Office of Elementary, Middle, Secondary and Continuing Education

David Abrams, Assistant Commissioner

Office for Standards, Assessment and Reporting

December 2006

TO: District Superintendents, Superintendents of Public Schools,
Principals of Secondary Public and Nonpublic Schools,
Commissioner’s Advisory Panel for Nonpublic Schools

FROM: David Abrams

SUBJECT: Change in Administration Date for the Regents Examination in Physical Setting/Earth Science, New Part D—Lab-Practical Performance Component

The new lab-practical performance component (Part D) will be implemented for the first time with the June 2008 administration of the Regents Examination in Physical Setting/Earth Science. This is a change from the previously announced implementation date of June 2007. The current lab-practical performance component will continue to be used through the January 2008 administration of the Regents Examination in Physical Setting/Earth Science.

This postponement will allow more time for schools to acquire the materials needed for testing. Schools that have not already done so must ensure that they will have on hand for June 2008 the materials on the attached list. These materials will be needed to administer the new lab-practical performance component.

In the coming months, information will be posted on this web site regarding the turnkey training that will be provided for teachers for the implementation of the new performance component. Training will take place in Fall 2007 and Spring 2008 at various BOCES and training sites around New York State.

c: Jean Stevens

Howard Goldsmith

Required materials for The new lab-practical performance component (Part D)

Station 1 Mineral and Rock Identification

Materials (per setup)

· One hand-sized mineral sample (approximate size: 5 cm ´ 7 cm ´ 10 cm)—Any mineral can be used, both familiar and unfamiliar, as long as the properties to be tested are clear and unmistakable. Do not use the same type of mineral at more than one station.

· Three hand-sized rock samples to include one igneous rock, one sedimentary rock, and one metamorphic rock—The rock samples can only be rocks listed on the rock identification charts from the 2001 edition Earth Science Reference Tables and must have unambiguous and unmistakable diagnostic properties. Use different rock combinations or rocks at each station.

· Mineral identification kit containing a glass scratch plate, a streak plate, and a hand lens.

Station 2 Locating an Epicenter

Materials (per setup)

· Safe drawing compass

Station 3 Density of Fluids

Materials (per setup)

· Electronic balance that measures and displays mass to 0.1 gram—A 200-gram capacity is sufficient for this examination

Note: Balances that display mass to the 0.01 gram must not be used.

· Four identical 10 mL glass graduated cylinders (0.1 mL graduations)

· Four two-inch squares of Parafilm M®

· Light-colored corn syrup (approximately 10 mL)

· Light-colored vegetable oil (approximately 10 mL)

· Water (approximately 10 mL)

· Four identical small rubber bands

· One four-function calculator

· One hand lens

Station 4 Constructing and Analyzing an Elliptical Orbit

Materials (per setup)

· Cotton string (approximately 30 cm)

· Triple-walled cardboard, foam board or other suitable material (approximately

· 25 cm x 30 cm)

· Two push pins

· A small container to hold push pins

· One 30-cm metric ruler

· One four-function calculator

Additional Preparation Materials

· Fine-point black permanent marker to label samples and glassware

· White enamel to label rock and mineral samples

· Page protectors for station directions (approximately 15 per setup)

· Tape

· Scissors