Pre-Assessment for Science Unit

On November 10th, the teacher candidate implemented a pre-assessment for the

students to complete regarding the forces of push and pull. Using their science journals, the

students answered a ques@on provided by the teacher candidate. The students explained an

example of push and pull, while recalling an experience with these forces. As this a new concept

for the students, the teacher candidate reviewed ac@ons that imitate push or pull. During this

individual assessment, the teacher placed the ques@on on screen and read it aloud to the

students, so that both visual and auditory modali@es were provided to the children. AFer

analyzing the results, the teacher candidate understands that many students have basic

understanding or prior knowledge in regards to push and pull. With this knowledge, the teacher

candidate will begin this science unit by exploring push/pull examples, as well as new

vocabulary.

The data from the pre-assessment exhibited that the students had very limited or basic

knowledge of these science concepts about force. The teacher candidate discussed examples of

push and pull for students recall per@nent background informa@on. The implementa@on of

these examples guided student thought processes to complete the assessment. It is noted that

sixteen out of twenty students were able to express their prior experiences of push and pull.

Student 1 had difficulty explaining the difference between push and pull most likely due to lack

of content informa@on and vocabulary. However, Student 1 provided a detail descrip@on of

pushing their sister on the swings. There was no prior knowledge provided about pull. Student 2

was able to provide a few sentences about push and pull. When discussing their own

experiences, the teacher candidate observed that the student can push a door open and pull it

closed. Because each learner has basic founda@onal of push and pull, the teacher candidate will

begin this unit by introducing examples and new vocabulary terms.

Pre-Assessment
Student Described push and pull Personal experience of push and
pull
Tae’Von Only described push Did not describe experience
Elynn X X
Mekhi X X
Michael X X
Caylee Only described pull X
Kemon X X
Trae’Von Only described push Did not describe experience
Nicholi X X
MK X X
Aaliyah X Did not describe experience
Sully X X
Lyric X X
Samiya X X
Gabrielle X X
Serenity X X
Jaidyen X X
Mekkah X Did not describe experience
Honei’ X X
Dion X X
Siannie Only described push Only described experience of
push