Performance Assessment Project: Creating Task and Rubric

Performance Assessment Project
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Performance Assessment Project
1. Standards
Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) for 3rd Grade:
Standard: 3-LS1-1 - Develop models to describe organisms with unique and diverse life cycles, but all have birth, growth, reproduction, and death in common (Cohen, 2021).
Standard: 3-LS3-1 - Claim the merit of a solution to a problem caused when the environment changes, and the types of plants and animals that live there may change.
2. Learning Objectives
* Students will develop an understanding of how plants grow and make food through photosynthesis.
* Students will observe a plant's growth, height, leaves, and color changes.
* Students will effectively communicate their observations and understanding through a poster presentation.
3. Background Information
* This task is appropriate for assessing the learning objectives because it requires students to actively engage with plants' growth and life processes, aligning with NGSS standards (Morales‐Doyle et al., 2019). The scheme encourages students to make observations, analyze data, and communicate their findings effectively. Relevant course readings include "Life Cycles of Plants" and "Photosynthesis Explained."
Life Cycles of Plants
Overview: "Life Cycles of Plants" is an educational resource or topic commonly taught in science education. The phases of plant development focus on the various stages of a plant. This concept forms the basis for understanding how plants grow, reproduce, and adapt to the surrounding environment.
Content: Plant life cycles usually include the following stages: germination, growth and development, reproduction, and finally, death (Ramesh et al., 2022). Different plant species may have unique life cycles.
Importance: Understanding plant life cycles is vital for various applications, from agriculture and horticulture to environmental conservation. It helps students comprehend different plant species' interconnectedness and ecological roles.
Instructional Materials: In an educational context, "Life Cycles of Plants" may be covered through textbooks, interactive diagrams, hands-on activities like planting seeds and observing growth, or even virtual simulations.
Photosynthesis Explained
Overview: "Photosynthesis Explained" is a topic within biology and environmental science that delves into one of the most fundamental processes on Earth—photosynthesis (Esteves et al., 2019, p. 11). The natural process in which plants and other organisms transform radiated light energy into a molecule of glucose (a kind of sugar) is called chemical energy.
Content: The topic involves the photosynthesis steps comprising chlorophyll's function, absorbing sunlight, converting carbon dioxide and water into glucose, and releasing oxygen as waste. Further, it explains how plants use the saved-up energy contained within the glucose molecule to support their growth.
Importance: Life on Earth crucially depends on photosynthesis as it offers vital energy and essential atmospheric oxygen. To help them understand how energy plants are related to environmental systems, the course teaches “Photosynthesis Explained.”
Instructional Materials: In educational settings, this topic is often taught through diagrams, animations, lab experiments, and hands-on activities where students can witness photosynthesis in action, often using aquatic plants like Elodea.
* This task is designed for third-grade students in a science classroom. It aligns with the grade level and content area standards for life science and the study of plants.
* The task will be implemented in small groups of five students to encourage peer collaboration and involve the teacher in reading the instructions to ensure clarity.
* The task is designed for general education students. Still, it can be adapted to accommodate students with disabilities through simplified language, additional visual aids, or a one-on-one support approach.
4. Task Script
Today, we will become scientists and explore how plants grow and make food. We have two critical questions: How do plants grow, and how do they make their food? To do this, we will choose a plant, like a potted flower or a small vegetable, and watch it closely for two weeks.
Let us explore the steps you will take in this fantastic adventure:
* • Plant Selection: By selecting and observing a plant, you will become a plant scientist. It could just be a nice potted flower or a small vegetable. Your special attention during the project will fall on this plant.• Daily Observations: You will be a plant investigator for the next two weeks. Every single day of it, you will focus on your plant. Open a journal for observations of what is going on around you. Always note all chang...