb and lose heat at different ratesand explain the resulting effects on weather patterns.
b.Relate unequal heating of land and water surfacestoform large global wind systemsand weather events such as tornados and thunderstorms.
c.Relate how moisture evaporating from the oceansaffectsthe weatherpatterns and weather events such as hurricanes.
Global Warming (Keeley and Tugel, 2009)
climate change, global warming, greenhouse gas / p. 143 / Vol. 4
S6E5.Students willinvestigatethe scientific view of how the earth’s surface is formed.
a.Compare and contrast the Earth’s crust, mantle, and core including temperature, density, and composition.
b.Investigate the contribution of minerals to rock composition.
c.Classify rocks by their process of formation.
d.Describe processes that change rocks and the surface of the earth.
e.Recognizethatlithosphericplates constantly move and causemajor geological events on the earth’s surface.
f.Explain the effects of physical processes (plate tectonics, erosion, deposition, volcanic eruption, gravity) on geological features including oceans (composition, currents, and tides).
g.Describehow fossils show evidence of the changing surface and climate of the Earth.
h.Describe soil as consistingof weathered rocks and decomposed organic material.
i.Explain the effectsof human activity on theerosion of theearth’ssurface.
j.Describemethods for conserving natural resources such as water, soil, and air.
Mountain Age (Keeley et al., 2005) weathering, landforms, mountains / p. 169 / Vol. 1
Is It a Rock? V1 (Keeley et al., 2007) minerals, rocks, weathering and erosion / p. 151 / Vol. 2
Is It a Rock? V2 (Keeley et al., 2007) minerals, rocks / p. 157
Mountaintop Fossil (Keeley et al., 2007)
fossils, landforms, uplift, weathering and erosion / p. 165
Earth’s Mass closed system, conservation of mass, cycling of matter, decay (or decomposition), transformation of matter / p. 147
Camping Trip (Keeley and Tugel, 2009)
heat transfer, solar radiation, temperature, weather / p. 137 / Vol. 4
Where Would It Fall? (Keeley and Tugel, 2009)
Earth’s water distribution, oceans, surface of the Earth / p. 157
S6E6.Students willdescribevarious sources of energy and with their uses and conservation.
a.Explain the role of the sun as the major source of energy and its relationship to wind and water energy.
b.Identifyrenewable and nonrenewable resources.
Where Does Oil Come From? (Keeley and Tugel, 2009)
fossil fuel, natural resource, renewable/non-renewable resource / p. 151 / Vol. 4
Nature of science, unifying concepts, and other topics
Is It a Theory? (Keeley et al., 2008)
theory, hypothesis, scientific law, nature of science / p. 83 / Vol. 3
Doing Science (Keeley et al., 2008) experiment, nature of science, scientific inquiry, scientific method / p. 93
What Is a Hypothesis? (Keeley et al., 2008) hypothesis, nature of science, scientific inquiry, scientific method / p. 101
Is It a Model? (Keeley and Tugel, 2009) model / p. 73 / Vol. 4
Is It a System? (Keeley and Tugel, 2009) system / p. 81
Book Titles:
Vol. 1=Uncovering Student Ideas in Science Vol. 1 - 25 Formative Assessment Probes
Vol. 2=Uncovering Student Ideas in Science Vol. 2 - 25 More Formative Assessment Probes
Vol. 3=Uncovering Student Ideas in Science Vol. 3 - Another 25 Formative Assessment Probes
Vol. 4=Uncovering Student Ideas in Science Vol. 4 - 25 NEW Formative Assessment Probes
AST=Uncovering Student Ideas in Astronomy- 45 New Formative Assessment Probes
Document compiled by: Ashley Potter & Jeremy Peacock, Northeast GA RESA/Oconee River GYSTC