Assessment Items
(what students would see)
THE GASES TASK
A. The container above contains a gas. Why doesn't all of the gas stay at the bottom of the container?
All of the gas doesn’t stay at the bottom of the container because…
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B. A gas is put into the bottom of the container. The container is then completely closed. At first, the gas particles are arranged like this:
After several minutes, which of the following arrangements of gas particles is most likely?
The most likely arrangement is...
A
B
C
D
C. At first, the gas particles are arranged like this:
You said the particles would be arranged like this after several minutes:
How do the particles go from where they start to where they finish?
The particles...
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D. Sally is thinking about the gas particles and she makes the following argument.
Sally’s Argument: I think the gas particles will be arranged like the picture shows below. My teacher told me the gas particles don’t attract each other. Since gas particles don’t attract each other, they would be spread out in the container.
What reason does sally give for her picture choice in her argument?
The reason in Sally’s argument is…
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E1. Two students are talking about gases.
Their teacher tells them three facts about gases.
Gases are made up of lots of tiny particles.
Gases are less dense than liquids and solids.
The particles move around rapidly in all directions – up, down, and sideways.
Which student do you agree with more?
A. Johnny
B. Sally
E2. Which fact about gases best supports the student you agree with more?
Gases are made up of lots of tiny particles.
Gases are less dense than liquids and solids.
The particles move around rapidly in all directions – up, down, and sideways.
E3. Explain how the evidence you selected supports the student's answer. The evidence I selected best supports the student’s idea because…
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F. “I think [student’s] idea is better because…”
You said you agree with Johnny more than Sally. Why do you think Johnny’s idea is better?
I think Johnny’s idea is better because…
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G. “I agree less with [student] because…”
Why do you agree less with Sally?
I agree less with Sally because...
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