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    Second Grade
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    Scoring guide · Weeks 19–24 · 25–30 min · 32 points

    Science Unit 4 Test: Earth's Systems: Water, Wind & Land

    Directions for the grown-up

    You may read every question, choice, table and passage aloud to your child. This test checks science thinking, not reading. Do not explain science words or hint at answers. Show your child the map before the first section and read the key aloud together. The "Weather & Water Cycle" section checks what Weeks 22 and 23 taught: weather records, wind, and water changing between ice and liquid and flowing downhill.

    Part 1: Land & Water Features (8 points)

    Standards: 2-ESS2-2, 2-ESS2-3

    1. On the map, what does the blue wavy line show?Answer: a river · 2 points
    2. The river flows from the mountain into the lake. Why does the water flow that way?Answer: Water flows downhill. The mountain is high and the lake is in a low place. · 2 points
    3. Circle the TWO places where water is found as a solid.Answer: glacier and ice cap · 2 points
    4. A class tossed a globe 20 times. A thumb landed on water 15 times and on land 5 times. What does this tell you about Earth?Answer: Most of Earth's surface is covered by water (more water than land). · 2 points

    Scoring: Item 1: 2 points. Item 2: 2 points for downhill or high to low; 1 point for "the lake is there". Item 3: 1 point for each correct choice; take off 1 point for each wrong choice circled (not below 0). Item 4: 2 points.

    Reteach: Week 19, Week 21, Week 22

    Part 2: Erosion & Change (8 points)

    Standards: 2-ESS1-1, 2-ESS2-1

    1. Write F for a fast change or S for a slow change. ___ an earthquake cracks a road ___ a glacier scrapes out a valley ___ a volcano erupts ___ ocean waves wear a cliff down into sandAnswer: F, S, F, S · 2 points
    2. Two sand hills got the same amount of water. Look at the table. Which hill lost more sand? How many more spoons?Answer: Hill A (bare sand); 9 more spoons (12 - 3 = 9) · 2 points
    3. What does the hill test tell you about plants and erosion?Answer: Plants (and their roots) cover and hold the soil, so they slow erosion. · 2 points
    4. How is weathering different from erosion?Answer: Weathering breaks rock into smaller pieces. Erosion moves the pieces to a new place. · 2 points

    Scoring: Item 1: 2 points for all four right, 1 point for two or three right. Item 2: 1 point for Hill A, 1 point for 9. Item 3: 2 points for plants holding or covering soil. Item 4: 1 point for each word explained.

    Reteach: Week 20, Week 24

    Part 3: Weather & Water Cycle (8 points)

    Standards: 2-ESS2-3, 2-ESS1-1, 2-ESS2-1

    1. How many days had rain? What was the wind like on those days?Answer: 2 days (Tuesday and Wednesday); the wind was strong. · 2 points
    2. A pinwheel spun 30 times in an open field, 12 times behind a bush and 8 times next to a wall. Which spot was windiest? Why did it spin less next to the wall?Answer: The open field. The wall blocks the wind. · 2 points
    3. It gets very cold and the water in a puddle freezes. Is it solid or liquid now? What will happen when the sun warms it?Answer: Solid (ice). It will melt back into liquid water. · 2 points
    4. In spring, snow on a mountain melts. Where will the water go?Answer: It flows downhill into streams, rivers or lakes (low places). · 2 points

    Scoring: Items 1 to 3: 1 point for each part. Item 4: 2 points for downhill into a river, lake or other low place; 1 point for "it goes away" or "into the ground".

    Reteach: Week 22, Week 23

    Part 4: CER Response (8 points)

    Standards: 2-ESS2-1, 2-ESS1-1

    1. Does a stronger wind change the land more? Claim: My answer is ____. Evidence: The table shows ____. Reasoning: This is because ____.Answer: Answers vary. Look for: Claim: yes, a stronger wind moves more sand and changes the land more. Evidence: soft blowing moved 1 spoon, medium moved 3, hard moved 6. Reasoning: wind is moving air; moving air can carry sand to a new place (erosion); stronger wind carries more, so a windstorm can change a beach fast. · 8 points

    Scoring: Claim: 2 points for a clear answer to the question, 1 for a partly correct answer. Evidence: 3 points for two or more facts or numbers from the table, 2 for one, 1 for evidence that is true but not from the table. Reasoning: 3 points for a science idea that links the evidence to the claim, 2 for a link with a small gap, 1 for a restated claim. Spelling does not count. If your child says it well but cannot write it, write down their words and score them.

    Reteach: Week 20, Week 23

    D/A/P/E point bands (out of 32)
    LevelPoints
    D · Developing0–15
    A · Approaching16–22
    P · Proficient23–28
    E · Exemplary29–32