Weekly Plan Monday – General Science Strategies Tuesday –Data Representation & Research Summary Strategies w/ practice Wednesday –Conflicting Viewpoint Strategies w/ practice Thursday – EXPLORE Test Friday – Analysis of Test (if data is received) You will have “homework” = practice of strategies Conner Middle School EXPLORE Science Boot Camp Mr. Justin Cann

EXPLORE Strategies Science Conner Middle School EXPLORE Science Boot Camp Mr. Justin Cann

CMS Science Conner Middle School EXPLORE Science Boot Camp Mr. Justin Cann

Know the test Know the content Key to 25 Know the Strategies Conner Middle School EXPLORE Science Boot Camp Mr. Justin Cann

Know the content What’s wrong about that with the science test? However, knowing content separates the 20s from the 10s. Conner Middle School EXPLORE Science Boot Camp Mr. Justin Cann

Not Every Student Takes the Same Science Courses Typical CMS Student Conner Middle School EXPLORE Science Boot Camp Mr. Justin Cann

A little about the science portion… IT’S NOT A SCIENCE CONTENT TEST!!! It is a READING/SCIENTIFIC THINKING test! What does it mean to think like a scientist? There will be 2-3 (out of 28) that require background knowledge to answer. Key to 25 Conner Middle School EXPLORE Science Boot Camp Mr. Justin Cann

How Scientists Think General-to-Specific Thinking O Already have a general theory and want to apply it to a specific test. Specific-to-General Thinking O Use specific test/data to draw a general conclusion. Most EXPLORE questions will be specific-to-general questions (asking you to draw a conclusion/hypothesis from the data) Key to 25 Conner Middle School EXPLORE Science Boot Camp Mr. Justin Cann

Know the test 28 questions in 30 minutes (~64 sec/quest) 6 total passages 3 types of passages O Data Representation (3 passages) O Research Summaries (2 passages) O Conflicting Viewpoints (1 passage) Conner Middle School EXPLORE Science Boot Camp Mr. Justin Cann

Paragraphs Because it’s not a content test, the EXPLORE will try to “teach” you about the science of the passage. This is only good, IF IT HELPS YOU TO ANSWER A QUESTION! Otherwise just briefly get information and move on! Italicized words DO TEND to show up in questions. Key to 25 Conner Middle School EXPLORE Science Boot Camp Mr. Justin Cann

TRAPS! There will ALWAYS be at least 1 data representation passage with a “complex” graph/table/figure. (Fancy pictures) There will ALWAYS be at least 1 research summary passage with a “complex” experiment. (Fancy words) Conner Middle School EXPLORE Science Boot Camp Mr. Justin Cann

TRAPS! These “scare” kids that aren’t prepared. Meant to slow kids down and trap them on a passage. IGNORE fancy words (especially Latin names and chemical compound names) – YOU DON’T NEED TO KNOW IT! Ficus Bengalenious = FB or “that stupid word” Fancy figures: DON’T OVER ANALYZE, simply get an idea and begin answering questions. Key to 25 Conner Middle School EXPLORE Science Boot Camp Mr. Justin Cann

Know the strategies General EXPLORE Strategies General Science Strategies Time Strategies Passage Specific Strategies Conner Middle School EXPLORE Science Boot Camp Mr. Justin Cann

Guessing ANSWER EVERY QUESTION!!! The EXPLORE creators are NOT stupid! They know that students have been taught to “bubble C” if time runs out as a guessing strategy. So for last questions, C is rarely a right answer. It is best to guess a single answer, but now we need to more away from C. Newest research is suggesting to “bubble A” Conner Middle School EXPLORE Science Boot Camp Mr. Justin Cann

General Science Strategies 1. Identify the type of passage IMMEDIATELY! 2. Work on ALL data representation passages first! (They’re the easiest) 3. Then work on ALL research summary passages next. 4. Finally work on conflicting viewpoint passage. (Tends to be the hardest) 5. If time remains, revisit difficult questions and double check work! 6. WRITE ON THE TEST! Keys to 25 Conner Middle School EXPLORE Science Boot Camp Mr. Justin Cann

Identify the Type of Passage Data Representation: 4 QUESTION passages O Pictures, graphs, tables, little reading Research Summary: 5 QUESTION passages O Multiple trials/experiments/studies with tables, graphs, more reading. Conflicting Viewpoints: 6 QUESTION passage O Many paragraphs, student/scientist 1/2. 3 passages 2 passages 1 passage You should be able to do this in 30 seconds or less. Write on the test to label which one is which. Key to 25 Conner Middle School EXPLORE Science Boot Camp Mr. Justin Cann

Identifying Passage  Working on Passages You do NOT need to identify ALL of the passages in the first minute… Just flip the pages to the first data representation passage and begin working on that passage. Then flip to the next DR passage, then the last DR passage. Then start from front to find first research summary passage, then the last RS. Remaining passage will be conflicting viewpoint. Double check BUBBLES to make sure you’re bubbling in right questions/answers. Conner Middle School EXPLORE Science Boot Camp Mr. Justin Cann

The science portion is the last test, so test fatigue is a common problem. Tough it up! USE THE CLOCK. If you stick to the time limits that we set, move on when time expires. Don’t get stuck on a passage or question. If you run out of time, run out of time on the harder “trap” passages/ questions. It is highly recommended NOT to answer the passages in order! Answer the passages by TYPE to keep your mind focused. STAY ON TASK! NO ONE should close their booklet with time remaining! Use EVERY minute! Double check, triple check, etc. Key to 25 Conner Middle School EXPLORE Science Boot Camp Mr. Justin Cann

Timing 6 passages in 30 minutes = average 5 min/passage Recommendation: Do ALL data representation FIRST in less than 12 min. (4 min/passage)EASIEST Do ALL research summary SECOND in less than 10 min. (5 min/passage) Do the conflicting viewpoint LAST in less than 8 min. (8 min/passage)HARDEST 12 min 10 min +8 min 30 min Key to 25 Conner Middle School EXPLORE Science Boot Camp Mr. Justin Cann

Passage Specific Strategies “Where to start???” Conner Middle School EXPLORE Science Boot Camp Mr. Justin Cann

Data Representation O Identify which three passages are data representation passages! (4 questions) O Work on ALL of these passages FIRST!!! O These tend to be the easiest passages, but DON’T get TRAPPED on a passage or question! Conner Middle School EXPLORE Science Boot Camp Mr. Justin Cann

Data Representation Start By: O Skipping introduction (only come back to intro if needed to answer a question) O Looking at images, figures, tables, graphs, etc. O Interpret images, figures, tables, graphs. O Identify variables. O Analyze data trends and correlations. O Begin answering questions (30 sec – 60 sec) Key to 25 Conner Middle School EXPLORE Science Boot Camp Mr. Justin Cann

Data Representation O Write on the TEST!!!! Box, underline, circle, star, WHATEVER! Identify important information so you can quickly find it again. Conner Middle School EXPLORE Science Boot Camp Mr. Justin Cann

Data Representation O Write on the TEST!!!! Box, underline, circle, star, WHATEVER! Identify important information so you can quickly find it again. Note: Different Plants in different areas Conner Middle School EXPLORE Science Boot Camp Mr. Justin Cann

Data Representation Questions You Might See 1. The information in Tables 1 and 2 supports the conclusion that… 2. Based on the information in Tables 1 and 2, one can conclude… 3. Based on the information in Table 1, which of the following lists… 4. Based on the information in Table 2, which of the following figures best illustrates… 5. Based on the information in Table 1, to best identify _____ one should know...: 6. Based on the passage and Table 1, what was…? 7. Table 1 and Figure 1 best support which of the following hypotheses about…. 8. Based on Table 1, which of the following statements best explains the results of… 9. The results of Experiment 2 indicate that ____ in which of the following conditions? 10. Which of the following ____ served as the control in Experiment 1? There’s a lot more! Conner Middle School EXPLORE Science Boot Camp Mr. Justin Cann

Research Summary O Identify which TWO passages are research summary passages! (5 questions) O Work on ALL of these passages SECOND!!! O These tend to be the “middle” difficult passages. DON’T get TRAPPED on a passage or question! O Think about your science lab reports. Conner Middle School EXPLORE Science Boot Camp Mr. Justin Cann

Research Summary Start by: O Reading introduction to identify scientist objective. What are they researching? O Be sure you can follow the procedure of experiment and can identify variables (independent, dependent, control) O Note the changes from one experiment/study/trial and how the data changes. O Analyze data and notice trends and correlations. Look for comparisons between the different experiments/study/trials. O Begin answering questions (45 sec - 90 sec) Key to 25 Conner Middle School EXPLORE Science Boot Camp Mr. Justin Cann

Research Summary O Write on the TEST!!!! Box, underline, circle, star, WHATEVER! O Identify important information so you can quickly find it again. Conner Middle School EXPLORE Science Boot Camp Mr. Justin Cann

Research Summary O Write on the TEST!!!! Box, underline, circle, star, WHATEVER! O Identify important information so you can quickly find it again. Ind: Pressure Dep: Boiling Pt Conner Middle School EXPLORE Science Boot Camp Mr. Justin Cann

Research Summary Questions You Might See 1. Which of the following best describes the difference between the procedures used in Experiments 1 and 2? In Experiment 1, _____ 2. Which of the following_____ in Experiments 1, 2, and 3 were____ 3. Based on the results of Experiment 1, which of the following graphs best shows the relationship between… 4. In general, the results of Study 1 suggest… 5. Suppose ______ had been included in Study 2. Based on the information provided, ____would most likely have been… 6. The experimental designs of Study 2 and Study 1 differed in that in Study 2… 7. Based only on the information provided, which of the following … 8. Which of the following procedures, in addition to Studies 1, 2, and 3, would best test… There’s a lot more! Conner Middle School EXPLORE Science Boot Camp Mr. Justin Cann

Let’s Practice 1. You will be given two practice passages… 1 data representation and 1 research summary. 2. You will be given 3 minutes to prep (reflect on strategies to use), then 5 minutes to answer the questions. 3. Remember, the REAL EXPLORE test, you will only have ~5 minutes per passage. Conner Middle School EXPLORE Science Boot Camp Mr. Justin Cann

Conflicting Viewpoints O Identify which passage is the conflicting viewpoint! (6 questions – lots of reading) O Work on this passage LAST!!! (normally NOT the last passage) O This tend to be the most difficult passage due to interpretations. This is where you want to spend most of your time, or run out of time. Conner Middle School EXPLORE Science Boot Camp Mr. Justin Cann

Conflicting Viewpoints Start by: O Reading introduction and summarize the key points/idea. O Work on ONE hypothesis at a time!!! O Read the first hypothesis find key points and evidence and summarize. Answer all questions dealing with only the first hypothesis. O Read the second hypothesis find key points and evidence and summarize. Answer all questions dealing with only the second hypothesis. O Then answer questions that deal with both hypotheses (these tend to be the hardest questions) Key to 25 Conner Middle School EXPLORE Science Boot Camp Mr. Justin Cann

Conflicting Viewpoint O Write on the TEST!!!! Box, underline, circle, star, WHATEVER! O Identify important information so you can quickly find it again. Scientist 1 The evolution of the “modern” humans, Homo sapiens was a result of parallel evolution from populations of Homo erectus and an intermediary of some sort. This process occurred in Africa, Europe and Asia with some genetic intermixing among some members of these populations. There is clear anatomical evidence for this theory when comparing certain minor anatomical structures of Homo erectus populations with modern humans from these areas. These anatomical differences are so minor, this is clear evidence that modern humans must have evolved separately in Africa, Europe and Asia. This is the “Multi-Generational Hypothesis.” Scientist 2 If one looks at the evidence carefully, the only logical explanation is that a fairly small isolated population of people eventually evolved into the modern Homo sapiens. It is this population that would eventually spread across Asia, Africa and Europe. As they spread, they displaced and replaced other humanoid populations. When one looks at DNA evidence of living humans, especially that of mitochondrial DNA, and mutation rate of DNA one can calculate when modern humans diverged from a common ancestor. Most of these calculations are approximately 200,000 years ago, which is much too recent for the hypothesis of Scientist 1 to be true. Molecular biology also suggests that the first modern humans evolved in Africa. This is the “Out of Africa Hypothesis.” Conner Middle School EXPLORE Science Boot Camp Mr. Justin Cann

Conflicting Viewpoint O Write on the TEST!!!! Box, underline, circle, star, WHATEVER! O Identify important information so you can quickly find it again. Scientist 1 The evolution of the “modern” humans, Homo sapiens was a result of parallel evolution from populations of Homo erectus and an intermediary of some sort. This process occurred in Africa, Europe and Asia with some genetic intermixing among some members of these populations. There is clear anatomical evidence for this theory when comparing certain minor anatomical structures of Homo erectus populations with modern humans from these areas. These anatomical differences are so minor, this is clear evidence that modern humans must have evolved separately in Africa, Europe and Asia. This is the “Multi-Generational Hypothesis.” Scientist 2 If one looks at the evidence carefully, the only logical explanation is that a fairly small isolated population of people eventually evolved into the modern Homo sapiens. It is this population that would eventually spread across Asia, Africa and Europe. As they spread, they displaced and replaced other humanoid populations. When one looks at DNA evidence of living humans, especially that of mitochondrial DNA, and mutation rate of DNA one can calculate when modern humans diverged from a common ancestor. Most of these calculations are approximately 200,000 years ago, which is much too recent for the hypothesis of Scientist 1 to be true. Molecular biology also suggests that the first modern humans evolved in Africa. This is the “Out of Africa Hypothesis.” Conner Middle School EXPLORE Science Boot Camp Mr. Justin Cann

Conflicting Viewpoint Questions You Might See 1. Which of the following best describes how ______ explain (s)… 2. According to the information provided, which of the following descriptions of _____ would be accepted by both scientists? 3. With which of the following statements about _____ would both Scientist 1 and Scientist 2 most likely agree? 4. Which of the following statements about _____ would be most consistent with both scientists' views? 5. Based on the information in Scientist 1's view, which of the following … 6. Assume Scientist 2's view about _____ is correct. Based on this assumption and the information provided, which would be least likely? There’s a lot more! Conner Middle School EXPLORE Science Boot Camp Mr. Justin Cann

Let’s Practice 1. You will be given a practice passages… 2. You will be given 3 minutes to prep (reflect on strategies to use), then 5 minutes to answer the questions. 3. Remember, the REAL EXPLORE test, you will only have ~5 minutes per passage. Conner Middle School EXPLORE Science Boot Camp Mr. Justin Cann

Grant County ACT Science Boot Camp Mr. Justin Cann

Questions/Reflection Conner Middle School EXPLORE Science Boot Camp Mr. Justin Cann