When it comes to testing the Virginia science SOLs (Standards of Learning), I am a big fan of using a variety of games and interactive review activities to help students review and prepare for testing. But, traditional study guides are also helpful tools that students can use to study for the science SOL test independently and at home.

Here’s some information about my Virginia science SOLs study guides and the best practices for using them with upper elementary students.

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Teaching Students to Use Study Guides

While adults have many years of experience using study guides, upper elementary students do not. Therefore, it is important to take the time to teach your students how to properly use a science study guide if you want them to get the most out of it.

If you just hand them the study guide as they are walking out the door, they may glance at it. But, it will most likely end up on the floor of the school bus or the bottom of their backpack.

Here are a few things to teach students about using study guides.

  1. When they first receive their science SOL study guide, they should skim over it the same way they would if they were given a reading passage. They should take a mental note of things such as titles and headings, bolded and underlined words, and images.
  2. Read through the study guide once. Students can read through independently, with a partner, or as a class. Then, direct them to read through the study guide a second time, looking for new information that they may have missed during the first read-through.
  3. When reading through the study guide, encourage students to underline or highlight important information and things they need to spend more time reviewing before SOL testing.
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This Light Study Guide can be found HERE.

Using Study Guides to Play Games

You may be surprised to learn that study guides open the door for student-created games. When students create their own review games, it means less work for the teacher!

After giving students time to review the study guides, give each student 1-3 index cards. Students should use the information on the study guide to create questions related to the Virginia science SOLs. They should write the question on one side of the index card and the answer on the back of the index card.

Then, you can use the student-created questions in a variety of ways.

  • Use the index cards the same way you would use task cards. You can find a list of some of my favorite task card games in this blog post.
  • Pair the index card questions with a board game. For example, if students are playing Candy Land or Chutes and Ladders, they can only move forward if they answer a science question correctly.
  • Turn the index card questions into a science Jeopardy game. Tape the cards in categories to a whiteboard. Students can select questions, work in teams to answer the questions, and earn points. The team with the most points after all the questions have been answered is the winner.
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This Simple Machines Study Guide can be found HERE.

When to Use Study Guides

I always like to send a study guide home before a unit test. A few ways students can use the science SOL study guides at home include:

  • Make flashcards with information from the study guide.
  • Have a parent, sibling, or friend use the study guide to quiz them.
  • Read through the study guide two times each night before bed.

Study guides are also helpful tools before science SOL testing at the end of the school year. As we play games and take practice tests to prepare for the science SOL test, I determine which SOLs each student needs more practice with. Then, I send home the study guides for those SOLs.

Virginia Science SOL Study Guides

All of my Virginia Science SOL Study Guides come with three versions to meet the needs of every classroom.

  • Completed version– The Completed Study Guide is completely filled out. Just print and give to students.
  • Study Guide for Student Completion– The Study Guide for Student Completion is similar to the Completed Study Guide but is missing some terms and includes questions for students to answer. With this version, you can have students complete it independently or in partners. Then, review the answers as a class. This version allows for a more interactive review experience.
  • Digital Study Guide– The Digital Study Guide includes both the Completed Study Guide and the Study Guide for Student Completion in digital format for Google Slides. You can assign this version in Google Classroom to use with virtual or hybrid students.

Each version is 1-2 pages. All of the Science SOL Study Guides feature key terms, images and models, and an explanation of important concepts covered in the Virginia Science SOLs. The information is presented in kid-friendly language.

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All of my Virginia SOL-aligned science study guides come with a completed version and a version that students can complete. You can find this Plant and Animal Structures Study Guide HERE.

Each study guide also comes with an additional worksheet that has up to 10 review questions. These open-ended questions are similar to the types of questions students may see on the science SOL test.

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All of my Virginia SOL-aligned science study guides come with 10 review questions. You can find this Ecosystems Study Guide HERE.

Where to Find Science SOL-Aligned Study Guides

It can be a challenge to find pre-made, quality resources aligned to the Virginia Science SOLs. And, between lesson planning, teaching students, and grading—who has time to create their own detailed study guides?

That’s where Vestal’s 21st Century Classroom can step in to help! Study guides are available for every 3rd-grade, 4th-grade, and 5th-grade science SOL in my store.

Each study guide resource includes the three versions listed above and review question worksheets. Most importantly, all of the study guide resources in my store are specifically aligned to the Virginia Science SOLs. They are the perfect review tools at the end of the unit, before benchmark assessments, and/or before SOL testing.

You can also find Virginia Science SOL study guide bundles for each grade level at a discounted price.

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Have you heard of the Virginia Teacher Club®? The Virginia Teacher Club® is a one-of-a-kind program for upper elementary teachers in Virginia. Members receive instant access to a curriculum library of SOL-aligned math, science, social studies, and ELA resources. There are lesson plans, games, assessments, passages, digital activities, and more for EVERY SOL. By using the Virginia Teacher Club®, our members save hours of planning time every month and have access to high-quality, SOL-aligned resources that students love.

CLICK HERE to join the waitlist and be the first to know when the Virginia Teacher Club® reopens for new members.