School Improvement in Maryland

Using the State Curriculum: Science, Grade 8

Skills and Processes | Earth/Space | Life | Chemistry | Physics | Environmental

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Standard 1.0 Skills and Processes

Topic A. Constructing Knowledge

Indicator 1. Design, analyze, or carry out simple investigations and formulate appropriate conclusions based on data obtained or provided.

Objective e. Explain that if more than one variable changes at the same time in an investigation, the outcome of the investigation may not be clearly attributable to any one of the variables.

Selected Response Item

Use the technical passage "A Sea Wall Just One Molecule High" to answer the following.

Students investigated producing waves on the surface of the water in a container. The students filled four identical containers with the same amount of water. Five milliliters of oil was then added to three of the four containers. An electric fan was used to produce wind across the surface of the water in each container. The fan had four speeds; 1 was the slowest speed and 4 was the fastest.

Question Image

Which statement best describes an error the students made in this investigation?

  1. The students did not use a control.
  2. The students changed more than one variable.
  3. The students used the same amount of water.
  4. The students used an electric fan instead of natural wind.
/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_science_8_015.xml

Correct Answer:
B

Selected Response Item

Students conducted an investigation to determine if mold grows on only certain types of bread. The students dripped water on four types of bread and covered the damp bread with plastic wrap. Each piece of bread was placed in a different dark area. The data table below shows the information the students collected after four days.

BREAD MOLD GROWTH

Type of Bread Water (milliliters) Temperature (°Celsius) Presence of Mold
Rye 5 1 No
Sourdough 5 22 Yes
White 5 24 Yes
Wheat 5 40 Yes

Which of these changes should the students make to their investigation to develop a valid conclusion?

  1. Use only two types of bread.
  2. Drip more water on each piece of bread.
  3. Keep all the bread at the same temperature.
  4. Place some of the pieces of bread in a lighted area.
/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_science_8_047.xml

Correct Answer:
C

Selected Response Item

Use the information below to answer the following.

In a lab study, eight bean plants are grown from seeds in individual containers. After a few leaves are visible on each plant, the plants are separated into two groups. One group is placed in a room that gets sunlight, and the other group is placed in a dark room. All of the plants receive the same amount of water daily. After two weeks, the plants are observed.

OBSERVATIONS
Plant Feature Plants Grown in Sunlight Plants Grown in Dark Room
Leaves Dark green Light yellow
Stem Green and sturdy Yellow and wilted
Average Plant Height 30 cm 18 cm

All the plants in this investigation were bean plants because

  1. the plants were the same color
  2. plant type was not a tested variable
  3. each plant received the same amount of sunlight
  4. a different amount of water was not used for each plant
/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_science_8_063.xml

Correct Answer:
B