4th Grade Performance Task
New York State Alternative Assessment in Science Project (NYSED)
1996 Administration
Description:
After reading a story about a predatory event between a fox and a
rabbit, the student will draw a picture to show the pattern of animal
tracks a scientist might find in the area after the event.
The task assesses students' abilities to make generalized inferences
from their reading, and apply their understanding.
This task is designed to take students approximately 15-20 minutes
to complete.
Overall Task Content Area:
- Life Science
Specific Knowledge Areas:
- Creating Models
- Using Clues/Inferring
Performance Expectations:
- formulating conclusions from investigational data
- applying scientific principles to develop explanations and solve
new problems
National Science Education Standards:
4 A SI 1: Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry:
Grades K-4
1.5 Communicate investigations and explanations. Students should
begin developing the abilities to communicate, critique, and analyze
their work and the work of other students. This communication might
be spoken or drawn as well as written.
4 C LS 3: Organisms and their environments: Grades K-4
3.2 An organism's patterns of behavior are related to the
nature of that organism's environment, including the kinds and numbers
of other organisms present, the availability of food and resources,
and the physical characteristics of the environment. When the environment
changes, some plants and animals survive and reproduce, and others
die or move to new locations.
(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 pre K-5
General Instructions to the Teacher:
This task is designed to take students approximately 15-20 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 Run For Your Life:
At this station students should have:
- Colored pencils or crayons
- Piece of white drawing paper
Advance Preparation
- On a table or desk, place a copy of the story, paper for drawing,
and colored pencils or crayons.
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 and/or Modifications:
- Task does not easily lend itself to including mathematical
criteria in the rubric.
Advanced Preparation Set Up:
Students will need directions and colored pencils for this
task.
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