Science             

The Louisiana state science assessment includes:

A comprehensive science task that requires grade 4 students to observe, utilize, and react to materials in an investigation and make conclusions based on their experiences. Within the science task, students will answer three short-answer items and one essay based on a given problem or scenario. Short-answer and essay questions that allow students to reflect on a science concept, demonstrate their understanding of the unifying concepts and processes of science, make meaning of a given set of data, and critique the design or interpretation of results from an experiment.  Students will answer four independent short-answer items, as well as the ones included in the science task. Conceptual multiple-choice questions that focus on important science concepts and allow students to show their breadth of understanding of science concepts and the process of inquiry. There are 40 of these types of questions on the test.

Check out the General Scoring Rubrics to see how the short-answer and essay questions are scored.

The Science Framework is divided into five strands.  Each strand is then divided into "dimensions."   The dimensions represent what students are able to do with their scientific knowledge and skills within a particular content strand and help to ensure a broad coverage of the major concepts in science. The dimensioins provide both structure and detail to the strands by detailing what students are expected to be able to do with the concepts, processes, and ideas embedded within the strands. The chart below shows an overview of the strands and dimensions.  By clicking on the "strand" you will find more detailed information, along with sample test questions.

Strand	Strand Dimensions
Science as Inquiry	Questioning, Planning, Doing, and Recording Interpreting and Communicating
Physical Science                                                                 Life Science Earth and Space Science Science and the Environment	Understanding Essential Content and Concepts Explaining, Reflecting, and Connecting Applying and Using Knowledge and Technology

 You may also wish to view a complete list of benchmark statements for Grade 4.  These are all the science skills that a fourth grade student should know before promoting to fifth grade. 

See some sample test items here.

Take a practice Science test.