Students are given strategies and tools to become scientifically literate. Focus on student understanding and use of scientific knowledge, ideas, and inquiry processes form the basis of the science concept-based curriculum, which is organized into the three sciences earth, life, and physical. Teaching and assessing are inseparable partners, thus assessing should be continuous, not just at test time. Three examples are performance based assessments, portfolios, and open-ended questions. Science journal writing captures a dimension of students conceptual understanding that is different from other types of assessments.
Children are able to record procedures and results from investigations and observations.
Resulting data from assessments should drive instruction and influence decisions about students.