Grade K-4 Performance Task
Contributed by: New York State Education Department (NYSED)
NYS Alternative Assessment in Science Project (1996)
Description:
Students will manipulate clear and opaque materials
and observe the ability of those different objects to magnify
small letters.
This task assesses students' abilities to make
simple observations describe physical properties of good magnifiers.
This task is designed to take students approximately
8-10 minutes to complete.
Overall Task Content Area:
Specific Knowledge Areas:
Properties of Matter
Performance Expectations:
- conducting investigations
- gathering and organizing data
- formulating conclusions from investigational data
- applying scientific principles to develop explanations
National Science Education Standards:
4 A SI 1: Abilities necessary to do scientific
inquiry
1.4 Use data to construct a reasonable explanation. This
aspect of the standard emphasizes the students’ thinking as they
use data to formulate explanations. Even at the earliest grade levels,
students should learn what constitutes evidence and judge the merits
or strength of the data and information that will be used to make
explanations. After students propose an explanation, they will appeal
to the knowledge and evidence they obtained to support their explanations.
Students should check their explanations against scientific knowledge,
experiences, and observations of others.
4 B PS 1: Properties of Matter: Grades K-4
1.1 Objects have many observable properties, including
size, weight, color, temperature, and the ability to react with
other substances. Those properties can be measured using tools,
such as rulers, balances, and thermometers.
(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:
AL1: Understand patterns, relations and functions:
Grades pre K-5 a. sort, classify, and order objects by size,
number, and other properties.
DAP1: Formulate questions that can
be addressed with data and collect, organize, and display relevant
data to answer them:
Grades pre K-5 b. sort and classify objects
according to their attributes and organize data about the objects
GEO1: Analyze characteristics and properties of two-
and three-dimensional shapes and develop mathematical arguments
about geometric relationships:
Grades pre K-5 b. describe attributes and parts of two- and
three-dimensional shapes
MEAS1: Understand measurable attributes of objects and
the units, systems, and processes of measurement:
Grades pre K-5 b. compare and order objects according to
these (length, volume, weight, area, and time) attributes
PS3: Apply and adapt a variety of appropriate strategies
to solve problems:
Grades pre K-5
RP2: Make and investigate mathematical conjectures:
Grades pre K-5
REP1: Create and use representations to organize, record,
and communicate mathematical ideas:
Grades pre K-5
General Instructions to the Teacher:
This task is designed to take approximately 8-10 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.
A central supply area, if needed, should be easily accessible. All
supplies should be clearly labeled.
Materials for "Magnifiers":
The teacher will need:
- scissors or craft knife
- resealable plastic bags
At each station students should have:
- clear glass ball (marble)
- clear rod
- clear plastic block
- white rod
- hand lens
Advance Preparation:
- Clear glass balls (marbles can be purchased at a florist or
craft supply store. You may find ones that have a flat surface;
these work very well.
- The clear plastic blocks should be 1" X 1" pieces
of 1/4" Plexiglas. Do not use a cube of plastic (1"
X 1" X 1"); it could be misleading for the students.
- Plexiglas can be purchased at a hardware store. It is easily
cut with a hack saw or a saber saw.
- Clear rods can be the clear craft glue sticks used in some hot
glue guns.
- The white rods can also be craft glue sticks used in some hot
glue guns. The glue sticks can be cut into 2 or 3 pieces for this
experiment as the student only needs about a two inch rod. Glue
sticks can be purchased at any craft or fabric store.
- Individual sets of materials can be easily stored in resealable
sandwich bags.
Safety:
- Be sure that the edges of the Plexiglas are sanded smooth.
- 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.
Extensions/modifications:
- Task does not easily lend itself to including mathematical criteria
in the rubric.
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