FTCE K-6 EXAM
Subtest 3: Science
GENERAL EXAM KNOWLEDGE
Competency
# of Questions
1
Knowledge of Effective Science
Instruction
About 11
2
Knowledge of the Nature of Science
About 10
3
Knowledge of Physical Sciences
About 11
4
Knowledge of Earth and Space
About 10
5
Knowledge of Life Science
About 13
GENERAL EXAM KNOWLEDGE
QUESTION TYPES
Complete the statement
Example – water can turn from liquid to gas by evaporating or ___________
a.
Condensing
b.
Pouring
c.
Boiling
d.
Freezing
Which of the following
Example – which of the following is translucent
a.
A car windshield
b.
A convex mirror
c.
A frosted lightbulb
d.
A concrete block
Negative questions
Example - which is not found in the electromagnetic spectrum?
a.
X-rays
b.
Infrared light
c.
FM radio waves
d.
Sound waves
Questions that include graphs, tables, or reading passages
Example – which conclusion can be drawn from the following chart?
a.
Adding 7 ml of water provided the most growth.
b.
The more water a plant received, the taller the plant grew.
c.
The more sunlight a plant received, the taller the plant grew.
d.
For each ml of water added, the plant grew 1 inch.
There are three levels of question difficulty.
Easy
Average
Rigorous
WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT EFFECTIVE
SCIENCE INSTRUCTION
Instructional Strategies To Know
• 5 E’s
Engage, explore, explain, elaborate or extend, evaluate
• Inquiry Method
Student centered
Emphasizes how we come to know rather than what we know
Construct knowledge through active involvement
Starts with a problem
• POE
Predict, observe, explain
• Hands on Science Activities
• Project based Learning
WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT EFFECTIVE
SCIENCE INSTRUCTION
Ways to assess in science
• Diagnostic assessments
• Formative assessments
• Summative assessments
• Traditional assessments
• Performance based assessments
Differentiation in science instruction
• English language learners (ELL)
• Students with exceptionalities
Preconceptions and misconceptions
WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE
NATURE OF SCIENCE
Science Processes
• Basic Process Skills (k-4)
• Integrated Process Skills (3-6)
Scientific Method
• Question
• Hypothesis
• Variables (independent, dependent, controlled)
• Experimental Design
• Data Collection
• Analysis of Results
Lab Safety and Procedures
• Teaching Safety Procedures
• Teaching Proper Usage of Equipment
WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE
CONTENT OF SCIENCE
• PHYSICAL SCIENCE
• EARTH SCIENCE
• LIFE SCIENCE
PHYSICAL SCIENCE
• Properties of matter
• Types of matter
• Phase changes
• Temperature, heat, and heat transfer
• Forces
• Light
• Electricity
• Types of energy
• Balanced and unbalanced forces
ALL ABOUT MATTER
Physical Properties
PHYSICAL VS. CHEMICAL CHANGES
Physical changes do not result in a change in substance
Chemical changes (reactions) result in new substances
Let’s Practice - Physical or Chemical?
• Water condenses on a cold glass
• Breaking glass
• A rusting nail
• An ice cube melting
• Sugar dissolving in water
• Baking soda mixed with vinegar
• Burning a piece of paper
CLASSIFICATION OF MATTER
Phases of matter
• Solid, liquid, gas
Phase changes
• What are these?
• How do they work?
Temperature, heat, and heat transfer
• Are heat and temperature the same?
• How does heat move?
• Radiation, convection, and conduction
MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU
• What is a force?
• How do you know a force is acting on an object?
• What kinds of forces are there?
Balanced and Unbalanced Forces
• What happens when forces are balanced?
• What happens when forces are unbalanced?
TYPES OF ENERGY
Type
Important Ideas
Mechanical
Potential and Kinetic
Light
Light Passage (opaque, translucent, transparent)
Reflection, Refraction, Diffraction, and Absorption
Magnetic
Magnets, Opposites Attract, Likes Repel
Nuclear
Dividing, Combining, or Collision of Nuclei
Sound
Travels in mechanical waves through materials
Chemical
Breaking of chemical bonds into heat and light
(combustion, burning, explosions)
Electrical
Circuits, Conductors, Insulators, Movement of
Electrons, Static Electricity
Thermal
Manifests itself as heat
EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE
Geologic Formations
•
Result from geologic processes that are either constructive or destructive
Rocks and Minerals
•
Minerals make up rocks
•
Characteristics of Minerals
•
Igneous, Metamorphic, Sedimentary
•
Rock Cycle
Water, Air, and Land
•
Water Cycle
•
Cloud Formation
•
Interaction of Water and Soil
Heat Transfer
•
Radiation, Convection, Conduction
EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE
Planets
Celestial Bodies
• Comets, Asteroids, Stars, Moon
• Phases of the Moon
• Eclipses
Space History
What is the reason for seasons?
LIFE SCIENCE
Living and non-living things
• What makes something alive?
Cells
• Cell Parts
Prokaryotes
• Single-celled organisms that do not have a nucleus or organelles
Eukaryotes
• Have a nucleus, cell walls or cell membranes, and other organelles
Heredity, evolution, and natural selection
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
1. A toy car is stationary at the top of an inclined ramp. What type of energy is
demonstrated? (Easy)
a. Electrical
b. Potential
c. Solar
d. Kinetic
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
1. A toy car is stationary at the top of an inclined ramp. What type of energy is
demonstrated? (Easy)
a. Electrical
b. Potential
c. Solar
d. Kinetic
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
2. An object’s ability to float depends on its ______? (Average)
a. Size
b. Temperature
c. Insulation
d. Density
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
2. An object’s ability to float depends on its ______? (Average)
a. Size
b. Temperature
c. Insulation
d. Density
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
3. Which statement explains why the sun appears to rise and set each day? (Rigorous)
a. Earth rotates
b. Sun rotates
c. Sun revolves around the Earth
d. Earth revolves around the Sun
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
3. Which statement explains why the sun appears to rise and set each day? (Rigorous)
a. Earth rotates
b. Sun rotates
c. Sun revolves around the Earth
d. Earth revolves around the Sun
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
4. Everything in our world is made up of _____? (Easy)
a. Matter
b. Cells
c. Grams
d. Molecules
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
4. Everything in our world is made up of _____? (Easy)
a. Matter
b. Cells
c. Grams
d. Molecules
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
5. Dr. O. was baking a cake. She noticed that the ingredients that she was using were
being turned into different substances. This is an example of a _____? (Rigorous)
a. Physical property
b. Chemical property
c. Physical change
d. Chemical change
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
5. Dr. O. was baking a cake. She noticed that the ingredients that she was using were
being turned into different substances. This is an example of a _____? (Rigorous)
a. Physical property
b. Chemical property
c. Physical change
d. Chemical change
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
6. Materials through which electric charges easily flow are ________? (Easy)
a. Conductors
b. Insulators
c. Neutrons
d. Ions
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
6. Materials through which electric charges easily flow are ________? (Easy)
a. Conductors
b. Insulators
c. Neutrons
d. Ions
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
7. When is a hypothesis formed? (Easy)
a. Before data is collected
b. After data is collected
c. After data is analyzed
d. After the results are described
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
7. When is a hypothesis formed? (Easy)
a. Before data is collected
b. After data is collected
c. After data is analyzed
d. After the results are described
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
8. Identify the correct sequence of organization of living things from lower to higher
order: (Rigorous)
a. Cell, Organelle, Organ, Tissue, System, Organism
b. Cell, Tissue, Organ, Organelle, System, Organism
c. Organelle, Cell, Tissue, Organ, System, Organism
d. Organelle, Tissue, Cell, Organ, System, Organism
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
8. Identify the correct sequence of organization of living things from lower to higher
order: (Rigorous)
a. Cell, Organelle, Organ, Tissue, System, Organism
b. Cell, Tissue, Organ, Organelle, System, Organism
c. Organelle, Cell, Tissue, Organ, System, Organism
d. Organelle, Tissue, Cell, Organ, System, Organism
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
9. Explain the proper technique for smelling a substance. (Average)
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
9. Explain the proper technique for smelling a substance. (Average)
Hold the substance at arms length and gently waft it.
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
10. Which of the following is not an appropriate formative assessment for evaluating
student performance in an activity? (Average)
a. Unit exam
b. Journal entry
c. Student presentation
d. Student video
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
10. Which of the following is not an appropriate formative assessment for evaluating
student performance in an activity? (Average)
a. Unit exam
b. Journal entry
c. Student presentation
d. Student video
RESOURCES
• Florida Department of Education FTCE website
http://www.fl.nesinc.com/testpage.Asp?Test=060
• National Science Teachers Association
http://www.nsta.org/
• CliffsNotes FTCE: Elementary K-6
http://www.scribd.com/doc/26446600/CliffsNotes-FTCE-Elementary-Education-K-6
• Quizlet Flashcards - Science
https://quizlet.com/subject/FTCE-k%252D6-science/
• Content Module - Science
http://www.fl-pda.org/independent/courses/elementary/science/unitObj.htm