Interpret representations resources

This resource assess students' understanding of circuits when they explain what is wrong in five different circuit diagrams.

Students are given stimulus material on the stopping distance of a toy car released from different heights. Students write an aim, the best way to present the results, identify the measurement required in order to calculate the average speed, and write a conclusion for the investigation.

Students indicate how brightly a bulb would glow in three different circuits. Students then use pictures of four appliances, showing the arrangement of their cells, to draw circuit symbol diagrams illustrating this cell arrangement.

Task: Draw, using symbols, circuit diagrams of three described circuits. Assessment focus: using conventions of circuit diagram; knowledge of circuit construction.

Task: Describe how the light rays move through a glass prism.

Task: complete 2 diagrams. Assessment focus: centre of gravity.

Students select which of five compass orientations best show the direction of a magnetic field at four different locations.

Students answer a multiple choice question about what happens when a magnetised object is cut in half, and then draw the lines of the magnetic field around two magnets.

Task: draw a diagram showing how a periscope works. Assessment focus: reflected light.

Students interpret two cartoon-style drawings of the enhanced greenhouse effect and write a short description of the artist’s message, as they see this.

This assessment task requires students to graph data on the size of the ozone layer over Antarctica. Students then answer four short questions relating to the data and their graph.

Students explain a plastic recycling symbol. This resource assesses an aspect of knowledge helpful for making decisions about recycling.

Students read a map of a new school, and answer questions about the placement of some trees. They are assessed on their ability to suggest the trees' impact on the school environment.

Students use a diagram of a solar eclipse to answer four questions.

Students indicate whether a series of statements apply to lunar eclipses, solar eclipses, or both.

This practical resource requires students to demonstrate some phases of the Moon.

Students are given a diagram that is used to describe the surface temperature and brightness of stars. Using the diagram and information provided, students indicate where different stars would be located.

This practical task requires students to use a simple star map to point out the apparent location of stars or star groups during daylight hours. Students also use the star map to show where the Southern Cross would be situated at different times of an evening.

Using information about comets, students label a diagram of a comet and draw the orbit of a comet and the position of the comet in two places in its orbit.

For this assessment students read a paragraph of information about the stars. They use this to complete a table that summarises all this information.

Students plot the positions for three different stars at three different times during the evening. Students use this information to answer questions about star movement around the South Celestial Pole.

Task: Investigate the length of shadows in relationship to the sun's position. Assessment focus: interpreting a model.

Task: Complete a diagram of the length and position of a shadow of a flagpole. Assessment focus: shadows in relation to sun's position.

Task: Answer questions about the temperature and brightness of types of stars. Assessment focus: interpreting a graph.

Task: Answer questions about types of solar eclipse. Assessment focus: interpreting diagrams.