Please note that many tasks were constructed prior to Common Core and the task alignments to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) were not identified in the task materials. To search for the performance tasks explicitly aligned to the CCSS, Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), or College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework for Social Studies State Standards, please go to CCSS, NGSS, and C3 tabs.
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Source Subject Grade Level |
Bounce Back Ball In this task (in PALM and in PALS), students will investigate energy changes by measuring and recording the four heights a tennis ball bounces back up after being dropped. This task includes: |
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Source Subject Grade Level |
Changing Ramp Heights This task (in PALM and in PALS) focuses on Motions and Forces. Students must determine the relationship and variables between the energy of a rolling ball and the height of a ramp. This task includes: |
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Source Subject Grade Level |
Classification of Materials This task focuses on Understanding the Scientific Inquiry. Students must use a two-way classification system to organize people and objects. This task includes: |
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Source Subject Grade Level |
Density and Buoyancy This task (in PALM and in PALS) focuses on Properties of Specific Substances. Students must experiment to analyze why and predict which objects will sink or float in water. This task includes: |
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Source Subject Grade Level |
Estimating In this task (in PALM and in PALS), students must estimate the mass, volume, and density of various object to assess their ability to make observations. This task includes: |
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Heat Retention This task (in PALM and in PALS) focuses on the knowledge of Heat Transfer. Students must test, measure, and graph their findings to determine which of four substances would be the best as a heat mass. This task includes: |
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Source Subject Grade Level |
Height of Bounce This task (in PALM and in PALS) focuses on the knowledge of Motions and Forces. Students must determine a relationship between the height at which a ping pong ball bounces and the height from which it was dropped. This task includes: |
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Source Subject Grade Level |
Hooke's Law This task (in PALM and in PALS) focuses on Motion and Forces. Students must design and test an experiment that focuses on Hooke's Law, which has to do with the relationship between force on a spring and its stretch. This task includes: |
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Source Subject Grade Level |
Hydrated Salt This task (in PALM and in PALS) focuses on Chemical Reactions. Students must design and test an experiment that will determine an empirical formula for a hydrated salt that will reveal when the moisture has completely left the sodium crystals. This task includes: |
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Source Subject Grade Level |
Ice Melting This task (in PALM and in PALS) focuses on the knowledge of the Transfer of Energy. Students must design a way to investigate whether various materials can prevent heat gain in frozen water. This task includes: |
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