I started adding exit tickets to most of my science resources because I needed a quick way to check understanding without creating another long worksheet or adding more grading to my plate.
When teaching weathering and erosion, I noticed students could usually repeat the vocabulary words, but that didn’t always mean they actually understood the difference between the two concepts.
Sometimes you just need a simple way to see:
- who understood the lesson
- who needs reteaching
- and whether it’s safe to move on
That’s exactly why I made this free science exit ticket for upper elementary students.
This quick science review helps students practice:
- weathering
- erosion
- changes to Earth’s surface
- identifying examples
- reviewing key vocabulary
It’s low prep, easy to print, and works well as:
- a quick formative assessment
- lesson wrap-up
- science centers
- independent practice
- review work
- emergency sub plans
Honestly, simple resources like this tend to work best in real classrooms because they’re easy to fit into an already busy week.
Why I Like Using Exit Tickets in Science
Science concepts build on each other, so I like having a quick way to see whether students are actually understanding vocabulary and key ideas before moving on.
Exit tickets are helpful because they:
- don’t take long
- are easy to prep
- give immediate feedback
- help students review important concepts
- work well for independent practice
I especially rely on them during:
- testing season
- busy weeks
- review days
- fast-paced units
- centers
- days when I need something meaningful but manageable
How I Use Exit Tickets
Most of the time, students complete an exit ticket after a hands-on activity, cut-and-paste worksheet, or science review activity.
I usually keep it simple:
- 3–5 questions
- quick review
- straightforward format
- focused on key concepts
By the end of the lesson, I can usually tell:
- who understood the material
- who rushed through
- who needs another review day
- which concepts need reteaching
Sometimes I grade them.
Sometimes I just use them for quick feedback.
Either way, they give me useful information without creating a huge stack of grading. Not to mention that they look great in the interactive science journals.
What’s Included in the Free Exit Ticket
This free resource was designed for upper elementary science classrooms and includes:
- student-friendly questions
- printable format
- easy-to-use layout
- quick science review
- low-prep formative assessment
It works well for:
- science journals
- independent work
- lesson wrap-up
- centers
- extra review
- small groups
One thing I’ve found helpful is having students glue completed exit tickets into their science journals. It creates a nice record of learning throughout the unit and makes it easy to look back at student understanding later on.
Simple Teacher Tip
One thing that helped me was stopping myself from overcomplicating exit tickets.
They don’t need to be fancy to be effective.
Sometimes, a few well-written questions are enough to quickly tell you whether students are understanding the lesson or just copying vocabulary without really grasping the concept.
I also try to give quick feedback whenever possible, even if it’s just reviewing common mistakes together the next day.
Looking for More Science Activities?
If you like low-prep science activities, you may also like:
- Rock Cycle Activities
- States of Matter Worksheets
- Water Cycle Activities
- Force and Motion Resources
- Natural Disaster Activities
Click to see all the resources available STEMplicity
Most of my resources are designed to be practical, easy to use, and manageable for busy classrooms.
Final Thoughts
I know teachers already have enough on their plates, so I try to create resources that are straightforward, useful, and easy to implement without a lot of extra prep.
Exit tickets have honestly become one of the simplest ways for me to quickly check understanding while still keeping science lessons manageable.
If you want something ready to print and use, don’t forget to grab the free science exit ticket here:
