Do your students need practice with 3D questions and novel phenomena for your upcoming state science test? This help article provides strategies and resources to support students in making sense of novel phenomena and demonstrating mastery of NGSS-aligned 3D standards.
⚠️ Important Note: Effective state test preparation comes from consistent, year-round implementation of:
✅ 3D, phenomena-based instruction with explicit teacher modeling – Guide students in analyzing data, breaking down problems, and asking strategic questions.
✅ Ongoing assessment to track progress – Use formative and summative assessments to gauge student understanding and identify misconceptions.
✅ Data-driven reteaching and intervention – Analyze student performance to target gaps, adjust instruction, and provide support before the state test.
What This Help Article Covers:
🧭 Strategy 1: Scaffolded Phenomenon Explorations
📅 Strategy 2: Daily Do-Nows
📝 Strategy 3: Mock Exams
🔬 Strategy 4: SEP Practice Problems
📊 How to Use InnerOrbit Data to Focus Reteaching
🧭 Strategy 1: Scaffolded Phenomenon Explorations
Select one phenomenon to explore gradually throughout the week, scaffolding question types from 1D to 3D. As students progress, explicit teacher modeling is key—demonstrate how to analyze data, break down complex problems into manageable parts, and ask strategic questions to guide sensemaking. This scaffolded approach builds confidence by allowing students to observe, practice, and internalize the critical thinking patterns, questioning techniques, and problem-solving skills needed for their state test.
❓ Why Scaffolded Exploration?
Models how to think like a scientist
Helps students develop question-answering strategies
Allows for gradual skill-building from content recall to full 3D sensemaking
Weekly Flow for Scaffolded Exploration
Day | Focus | Question Type |
Monday | Activate prior knowledge | 🟠 Prior-Knowledge Questions |
Tuesday | Reinforce core content | 🟧 Core Content (1D) Questions |
Wednesday | Introduce 2D analysis | 🟩 Content and Concepts (2D) |
Thursday | Strengthen SEP skills | 🔵 Content and Practices (2D) |
Friday | Apply full NGSS rigor | 🟣 Sensemaking (3D) Questions |
💡 Pro Tip: InnerOrbit automatically saves student work throughout the week. Students can return to their assessment anytime and submit by Friday.
Step-by-Step Instructions:
Go to the "Build" Tab
Navigate to the "Build" tab in your InnerOrbit dashboard.
Find a Phenomenon
Search for a standard/keyword or use the "Browse By" tiles to locate a relevant phenomenon.
Select One Phenomenon
Choose one phenomenon to be the focus of your classroom discussion for the week.
Choose 5 Questions of Varying Rigor
Select questions that follow a scaffolded approach (refer to the Weekly Flow for guidance)
Title and Save Your Assessment
Give your assessment a title and click "Save".
Access Your Assessment in the Library Tab
📖 To learn more about recommended question types for different assessments, read: Which Questions Should I Select for My Assessment?
📅 Strategy 2: Daily Do-Nows
Use InnerOrbit’s pre-made assessments to create quick, focused warm-ups on specific NGSS standards as a daily review.
💡 Choose the right assessment type:
Scaffolded Formatives → Focus on DCI review
Sensemaking Summatives→ Full 2D/3D assessments, similar to state tests
Have students complete these do-nows in independently or in pairs, with optional whole class discussion review afterwards.
Step-by-Step Instructions:
Go to the "Build" Tab
Navigate to the "Build" tab in your InnerOrbit dashboard.
Find a Phenomenon
Search for a standard/keyword or use the "Browse By" tiles to locate a relevant phenomenon.
Locate PreMade Assessments
Select a pre-made scaffolded formative or sensemaking summative assessment
Choose Your Questions
Assign All Questions → Click the green "Assign All Questions" button.
Select Specific Questions → Click "Add to Quiz" to customize.
Title and Save Your Assessment
Give your assessment a title and click "Save".
Access Your Assessment in the Library Tab
Decide how to use it in your classroom:
Assign to students
Print for in-class use (great for partner or table work)
Project for whole-class discussion
Screenshare results in the Assignment Report for whole-class discussion.
📝 Strategy 3: Mock Exams
Simulate state testing conditions with longer, multi-standard assessments to build student stamina and confidence before the test.
💡 Use Inventories
Inventories cover many standards → Assign as is or select key questions.
Use inventories from prior grades to build confidence and uncover knowledge gaps.
Step-by-Step Instructions:
Go to the "Build" Tab
Navigate to the "Build" tab in your InnerOrbit dashboard.
Locate Inventories
Click on the "Inventories" browse tile.
Select Grade Band & Science Domain
Choose the appropriate grade band and science domain (Earth, Physical, or Life Science).
Choose Your Questions
Assign All Questions → Click the green "Assign All Questions" button.
Select Specific Questions → Click "Add to Quiz" to customize.
Title and Save Your Assessment
Give your assessment a title and click "Save".
Access Your Assessment in the Library Tab
Decide how to use it in your classroom:
Assign to students
Print for in-class use (great for partner or table work)
Review data in the Dimensions Report
🔬 Strategy 4: Use SEP Practice Problems
SEP Practice Problems are content-agnostic questions designed to help students strengthen Science & Engineering Practices (SEP) skills in isolation, without the added complexity of disciplinary core ideas (DCIs) or crosscutting concepts (CCCs). These targeted problems allow students to focus purely on SEP skill development, making them an effective tool for reinforcing scientific reasoning, problem-solving, and analytical thinking before integrating them into full 3D assessments.
Step-by-Step Instructions:
Go to the "Build" Tab
Navigate to the "Build" tab in your InnerOrbit dashboard.
Find SEP Practice Problems
Locate and click on the "SEP Practice Problems" browse tile.
Select Grade Band & SEP Skill
Choose the appropriate grade band and the Science & Engineering Practice (SEP) skill you want students to practice.
Choose Your Questions
Assign All Questions → Click the green "Assign All Questions" button.
Select Specific Questions → Click "Add to Quiz" to customize.
Title and Save Your Assessment
Give your assessment a title and click "Save".
Access Your Assessment in the Library Tab
Decide how to use it in your classroom:
Assign to students
Print for in-class use (great for partner or table work)
Project for whole-class discussion
Screenshare results in the Assignment Report for whole-class discussion.
📊 Use InnerOrbit Data to Focus Reteaching
Not sure what to reteach during test prep season? Use your InnerOrbit data to:
Identify standards students struggle with
Target specific misconceptions
Differentiate instruction based on student needs
Check Your Reports:
📊 The Assignment Report → Best for granular, student-level and question-level analysis
📈 The Dimensions Report→ Great for core analysis to identify how students are working towards proficiency of the 3 dimensions of the NGSS
Want to learn more about using data to inform teaching next steps?
Collaborate with your professional learning community to discuss data trends and instructional strategies.
Plan data-driven instruction at a broader scale with school or district-level insights.
📖 More State Test Prep Resources
As you explore how InnerOrbit can support your state test goals, you may also want to fine-tune assessment data to better reflect your state’s science test expectations or learn how InnerOrbit assessments connect with state test results. Below are key resources to help:
Adjust Cut Scores for State Science Proficiency Levels – Learn how to customize InnerOrbit cut scores to better reflect your state’s science test proficiency levels.
Understand InnerOrbit’s Connection to State Test Results – Explore a 2025 study comparing InnerOrbit summative assessment scores with NGSS State Test proficiency levels.
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