An Elementary Science Teacher Engages the Students in an Inquiry

Multiple Choice

An elementary science teacher engages the students in an inquiry activity involving heat by having them drop food coloring down the inside of a beaker of water at room temperature. Students observe the way the food coloring is dispersed in the water and they record the length of time it takes for the water to be uniformly colored. The students then do the same thing with warm water and with hot water. How can the teacher assess the students' understandings authentically?

A) Give each student a multiple-choice test.
B) Ask each student to write a paragraph describing the activity and its results.
C) Have each student record what they did in the activity and what they found out in their science journals.
D) Engage each student in conversations about what they are doing and what they are finding out while they are doing the activity.
E) All of the above
F) None of the above