2nd Grade Performance Task
Developed for Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS)
Authors: Betty Crocker, Janette Fentress, Virginia Malone, Theresa
Weeks
Description:
Students will observe a terrarium to brainstorm and
explain the role of rocks, soil, and water in the terrarium.
Students will create a model to explore the water
cycle.
This task is designed to take approximately 30 minutes.
Overall Task Content Area:
-
Earth Science
Specific Knowledge Areas:
-
Earth Processes
Performance Expectations:
- collecting data by observing terrarium
- organizing observations on a chart
National Science Education Standards:
4 AS I 1: Communicate investigations
and explanations. Grades K-4
1.5 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 CL S 2: Life cycles of organisms.
Grades K-4
2.1 Plants and animals have life cycles that include
being born, developing into adults, reproducing, and eventually
dying. The details of this life cycle are different for different
organisms.
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics:
Data Analysis and Probability Standards (DAP1): Formulate
questions that can be addressed with data and collect, organize,
and display relevant data to answer them.
e. collect data using observations, surveys, and experiments
f. represent data using tables and graphs such as line
plots, bar graphs, and line graphs
(Use the "hot" link on the PALS
home page to check the full text of related National Science Education
Standards, if desired.)
General Instructions to the Teacher:
This task is designed to take students approximately
1 class period of 30 minutes.
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.
Materials for "Do You See What I See?":
At each station students should have:
- Classroom terrarium
- Water Journal for each student
- KWL Chart for collecting student ideas
- What I Know...What I Want to Know...What I Learned
Advance Preparation:
Several days in advance, build a terrarium large enough for the
class to observe. Plants need to be established in the terrarium.
There should be droplets of water visible on sides or top of the
terrarium. The terrarium should be a closed system meaning that
it will not be opened once everything is set-up and a lid is sealed.
Teacher Talk: This terrarium can be made from a one
liter plastic bottle. This terrarium will be used again in the summative
assessment.
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:
- "Do You See What I See" is one part of a five part
assessment that was administered. The other four stations are
"Up, Up, & Away," "Here It Comes Again,"
"Here Comes the Rain," and "The Rainmaker."
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