1st Grade Performance Task
Developed for Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS)
Authors: Betty Crocker, Janette Fentress, Virginia Malone, Theresa Weeks

Description:

Students will listen to Chapter I, Chapter II, Chapter III, Chapter IV of "The Forgetful Pony". The student observes different stages of development of mealworms. The student sequences pictures to show the life cycle and draws the developmental stages of the mealworm.

This task is designed to take students 2 class periods of 30 mintues each.

Overall Task Content Area:

Life Science

Specific Knowledge Areas:

The traits of organisms

Performance Expectations:

• comparing and contrasting the different stages of mealworm growth

National Science Education Standards:

4 AS I 1: Employ simple equipment and tools to gather data and extend the senses: Grades K-4
1.3 In early years, students develop simple skills, such as how to observe, measure, cut, connect, switch, turn on and off, pour, hold, tie, and hook. Beginning with simple instruments, students can use rulers to measure the length, height, and depth of objects and materials; thermometers to measure temperature; watches to measure time; beam balances and spring scales to measure weight and force; magnifiers to observe objects and organisms; and microscopes to observe the finer details of plants, animals, rocks, and other materials. Children also develop skills in the use of computers and calculators for conducting investigations.

National Council of Teachers of Mathematics:

ALG1: Understand patterns, relations, and functions.
Grades preK-5 a. sort, classify, and order objects by size, number, and other properties

MEAS2: Apply appropriate techniques, tools, and formulas to determine measurements.
Grades preK-5 c. use tools to measure.

DAP1: Formulate questions that can be addressed with data and collect, organize, and display relevant data to answer them.
Grades preK-5 e. collect data using observations, surveys, and experiments

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

COM1: Organize and consolidate their mathematical thinking through communication:
Grades 6-8

General Instructions to the Teacher:

This taskis designed to take students 2 class periods of 30 minutes each.

Students will be working both individually and in groups 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.

• "The Forgetful Pony" story
• small containers used in previous experiences
• hand lenses
• rulers
• oatmeal
• mealworm larva
• pupa
• adult beetle
• egg picture
• larva picture
• pupa picture
• adult mealworm beetle picture
• envelope to hold pictures
• glue
• "Hey, Look Me Over" chart

Advance Preparation:

For each student, prepare:

• A small plastic container of oatmeal, a mealworm larvae, pupa, and adult beetle.
• An envelope containing labeled pictures of the egg, mealworm larva, pupa, and adult beetle.
• Add the word stage to the "Hey, Look Me Over" Chart (see Extensions/modifications).
  

  Teacher Talk: Picture of each stage are available in "Critters" (AIMS).

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.

Extensions/modifications:

• "More Lizard Snacks" is one part of a five part assessment that was administered. The other four stations are "The Forgetful Pony Learns about Grain," "The Forgetful Pony Learns about Oatmeal," "Who's Been Eating the Oatmeal," and "Hey, Look Me Over."