Unit 2 Assessment: Success!

Last week my students took the assessment on mini-unit 2.  The unit focused on the general structure of the solar system.  The questions and results from the assessment are listed below.

Question: What is at the center of the solar system? (Multiple choice)

• 18/19 correct

Question: Name the 4 inner planets. (List)

• 4 correct: 17/19
• Only 3 correct: 2/19
• Only 2 correct: 0
• Only 1 correct: 0
• None correct: 0

Question: What is one way the inner planets are alike? (Short answer)

• 16/19 correct

Question: Name the 4 outer planets. (List)

• 4 correct: 17/19
• Only 3 correct: 2/19
• Only 2 correct: 0
• Only 1 correct: 0
• None correct: 0

Question: What is one way the outer planets are alike? (Short answer)

• 15/19 correct

Question: Tell one way the inner planets are different from the outer planets. (Short answer)

• 13/19 completely correct
• 5/19 partially correct (gave detail about 1 only, did not tell which was which, etc.)
• 1/19 completely incorrect

Mean: 92.3%
Median: 100%
Range: 62% - 100%
Scores:

•  100% (10 students)
•  92% (5 students)
•  85% (1 student)
•  77% (1 student)
•  69% (1 student)
• 62% (1 student)

Notes:

• 62% - Sarah – absent 3 days of unit
• 69% - Kara – absent 2 days of unit

Overall, I was very happy with the scores.  Students showed an understanding of the structure of the solar system and were able to identify and describe both the inner and outer planets.  This unit was likely successful because of the increase in student engagement with the material.  Students worked with partners to read a variety of texts about the solar system.  The students read the texts with a specific purpose in mind each time.  This allowed students to focus in on the important information from each passage and remain engaged with the material as opposed to sitting and listening to me present the information.  In this unit, the students were the ones doing most of the work, and I believe it paid off.