SOL Resources

These resources are designed to help students review for the Standards of Learning tests that they will take in May. Click on your grade level to go to learning activities that will help you review and prepare for the big day! Just one more question right can be the key to passing the test!

Third Grade

Fourth Grade

Fifth Grade

Fourth Grade Learning Activities

Reading Activities
Solve a Mystery! Can you read the story and solve the mystery before the detective?	Mini Stories & Activities Can you read the passage and figure out the missing words before time runs out	Reading Charts & Graphs This lesson will teach you how to read those pesky charts and graphs!	Reading a Chart Can you read more than just words? Use the chart to answer the questions!
Reading a Map Can you read more than just words? Use the map to answer the questions!	Reading for a Purpose Can you answers these questions about elephants?	Language Games LOTS of Concentration and other games on synonyms, antonyms, homonyms and homographs!	Reading Non-Fiction Reading factual material requires different skills than reading fiction. Try reading the tan or green passages from Mr. Nussbaum’s site and answering the questions. Can you be a good detective and read to find the answers?
Author’s Purpose Do you know why authors write? They have many reasons: to entertain, to persuade or convince or sometimes to inform or teach. Can you tell the difference? Go through this tutorial to learn the difference, then match the cards to see if you know why!	Types of Text game Try this game from the BBC! Text is any form of writing- from a letter, email, novel or poem. When you are reading or writing any text, think about the purpose of the text and why it has been written. Can you identify the author’s purpose for these writings? See how good you do at this game!	Compare and Contrast Are you good and telling how things are alike and how they are different? If you compare two things you tell how they are alike. If you contrast two things you tell how they are different. If you compare and contrast two things you tell how they are alike and how they are different.	Be a Critical Reader A good reader is like a detective- when reading they spot clues and fill in gaps with information that isn’t easily seen. Try this activity to see what a good detective you are, and improve your critical reading skills!
Inference Riddles Successful readers make guesses based on what they read and what they already know. The object of this game is to infer what is being described by the clues you read. How many clues do you need before you can infer what the object is?	Making Inferences When you make an inference, be able to identify the clues that you used! Can you read the passage and make inferences from what you read? Take this quiz and find out!	Fact or Opinion? Much of what you read in newspapers or magazines is a mix of factual information and the opinions of the author. Often the opinions are disguised as fact, to make the author's argument seem more believable. Can you spot the difference?	Summarize As You Read Whether you’re reading a book, newspaper or magazine article, it’s always a good idea to summarize the information in your head or on a piece of paper. Summarizing, or summing up main ideas, helps you focus on the most important parts of the story. How good a detective are YOU at finding the most important ideas in a story?
Summarize- Make a Long Story Short A summary can also be a short retelling of a longer story or article. How good are you at “summing it up”? Can you summarize the story into it’s main idea?	Cause and Effect Do you understand the difference between causes and effects? This tutorial will explain the difference between them, and show how cause and effect chains are like domino chains! Choose “Identifying Cause and Effect” Level 1 to get started. Click the “Learn” button to start off and learn about the domino chains of cause and effect, then try Practice and Apply. When you’re really good, try Level 2!	Cause and Effect Can you help the Cause and Effect detective? Read the paragraphs and think about WHAT happened and WHY it is happening. Then spot the cause and the effect! When you’re done, click the chalkboard to play a game!	Fiction or Nonfiction Can you tell which is which? Do you know which genre is the best to choose for the task? Take this quick fun quiz and see how you do!
What’s the Difference? Do you know the difference between fiction and nonfiction? Fiction is a story that is created from your imagination. Nonfiction is a true story about real people. Can you spot the fiction from the nonfiction? Click on Jack and Jill to practice!	Did You Know? You can learn a lot from a book before you even read a page! Every content book has many parts. Knowing how to use the parts can help you get lots of information fast! Go through this tutorial on each of the parts of the book, then try the quiz.	Using Reliable Information Do you know how to find reliable information for writing a report- or even for catching a bus? This tutorial will show you how to tell if a source is reliable, and where the best sources are! Choose “Using Reliable Information” Level 1 to get started. Click the “Learn” button to start off and learn about what a good source of information is, then try Practice and Apply. When you’re really good, try Level 2!
Math Activities

Graphing Student Data How well can you create a graph out of data that you collect about other students? Try this activity from the BBC! Survey the students by clicking their picture, tally the data and use the information to create a graph to display the information. Then quiz yourself to see if you know what the information REALLY means! How good a graph reader are you?	Saxon Math Graphs Use the information from the graphs to answer the questions. Do you know how to read Venn Diagrams, Pictographs, Histograms and Bar Graphs. Can you score a perfect 100 points? If not, keep trying until you get it right!	Billy Bug and His All New Quest for Grubs Click on the arrow keys to guide Billy to the co-ordinates of the hidden grub. When he arrives click on “Feed’ and he will feed himself. How long will it take you to feed Billy ten times?	Links for Learning: Patterns Links for Learning are videos with activities! Watch these cool videos on patterns and learn that: A pattern is a set of shapes that are repeated over and over, understanding patterns is skill that helps us in math, and that by understanding patterns we can see and understand the way things work together. Then try to complete the activities- how high can you score?
Spy Guys- Extending Patterns Join the Spy Guys and learn how patterns relate to math and real life. Can you work with the Spy Guys to extend the patterns that they show you in the videos? They are difficult and tricky, so watch out!	Spooky Sequences One of the ghosts in the spooky sequence is missing a number. Click on the number buttons along the bottom of the main game screen to add a number to the ghost. Click “Enter” to put in your answer- if it’s correct you’ll send the ghosts back to the haunted house! Can you complete all five spooky sequences correctly?	Algebra Puzzle Find the value of each of the three objects presented in the puzzle. The numbers represent the sum of the objects in each row or column. Sometimes, only one object will appear in a row or a column- that makes it easier to solve!	Decimal Darts You have three rounds per game and five darts per round. Your balloons are positioned randomly along the dart board so that you have a high and low range of numbers each round. Type a number within this range to aim the dart (use decimals!) How accurate are you in popping your balloons?
Railroad Repair Fix the railroad tracks before the cyber train comes through! A sneaky hacker has removed some of the tracks on the trans-cyberspace railroad. It’s up to you to repair the tracks so the cybertrain can get to Central Station. You’ll need to drag spare tracks to fill the missing spaces. Remember- think DECIMALS and estimate!	Rope Tug There are three levels- can you make it all the way to the top? You can play against someone else, or play against the robot. You get a card, your opponent gets a card, and whoever gets the largest decimal gets to pull- but you have to type in the correct difference! Don’t get pulled into the pit!	Spy Guys- Solving Problems with Decimals The Spy Guys are at it again! Can you follow along with their video tutorial, and help them solve the math problems using decimals? The Spy Guys will be there to help if you get stuck! See if you can help the Spy Guys get their tree house built!	Thinking Blocks Do you have a difficult time solving word problems? Then watch these tutorials and learn how to use Thinking Blocks to help move through the steps of solving word problems. Click on any topic to get started and your personal Math Tutor will guide you through the rest!
Dude’s Dilemma Channel 6 Live Report: Dog trapped on roof! Use your math skills to lower the wench from the helicopter and rescue Dude from the roof of the building! There are multiple levels- can you make it all the way to the top? Be careful- if you get too many wrong answers, you’ll run out of fuel!	Comparing Fractions games Here are two games to help you work with fractions: Dolphin racing: Test your knowledge by finding the largest fraction to win the game. Ordering game: Put the fractions in order from largest to smallest.	The Decifractor Convert fractions to decimals quickly! Create your own conversion by typing in your own numerator and denominator in the fraction, and see what decimal conversion you get.	Fresh Baked Fractions The word on the street is that Fraction Jackson is a dog who loves pie (pi?) If you answer 24 questions correctly, you can put your name on Jackson’s list of Master Pie Bakers. Can you make it all the way to Super Brain?
Equivalent Fraction Master Are you an Equivalent Fraction Master? Here are three ways to prove it! Can you spot the equivalent fractions in the Matching game, Flashcards and Concentration? If you can, you are a true Fraction Master!	Spy Guys Area & Perimeter The Spy Guys are back! Can you help them measure the house for perimeter of the rooms for the baseboard and carpet? If you need help, the Spy Guys will pop up and help you!	Perimeter Explorer Can you calculate the perimeter of the object on the grid? Click and type your answer, then draw a new shape! Drag the slider and you can adjust the area to make your shape larger or smaller.	Area and Perimeter Explorer Click on a shape to learn more- each page will explain how to find the area or the perimeter, then you have the chance to try to do it yourself! There are three different levels- can you make it all the way to the highest level?
Geometry Can you match the geometric shape with the correct vocabulary term? Once you match all of the terms with the correct picture, you’ll unlock a hidden picture!	Interactives Geometry 3D Shapes We live in a three-dimensional world. Every object that you can see or touch has three dimensions- in these lessons you’ll learn the vocabulary, how to calculate their area and volume and their properties. Scroll to the bottom of each page and play with each shape to see its faces, vertices, edges and a net!	Pairs of Lines Two lines can be related to each other in four different ways. Click on each diagram to learn more about pairs of lines. Learn about Intersecting lines, Parallel lines, Perpendicular lines and Skew lines! Then click the “Next” button to see examples. When you’re finished, you can even print out the worksheet to try it on your own!	Angle Practice Do you know your angles? Can you name the kinds of angles made by intersecting lines? Try this fun activity- label the angles using the menus, then tell what kind of angles they are. If you are really good, then keep score!
Decimal Switch Click on the arrows to swap the numbers around until they are all in ascending order	Death to Decimals You, fearless Number Guy, must defeat the alien decimals by blasting them with your calculator! Match the decimal with the fraction!	Spy Guys Decimals Click on skip intro, then go to Lesson 1. The lesson will help explain decimals and how we use them.	Solving Problems with Decimals Click on skip intro, then go to Lesson 5. The lesson walks you through the steps to solve the problem.
Spy Guys Improper Fractions & Mixed Numbers Click on skip intro, then go to Lesson 2. The lesson will help explain improper fractions and mixed numbers.	Problem Solving One Start off solving the problem. If you get stuck, click "Hint." There are hints all along until the problem is solved- so you will always be successful!	Fishy Fractions In Fishy Fractions you can work on proper and improper fractions, and adding and subtracting fractions! (user: ces colt pw: colts)
Social Studies Activities
Native American Language Groups Do you know where the Native Americans lived in Virginia?	Native American Language Groups Did you do well on the last one? Then try this one out!	Virginia Rivers Think you know all about Virginia's rivers? Then see if you can go from rags to riches!	Virginia Rivers Pt 2 How did you do on the last activity? Think you're ready for another go?
Virginia Geography Try this online crossword puzzle on Virginia's geographic features!	Stickman Game Test your knowledge on Virginia's history byplaying the Stickman game!	Regions Quiz Test your knowledge on Virginia's regions, Native Americans and bordering states!	Regions Quiz 2 How did you do on the first quiz? See how you do on THIS quiz!
Science Activities
How Does Coal Form? Check out this video animation that shows how one of Virginia’s greatest natural resources, coal, is formed.	Identify the Natural Resource Click and drag the natural resource to one of the three black holes: Renewable Resources, Nonrenewable Resources, Inexhaustible Resources. Hold your mouse over each item to identify it. If you identify the resource correctly, it will disappear (Just what we DON’T want to have happen to our natural resources!).	Changes in the Environment How do human beings change the environment? What happens to animals and plants when humans change the environment?	Nonliving Factors How do nonliving factors affect the ecosystem? Click the nonliving objects in the picture to find out more.
The Watershed Game We all depend on water for survival. But water is a scare resource- only 1% of water on earth is fresh water! How can we keep this water pure and fresh? Many things happen in a watershed that affect the quality of the water we rely upon. Would you make the best decisions in managing your watershed? Examine the issues in each area, then see the impacts of your choices!	Discovering the Water Cycle First, drag the parts of the water cycle into the correct order. When they are correct, you’ll get a chance to click on each stage of the cycle and explore it.	Follow a Water Molecule Follow a water molecule through the water cycle. What are your chances of making it all the way through? Are you going to be stuck in a glacier? Will you become groundwater? Spin the fish and see where your water molecule lands, and what effect it has on the water cycle!	The Interactive Weather Maker What happens when you change the temperature and the humidity? How do temperature variances between the equator and the poles create weather? Try changing the variables and see what happens to the weather!
Wild Weather Adventure Play the Wild Weather Adventure game. Your weather research blimp will explore Earth and its weather. With luck, skill and strategy you will race other weather research blimps to be first to travel all the way around the world and win the game! You can play with your friends or by yourself against the computer.	What Is Weather? Have fun playing in this interactive tutorial and discover what makes up weather: Wind direction, wind force, precipitation, temperature, sunshine, visibility and clouds. What happens when you change each of these variables?	How Weather Tools Work Ever wonder how a thermometer measures heat? Or what an anemometer does? Now you can learn what they do and how they do it thanks to these cool animations from USA Today!	Matching Game Can you match the weather instruments and the cloud types in this matching game?
Earth, Moon and Sun Click the Play button to see how the Earth and moon move around the Sun. Can you describe what happens? Then use the red arrow keys to choose different numbers of hours, days, weeks or months and click the Go button. Can you make the Earth orbit just once around the Sun? How many months does it take? Can you make the Moon orbit just once around the Earth? How many days does this take? Can you make the Earth turn just once on its own axis? How many hours does this take? Then click the labels to find out more information on the Earth, Moon and Sun. Finally- challenge yourself to a Quiz!	Phases of the Moon Model This model will show you how the phases of the moon are created, with a model showing the side view of the Sun, Moon and Earth and the phase of the moon. Click on Background Information to learn more about why we see the phases of the Moon as we do.	Moonlight Madness The revolution of the Moon around the Earth causes the Moon to appear to change shape in the sky. These apparently different shapes are called the “phases of the moon”. The Moon passes through a cycle of 8 phases which repeat itself every 29.5 days. Can you identify each phase pictured here, and place them in the correct order?	Put the Moon Phases in the Correct Order If you begin and end with the new moon, can you put the phases of the moon in the correct order? Number each box, beginning with the New Moon.
Eclipses and Moon Phases The moon revolves around the Earth in an elliptical orbit. It takes the Moon about 27.3 days to orbit Earth once. This orbit cause the phases of the moon and eclipses. Eclipses depend on the moon’s revolution around Earth. Can you create your own Solar and Lunar eclipse?	Eclipses Now that you understand phases of the moon, lets move on to eclipses! What shadow makes a lunar eclipse? What shadow makes a solar eclipse? Check out this model and experiment to create your own Solar Eclipse and Lunar Eclipse!	Friction Try this: Make the car slide to the blue flag by dragging on a track surface and pulling the red handle. Which track surface works best? What happens with each of the surfaces? What happens if you pull the handle to the red light? What happens if you pull the handle to the yellow light on the same surface? Why do you think, with the same push, the sleigh travels different distances on different surfaces? What surface and what push must you use to get the sleigh to travel past the last flag and off the screen? Finally- challenge yourself to a Quiz!	Forces In Action Make the truck travel to the end of the track by changing the gradient and clicking Release. Then read the instructions at the top of the screen to experiment and measure how far the truck travels. Click the Table button to type in each measurement. Drop the small parachute from the menu onto the truck. How far does the truck travel with the parachute attached? How far does the truck travel with the big parachute attached? What happens when you make the yellow gradient on the track steeper? Remember to keep returning to the Table screen to type in each measurement! Finally- challenge yourself to a Quiz!
Forces and Motion Forces change the speed, direction and shape of just about anything. When you push or pull, you’re using a force. Even though we can’t see forces, we can see their effects! Try this interactive tutorial from BBC Revisewise to learn more!	FUNderstanding Coaster Use what you’ve learned about Friction and Forces and design your own rollercoaster here! Can you design a roller coaster with enough energy and mass that the sleigh can make it all the way over the hills and through the loop?	Favorite Hobbies Learn how to read and interpret data by learning about different hobbies. When you’re finished, see how much you learned by taking the test! When you're finished, see how much you learned by taking the test!	How It All Stacks Up What information can you learn from reading a graph? Then build a graph online with the data that they show. Finally, create your own graph with your data!
Weight and Capacity This video will review the units of measure for comparing units of measure for weight and capacity	Electrical Circuits For electical bulbs, buzzers, motors or bells to work, they must be joined to a completed electrical circuit. Learn more about circuits here, then test your knowledge on the quiz!	ReviseWise Science Use this site from the BBC to refresh your knowledge of conductors, states of matter, and all that good stuff! Do the activity, read the fact sheet and try the quiz to see what you know!

Sharpen Your Test Taking Skills

• Illinios State Board ISAT Sample Test Booklets	The Illinois State Board ISAT sample tests are very similar to the Virginia SOL tests. You can select a grade level, choose a subject and download a sample test booklet (and answer key!) to practice test taking skills!
• Texas Education Agency	Texas assessments and Virginia SOL tests are written by the same publisher. Scroll down the page to "Interactive Online Version" and you can take a practice test online and have it scored to see how you did!
• SOL Released Items	The Virginia Department of Education releases certain test items each year and allows students to use them as a "practice test." These items must be downloaded and printed out (needs Adobe Acrobat)
• Poquoson IQ site	Tami Maloney at Poquoson Schools took the above released items and turned them into ONLINE interactive tests that give immediate feedback! Please do not take the quizzes based on the 2005 released test items until after April 28th
• Tabb Elementary School	Various online quizzes by content area and grade level. Look through the matrix and take one!