Assessment Timeline

Before project work begins

Students work on projects and complete tasks

After project work is completed

Brainstorming Discussion Visual Ranking

Observation Checklist Anecdotal Observations Collaboration Self-Assessment

Skills Rubric Learning Logs T-charts Group Conference

Questioning Slideshow Scoring Guide

Collaboration Self-Assessment Slideshow Scoring Guide

Skills Rubric

To determine students’ prior knowledge of plant growth and the scientific inquiry process, conduct a brainstorming session, recording students’ responses. Note discussion responses to assess students’ prior knowledge about the climates around the world and the relationship between seasons and plant growth.

As students complete the Visual Ranking activity, note the reasons they enter for their ranking and take anecdotal observations on their thinking strategies. Before students begin the project, present the skills rubric and the collaboration self-assessment. Tell them to use these two documents to use what they learn to set individual goals and to set goals as a group for how they will work together to complete the project successfully.

While students use their logs to record their data, drawings, and thinking, check the logs frequently to monitor students’ scientific inquiry skills, thinking processes, and understanding of plant growth and seasons. Regularly check the T-charts recorded in student logs to assess students’ developing knowledge. The observation checklist and anecdotal observations describe how students are thinking and what they are learning as they plant and record data about their tulips and receive information about their buddies’ tulips. A conference preparation guide helps students prepare for a teacher-group conference during the project. This conference provides information about student progress and understanding, as does frequent individual and group questioning throughout the unit. As students synthesize what they have learned to produce a slideshow presentation, they use the slideshow scoring guide to guide their work. When the slideshow is completed, students fill out a collaboration self-assessment looking back on how well they worked with the group throughout the project. After their rankings in Visual Ranking are revisited at the end of the unit, students use the skills rubric to assess their learning.

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