Unwrapping the Benchmarks

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Unwrapping the Benchmarks

• Debra Allen
• Lizbeth Gonzalez
• Curriculum Support Specialists
• North Regional Center

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Why Unwrap a Benchmark?

• Once we know what our learning targets are and
  have defined how we will assess them, we are able
  to think clearly about what combination of
  instruction and experiences will prepare students
  both to know what they need to know and to
  demonstrate their learning.
• From Stiggins, Arter, Chappuis, and Chappuis
• Classroom Assessment for Student Learning (2004)

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Why Unwrap a Benchmark?

• Unwrapping allows educators to
• Define mastery What do students need to know and
  be able to do?
• Identify the prerequisite skills and academic
  vocabulary needed to master the standard.
• Differentiate learning experiences for diverse
  learners.
• Select appropriate assessments to monitor and
  measure achievement.
• Develop deeper understanding about standards as
  part of a continuous improvement culture.

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Results of research conducted by National
Training Laboratories in Bethel, Maine.
Average Retention Rate
Lecture
Reading
Audio-Visual
Demonstration
Discussion Group
Practice by Doing
Teach Others/ Immediate Use
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Anticipation Guide

• An Anticipation Guide utilizes a twin strategy to
  increase reading comprehension
• stimulate prior knowledge and experiences before
  reading
• and then reinforce key concepts after reading.
• Anticipation Guides provide a good way to
  increase reading comprehension in the content
  areas. This approach will
• elicit students prior knowledge on the topic,
• set a purpose for reading,
• focus students' reading on the most important
  concepts
• and, provide springboards for group discussion
  of key concepts.

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Anticipation Guide

• Unwrapping the Benchmarks
• Instructions
• Check Agree or Disagree beside each statement
  below BEFORE participating in the Unwrapping the
  Benchmarks activity.
• Watch the Unwrapping the Benchmarks PPT and
  participate in the Unwrapping the Benchmark
  activities.
• Check Agree or Disagree beside each statement
  below AFTER previewing the Unwrapping the
  Benchmarks PPT.
• Compare the BEFORE and AFTER choices.

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What documents are needed to unwrap a benchmark?

• Unwrapping Benchmark Guide (ETS)
• FLDOE Item Specifications
• FLDOE Content Focus Report
• North Regional Center Content Focus Report
• Cognitive Complexity guide
• FLDOE Sample Tests (2008 2006)
• FLDOE Released Items
• FLDOE Released Test (8th grade only)
• Textbook and resource materials
• Resource Guide
• Essential Labs (Middle and Senior High School)
• District Pacing Guide
• Other

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Unwrapping the Benchmarks
Dept./ Grade_8th Content Strand/Cluster
Scientific Thinking Benchmark No._SC.H..1.3.5
Course _______________________ Cognitive
Level _______________________
All Science Courses
Benchmark SC.H.1.3.5 AA
High
MC, GR, SR, ER Controls Controls Controls Control
s Controls Effects of changing
Variables Effects of changing
variables Evaluating experimental
design Role of variables Role of variables Role
of variables Role of variables Role of
variables

• Items may address independent (manipulated) and
  dependent (responding) variables in controlled
  experiments.
• Items will NOT ask for definitions of variables.
• Items may include scenarios of laboratory
  investigations, or statements or questions
  regarding the role of variables in an
  investigation.

The student identifies and distinguishes between
different types of variables and explains the
role of each variable in an investigation.
The student knows that a change in one or more
variables may alter the outcome of an
investigation.
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FLDOE - Sample Test Items
MC pg 114 GR pg 115 SR pg 116 ER pg 117
2008 Question 6 pg 30 ER 2006 Question 15 pg 26
ER 2006 Question 16 pg 20 MC
2007 Released Test Question 27 pg 23 SR Question
30 pg 26 MC
FLDOE Sample Question Hyperlinked Document
Original link inactive. To access this document,
download FLDOE Hyperlinked 8th Grade Sample
Questions pdf document.
Sample questions can be utilized throughout the
instruction process.
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What do my students need to know and be able to
do?

• Identifies type of variables (independent,
  dependent, variables that are held constant)
• Explain role of variables
• From a given science experiment and provided data
  chart identify variables
• Identify a problem in an experimental design
  (i.e., keeping all variables the same except one)
• Design an experiment and identify the variables
  and their roles
• Explain what will happen in an experiment if an
  identified variable is not controlled or effects
  of changing a variable
• Explain why an identified variable must be held
  constant

• Know Scientific Method
• Definition of independent, dependent, and
  variables that are held constant
• Knows how to collect and record data from an
  experiment
• Understand how to read data charts
• Participated in science labs
• Created science experiments

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What do my students need to know?

• Scientific method
• Variable
• Independent (manipulated) variable
• Dependent (responding) variable
• Control group
• Control experiment
• Constants
• Data
• Vary

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Extended Learning

• Generated list of new questions to answer after
  completing a required lab
• Design original procedure and then carry out the
  experiment
• Flexible Grouping
• ESE and ESOL Incorporate accommodations as
  needed
• Create Multimedia presentation
• Graphic Organizers

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Learning and Assessing

• Benchmark Exam
• Science Fair Project
• Laboratory Reports
• Interim Assessments
• Bi-weekly, Tri-weekly, or Monthly School Designed
  Assessment
• Teacher Generated Assessment
• District Benchmark Assessment Item Bank

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School Site Resources
Laboratory Activities What lab activities will
provide support in teaching this
benchmark? Essential Lab/ Resource Guide
(8th) Spontaneous Generation (EL p. 64) Reaction
Time (EL p. 36) Rocket Car (EL p. 70) 5050
Change (EL p. 6) Text based lab activity Other
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Anticipation Guide

• Unwrapping the Benchmarks
• Instructions
• Check Agree or Disagree beside each statement
  below BEFORE participating in the Unwrapping the
  Benchmarks activity.
• Watch the Unwrapping the Benchmarks PPT and
  participate in the Unwrapping the Benchmark
  activities.
• Check Agree or Disagree beside each statement
  below AFTER previewing the Unwrapping the
  Benchmarks PPT.
• Compare the BEFORE and AFTER choices.

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Unwrapping the Benchmarks

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SSS SCIENCE BENCHMARKS ASSESSED AT 8TH GRADE
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