Powerful Classroom Assessments (PCAs)
Middle School (Grade 8)

The following PCAs are from released test items. The Middle School (Grade 8) PCAs are organized by the three domains of science and then by scenario.

• The three domains are: Physical, Earth/Space, and Life (EALR 4).
• The three scenarios are: Systems (EALR 1), Inquiry (EALR 2), and Application (EALR 3)

Clean Water

• Scenario and Items
• Scoring Guide
• Student Responses
  • Item 4: Environmental and Resources Issues
  • Item 7: Designing and Testing Solutions
  • Item 10: Scientific Concepts Used in a Solution
• Scoring Annotations
  • Item 4: Environmental and Resources Issues
  • Item 7: Designing and Testing Solutions
  • Item 10: Scientific Concepts Used in a Solution

What's Your Angle?

• Scenario and Items
• Scoring Guide
• Student Responses
  • Item 4: Write a Conclusion
  • Item 6: Modeling
  • Item 8: Energy Transfers in a System
  • Item 10: Plan an Investigation
• Scoring Annotations
  • Item 4: Write a Conclusion
  • Item 6: Modeling
  • Item 8: Energy Transfers in a System
  • Item 10: Plan an Investigation

In the Doghouse

• Scenario and Items
• Scoring Guide
• Student Responses
  
• Item 4: Writing a Conclusion
• Item 9: Design of a Solution
• Item 10: Plan an Investigation
• Scoring Annotations
  
• Item 4: Writing a Conclusion
• Item 9: Design of a Solution
• Item 10: Plan an Investigation

Bubble Gum vs. Chewing Gum

• Scenario and Items
• Scoring Guide
• Student Responses
  • Write a Conclusion
  • Plan an Investigation
• Scoring Annotations
  • Write a Conclusion
  • Plan an Investigation

Electricity to Light

• Scenario and Items
• Scoring Guide
• Student Responses
  • Item 6: Writing a Conclusion
  • Item 10: Design of a Solution
  • Item 11: Plan an Investigation
• Scoring Annotations
  • Item 6: Writing a Conclusion
  • Item 10: Design of a Solution
  • Item 11: Plan an Investigation

Tree Stump

• Scenario and Items
• Scoring Guide
• Student Responses
  • Item 5: Nature of Forces
  • Item 7: Describe Solutions
  • Item 10: Design a Solution
• Scoring Annotations
  • Item 5: Nature of Forces
  • Item 7: Describe Solutions
  • Item 10: Design a Solution

Soccer Soaker

• Scenario and Items
• Scoring Guide
• Student Responses
  • Item 4: Environmental and Resource Issues
  • Item 7: Processes that Change Landforms
  • Item 10: Design a Solution
• Scoring Annotations
  • Item 4: Environmental and Resource Issues
  • Item 7: Processes that Change Landforms
  • Item 10: Design a Solution

Respiratory System

• Scenario and Items
• Scoring Guide
• Student Responses
  • Item 3: Gas Exchange in Plants and Animals
  • Item 6: Interdependence of Human Body Systems
• Scoring Annotations
  • Item 3: Gas Exchange in Plants and Animals
  • Item 6: Interdependence of Human Body Systems

Wild About Radishes

• Scenario and Items
• Scoring Guide
• Student Responses
  • Item 4: Write a Conclusion
  • Item 7: Sources of Error
  • Item 10: Plan an Investigation
• Scoring Annotations
  • Item 4: Write a Conclusion
  • Item 7: Sources of Error
  • Item 10: Plan an Investigation

Bean Machine

• Scenario and Items
• Scoring Guide
• Student Responses
  • Item 4: Write a Conclusion
  • Item 8: Energy Flow
  • Item 11: Plan an Investigation
• Scoring Annotations
  • Item 4: Write a Conclusion
  • Item 8: Energy Flow
  • Item 11: Plan an Investigation

School Garden

• Scenario and Items
• Scoring Guide
• Student Responses
  • Item 3: Life cycle of a Plant
  • Item 6: Modeling
  • Item 10: Design a Solution
• Scoring Annotations
  • Item 3: Life cycle of a Plant
  • Item 6: Modeling
  • Item 10: Design a Solution