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Phases of Matter
Rubric

8th Grade Performance Task
Contributed by: New York State Education Department (NYSED)
NYS Alternative Assessment in Science Project (1996)

Phases of Matter - Scoring Rubric

Maximum score - 8 points

Question 1. Explain how popcorn pops
2 points total

 

  • Allow 2 points for discussing a phase change of liquid changing to a gas and that increased pressure causes the popcorn kernel to expand.
  • Allow 1 point for writing that heat causes things to expand.
  • Allow 1 point for writing that heat causes the water to evaporate.

Question 2. Why a hot shower "fogs" up a mirror
1 point total
  • Allow 1 point for writing that small water droplets condense on a cold mirror.

Question 3. Why you can "see your breath."
2 points total
  • Allow 2 points for writing that the warm water vapor exhaled condenses on the dust particles in the cold air.
  • Allow 1 point for writing tha the warm water vapor condenses when meeting the cold air.

Question 4. Explain how dryers use heat to dry.
1 point total
  • Allow 1 point for writing that the heat adds energy to the liquid water causing the water to evaporate into a gas.

Question 5. How icicles form on a roof.
2 points total
  • Allow 2 points for writing that the heat from the house rises through the roof, melting the solid snow into liquid water. The water drips off the roof, freezing back into the solid phase or icicles when it hits the cold air.
  • Allow 1 point for writing that the water melts and refreezes into icicles.

Highest possible score - 8 points

Scoring Form - Phases of Matter

Student ID ______________

Male / Female (circle one)

Circle the student's score for each question. Add the points for each question and write the total score at the bottom of the scoring form.

1. Explain how popcorn pops
0
1 2
2. Why a hot shower fogs up a mirror? 0 1  
3. Why you can "see your breath" 0 1 2
4. Explain how dryers use heat to dry 0 1  
5. How icicles form on a roof 0 1 2

Total Score ____________

Total Possible score - 8 points

 

 


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