Download Sample Assessment Items

Sample Assessment Items
This is not meant to be printed off and given as a test…this document is to give you ideas
of how this standard might be assessed. Please use these as an example when you are
developing your own formative assessments. Remember formative assessment is to be
given throughout the teaching of a standard to help you guide your instruction based on
students needs. A good formative assessment should have a mix of multiple choice as
well as open ended.
S4E1. Students will compare and contrast the physical attributes of stars, star patterns,
and planets.
c. Explain why the pattern of stars in a constellation stays the same, but a planet
can be seen in different locations at different times.
Multiple Choice:
Looking into the night sky, you see Mars and the constellation Taurus. One week later,
you see that Mars has moved. However, Taurus is in the same place. Which statement
BEST explains your observations?
a. Mars is farther away than the stars.
b. Mars is moving much faster than the stars.
c. The stars are much farther away than Mars, so they appear not to move.
d. Earth and the stars move in one direction, and Mars moves in the other.
Answer:
The stars in the night sky look as if they are slowly moving because _______________.
a. the Earth is moving
b. they rotate around the Sun
c. they rotate around the Earth
d. the Sun blocks them out at times
Answer: a
Stars are organized into patterns called constellations. One constellation is named Leo.
Which statement BEST explains why Leo appears in different areas of the sky throughout
the year?
a. Earth revolves around the sun.
b. The sun revolves around Earth.
c. The constellations revolve around Earth.
d. Earth revolves around the constellations.
Answer: a
Why does the Moon appear larger than the stars?
a. The Moon is closer to Earth.
b. The Moon is larger than the stars.
c. The Moon is farther away from Earth.
d. The light of the Moon is brighter than the light of the Sun.
Answer: a
Over the summer, a student observed the night sky. The student noticed a planet's
position moved nightly across a constellation, while the stars of the constellation
remained in the same position. Why is the possible?
a. the planet is revolving around the earth
b. the planet is closer to earth than the stars
c. the planet is revolving faster around the stars
d. the planet is farther from the earth than the stars
Answer: b
Open ended:
Why are some constellations observed during some seasons, but not during other
seasons?
Why are planets seen in different locations in the night sky throughout the year?
Why does the pattern of stars in a constellation stay the same?