This document was developed by BLaST Intermediate Unit 17 and is a compilation of excerpts from the 2013-2014 Gr. 3-5 ELA Preliminary Item and Scoring Sampler. The purpose of this document is to provide ‘at-a-glance’ examples of how the rigor of the assessment questions/prompts vertically progress through Gr. 3-5. This document is meant to support districts in identifying key shifts that are evident in the released assessment items and is NOT meant to replace PDE’s Gr. 3-5 ELA Preliminary Item and Scoring Samplers. Districts are advised to use PDE’s released assessment items to gain a deeper understanding of these shifts and to guide curriculum alignment. This document is merely a ‘sampler of the sampler’.
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Gr. 3
Gr. 4
Gr. 5
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Part 1 - What would be another good title for this poem? Part 2 - What two lines from the poem support the answer in Part One? Choose two answers.
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Which sentence from the passage tells why Pa had to trade the horses, Pet and
Patty?
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Read the sentence from the passage. “There was only the high sky above her, and down below her the water was talking to itself.” What does the phrase “talking to itself” mean about the water?
 Read the sentences from the passage.” But she could not help asking, ‘Pa, did you have to give him Pet and Patty? Did you, Pa?” How does Laura’s sadness lead to the next event in the passage?
 Read the sentences from the passage. His mom liked to wrestle and play, which provided enough playtime for a while. But when Cowboy turned three, he began searching for younger playmates. What point is the author making with the details in these sentences?
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Which point of view is used in the passage?
 Which idea in the passage does the text box about dog laughter support?
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Which detail from the passage shows that Marisa has a sense of humor?
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What is the best summary of the passage?
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This question has two parts. Answer Part One and then answer Part Two. Part One -
What is the central theme of the passage? Part 2 - Which two details from the passage support the answer in Part One? Choose two answers.

What inference can best be made from the details in the sentence?
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The meaning of the Greek root “photo” helps the reader know that the word
“photograph” means _____
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Read the line from the poem.“The Moon ballooning in the sky,” What does the metaphor in the line suggest?

The meaning of the Latin root “luna” helps the reader know that the word “lunar” refers to ____

Which line from the poem best supports the inference that the first humans on the
Moon were explorers approaching a new frontier?

How does the point of view in the poem influence how the landing on the Moon is described?

How does the author of “The Eagles Are Back!” support the point “by the mid-1960s many biologists feared our national bird would disappear forever”?
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Part One - Based on “Bald eagle deaths raising concerns,” what is the relationship between the existence of power lines and the rate of bald eagle deaths? Part Two -
What evidence from the passage supports your answer above? Choose two answers.

Which statement best describes the difference in the point of view of “The Eagles
Are Back!” from the other two passages?
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Gr. 3 How does the description of the “ice-skating” bison support the idea that animals play in groups? Use information from the passage to support your answer.
Gr. 4 Write an essay analyzing how the author’s organization of the passage helps the reader to understand the tasks. Use information from the passage to support your response.
Gr. 5 After reading three separate passages (informational piece, TV news broadcast, news article), respond to the following: The passages discuss the impact that people have had on the bald eagle. Write an essay analyzing how people are help the bald eagle increase in numbers. Use information from all three passages.
Gr. 3 How does the interaction between the family and Mr. Hanson lead to other events in the passage? Use information from the passage to support your answer.
Gr. 4 When Shelly tells Marisa about the Mystery Club, she is immediately interested and asks, “Could I join?” In order to join, Marisa first has to solve a mystery. Write an essay analyzing the importance of solving the mystery to both Marisa and the members of the Mystery Club. Use evidence from the passage to support your response.
Gr. 5 After reading one passage, respond to the following prompt: Anita Roddick had many achievements throughout her life. Write an essay analyzing how Anita’s family was important to her success. Use information from the passage to support your response.
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You will have at least 30 minutes to plan, write, and proofread your response to this prompt:
Gr. 3 Think about which part of the school day you think is best. Maybe it is lunch or recess.
Maybe it is a class, such as reading or math. Why do you think this is the best part of the school day?
Write an essay for your teacher that states your opinion about what is the best part of the school day and explains why. Use details and reasons to support your opinion.
Gr. 4 Your class has signed up to send letters to students in a different country. Your teacher has asked your class to think about the best way to do this. Some students think the class should write handwritten letters and send them in envelopes. Other students think the best way would be to use a computer and send letters electronically. How do you think your class should send letters to students in a different country?
Write an essay for your teacher that states your opinion about the best way for your class to send letters to students in a different country and explains why. Be sure to use details and reasons to support your opinion.
Gr. 5 A group is starting a program that would allow students to travel to space.
Some people think this is a good idea because it would be a hands-on learning experience.
Others think that the educational opportunity is not worth the cost.
Should students be allowed to travel to space?
Write an essay for your teacher that states your opinion about whether students should be allowed to travel to space and explains why. Be sure to use details and reasons to support your opinion.
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Gr. 3 If you had to explain to a younger person how to do something that you or someone you know does well, what would it be? It could be something that is done at school, at home, or in your community.
Write an essay for a younger person that explains how to do something that you or someone you know does well. Use details and examples to support your explanation.
Gr. 4 Think about an activity you like to do or would like to try. This activity could be done indoors or outdoors, with a group or alone. Some people like to play games or sports.
Others like to do an art or music activity. What is one activity you like to do or would like to try?
Write an essay for your teacher that describes one activity that you like to do or would like to try. Be sure to use details and examples to explain your ideas.
Gr. 5 Think about the activities you could do on a rainy day. These could be inside or even outside in the rain. They can be something you do on your own or with others. What is one activity that you could do on a rainy day?
Write an essay for your teacher that describes one activity you could do on a rainy day. Be sure to use details and examples to explain your idea.
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You will have at least 30 minutes to plan, write, and proofread your response to this prompt:
Gr. 3 Look at the picture of a house. What would it be like to visit a friend who lives at this house? Think about what you might do, who else might be there, and what might happen.
Write a story for your teacher about an adventure you could have visiting a friend at this house. Make sure your story has a beginning, middle, and end.
Gr. 4 People help each other in many ways. Sometimes people need help finding something or someplace. Sometimes people need help completing a task or a chore. Think about a time when you needed help. Consider who helped you and what this person did to help you.
Write a story for your teacher about a time when someone helped you. Make sure your story has a beginning, middle, and end.
Gr. 5 Imagine that something exciting happened at school. It could be something that really has happened or something you make up.
Write a story for your teacher that tells about something exciting that happened at school. Make sure your story has a beginning, middle, and end.
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Disclaimer: PDE has not released an academic vocabulary list. The list below was compiled by
BLaST IU 17 and only notes some of the academic vocabulary noticed in the released assessment sample items. This is not an exhaustive PAC vocabulary list. The purpose of this document is to highlight some vocabulary trends evident in the released assessment items.
Gr. 3
Academic Vocabulary Noted in Released Assessment Sample Items

Part 1, Part 2
 detail based on the passage best supports

‘which line’
 event
 detail
 point of view
 passage
 phrase
 text
 explain
 best supports
 interaction between
 lead to events
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Which sentence from the passage best describes the effect on
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Use information from the passage to support your answer.
Gr. 4 In addition to the Gr. 3 vocabulary:
 best summary of the passage
 central theme
 analyze
 essay
 inference
 Greek root

Use evidence from the passage to support your response.
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Author’s organization
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Task
Gr. 5 In addition to the Gr. 4 vocabulary:
 influence
 reveals
 indicates
 informs
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