Work+Samples


 * Work Samples** are the Oregon Department of Education's means of assessing the Scientific Inquiry portion of it's science standards. A work sample is similar to what we would know as a lab report. Thus, it is done in conjunction with a hands-on experiment. Work samples consist of four main parts:
 * 1) Forming a Question or Hypothesis (not assessed for grades 3-5).
 * 2) Designing an Investigation
 * 3) Collecting and Presenting Data
 * 4) Analyzing and Interpreting Results

Grades 4-5 are the lowest grades required to be assessed via work samples. They are listed as Benchmark 2. Thus, they only have to be scored on parts 2-4 of their work sample. This means they are not required to form a question or hypothesis. This is often difficult for this age group, so it is best to just give them a question and a hypothesis (or form these orally as a class) before conducting the rest of the work sample.

A few important notes on work samples:
 * As this benchmark is for grades 3-5, it must be completed by the end of grade 5. This means that the work sample is usually conducted in fifth grade (usually the Mixtures and Solutions kit).
 * Although work samples are not required before grades 3-5, it is a good idea to familiarize students in younger grades to the scientific method and the work sample format, so that they will be comfortable doing work samples by the time they are required to do the "official" one.
 * Work samples must be completed individually.
 * The **designing** and **collecting** parts must be assessed on **the same** work sample, whereas the analyzing section may be assessed on a different work sample. Of course, it is probably easiest to just assess all three parts for the same work sample.
 * Unlike other standardized tests, work samples are self-assessed; that is, the teachers are responsible for grading them and keeping them on file. The work samples or the grades are not actually reported to the Dept of Education. Because of this, some teachers are not interested in doing them correctly, or doing them at all.

Good Foss Kit experiments to be done as work samples **(please help fill this in) **:
 * Solids and Liquids: ???
 * Physics of Sound: ???
 * Magnetism and Electricity
 * Breaking the Force
 * Mixtures and Solutions: ???

Here is a template for a work sample (adapted from a template developed by Angie Ruzicka). You may need to adapt this template to fit the particular experiment being conducted (especially the **designing** and **collecting** sections).

For more detailed and official information on work samples, see [|Science: Teaching and Learning to Standards] (pdf) (pp. **63-101**).
 * for specific info on Benchmark 2 (grades 4-5) requirements, see p. **64**.
 * for the scoring guide for Benchmark 2, see pp. **66-67**.
 * for FAQ's on work samples, see pp. **94-100**.