PALS - Administration Procedures

Sound Box

Administration Procedures

Grades 5-8 Performance Task
Assessment of Performance Unit
1985 Administration

Description:

Students make simple observations and identify relevant variables, such as frequency and diameter. They then discuss the relationships between variables. The task assesses students' abilities to make simple observations and make generalized inferences from their observations.

This task is designed to take students approximately 10-15 minutes to complete.

Overall Task Content Area:

Physical Science

Specific Knowledge Areas:

Performance Expectations:

conducting investigations
using equipment
formulating conclusions from investigational data

National Science Education Standards:

8 B PS 3: Energy: Grades 5-8
3.1 Energy is a property of many substances and is associated with heat, light, electricity, mechanical motion, sound, nuclei and the nature of a chemical. Energy is transferred in many ways.

8 A SI 1: Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry: Grades 5-8
1.4 Develop descriptions, explanations, predictions, and models using evidence. Students should base their explanation on what they observed, and as they develop cognitive skills, they should be able to differentiate explanation from description - providing causes for effects and establishing relationships based on evidence and logical argument. This standards requires a subject knowledge base so the students can effectively conduct investigations, because developing explanations establishes connections between the content of science and the contexts within which students develop new knowledge.

(Use the "hot" link on the PALS home page to check the full text of related National Science Education Standards, if desired.)

National Council of Teachers of Mathematics:

PS2: Solve problems that arise in mathematics and in other contexts:
Grades 6-8

General Instructions to the Teacher:

This task is designed to take students approximately 10-15 minutes to complete.

Students will be working individually during this exercise.

Students should be ready to work as soon as the period begins. The materials should be set out at each lab station, if possible.

Materials for Sound Box:

At this station students should have:

Sound Box: Rectangular block of wood with wires the same length but differing diameters stretched between pegs.

Advance Preparation:

Prepare Sound Box.

Safety:

Be careful.
Teachers and students should always exercise appropriate safety precautions and utilize appropriate laboratory safety procedures and equipment when working on science performance tasks.