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What do the achievement levels mean? What Fourth Graders Know and Are Able to Do
What do the achievement levels mean?
BASIC-
Partial Mastery
Students performing at the Basic level demonstrate some of the knowledge and reasoning required for understanding of the earth, physical, and life sciences at a level appropriate to Grade 4. For example, they can carry out simple investigations and read uncomplicated graphs and diagrams. Students at this level also show a beginning understanding of classification, simple relationships, and energy.
PROFICIENT-
Solid Performance
Students performing at the Proficient level demonstrate the knowledge and reasoning required for understanding of the earth, physical, and life sciences at a level appropriate to Grade 4. For example, they understand concepts relating to the Earth's features, physical properties, and structure and function. In addition, students can formulate solutions to familiar problems as well as show a beginning awareness of issues associated with technology.
ADVANCED-
Superior Performance
Students performing at the Advanced level demonstrate a solid understanding of the earth, physical, and life sciences as well as the ability to apply their understanding to practical situations at a level appropriate to Grade 4. For example, they can perform and critique simple investigations, make connections from one or more of the sciences to predict or conclude, and apply fundamental concepts to practical applications.
What Fourth Graders Know and Are Able to Do
- Identify features that help deer survive
- Describe the temperature on the surface of the sun
- Recognize why the Moon can be seen from the Earth
- Explain which type of colored markers are appropriate for young children
- Draw and label the Pupa stage of a butterfly
- Identify how bicycle reflectors work
- Explain how new types of rocks form after a volcano has erupted
- Identify which animals have a large number of young when they reproduce
- Draw Venus and its orbit
- Identify and explain the parts of a plant
- Explain the temperature effect on buckets of water
- Identify items which conduct electricity
- Identify an appropriate experimental design
- Explain the relationship between climate and house construction
- Identify which graph represents the result of eggs from a toad