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 |
Creeping This task (in PALM and in PALS) focuses on the Structure of the Earth Systems. Students must understand a model depicting "soil creep" in order to measure and graph their calculations. This task includes: |
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Source Subject Grade Level |
Crustal Sinking This task (in PALM and in PALS) focuses on the knowledge of the Stucture of the Eath System. Students must examine the relationship between Earth's Crust and the mantle by conducting an experiment in which they measure the rate at which a test tube sinks into "goo". This task includes: |
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Source Subject Grade Level |
Density of Minerals This task (in PALM and in PALS) focuses on Properties and Changes in Matter. Students must measure and determine the mass, volume, and density of two mineral samples. This task includes: |
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Source Subject Grade Level |
Do You See What I See? In this task, students brainstorm the roles of rocks, soil, and water in a terrarium. This task includes: |
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Source Subject Grade Level |
Fossil Guide In this task, students must work in groups to create a fossil guide that illustrates and describes twelve fossils. This task includes: |
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Source Subject Grade Level |
Minerals In this task, students must identify four minerals using a scratch test to examine their hardness and softness. This task includes: |
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Source Subject Grade Level |
Peat Pots This task (in PALM and in PALS) focuses on the knowledge of the Earth System. Students must observe and calculate the capillarity of soil by observing a peat pot in water. This task includes: |
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Source Subject Grade Level |
Probing Under the Surface This task (in PALM and in PALS) focuses on the Structure of the Earth System. Students must measure and record various lengths in order to determine the shape of the bottom inside of a box. This task includes: |
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Source Subject Grade Level |
Puddles and Soil This task (in PALM and in PALS) focuses on the Structure of the Earth System. Students examine the concept of permeability by carrying out an experiment to determine which types of soil produce puddles. This task includes: |
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Source Subject Grade Level |
Rock Around the Country In this task, students will collaborate in creating a brochure about the local geography. This task includes: |
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