Assessments
The Amplify Science curriculum was constructed to develop deep science knowledge and understanding, not merely touching on each science concept, but allowing for a depth of coverage in a variety of modalities for each. The program’s system of assessments tied to unit learning progressions (called Progress Builds, more below) provides an innovative means of supporting all students in developing this deep understanding. By aligning instruction to focused, meaningful, and standards-based learning goals through the use of instructionally embedded, multi-modal assessment opportunities and carefully sequenced Progress Builds, Amplify Science ensures that every student is achieving the level of understanding required by each unit.
- On-the-Fly Assessments (formative): Three-dimensional tasks integrated throughout the lessons. On-the-Fly Assessment opportunities are designed to help a teacher make sense of student activity during a learning experience (e.g., student-to-student talk, writing, model construction) and to provide evidence of how a student is coming to understand core concepts and developing dexterity with SEPs and CCCs.
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Student Self-Assessments (formative): One per chapter; brief meta-cognitive opportunities for students to reflect on their own learning, ask questions, and reveal ongoing thoughts about unit content.
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End-of-Unit Assessment (summative): Targeted conversations (K–1), written responses (grades 2–5). Summative assessments for each unit are designed to provide valid, reliable, and fair measures of students’ progress and attainment of three-dimensional learning.