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 |
Elementary NCTM Activity - Water Temperature This task is from PALS and was previously part of the Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE)'s Hydrology Unit. Students will calculate averages and percent errors. This task includes: |
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Source Subject Grade Level |
Floating Pencil This task (in PALM and in PALS) focuses on the knowledge of Matter and Its Tranformations. Students must record the length of the pencil suspended in both fresh water and salt water that is unsubmerged, and determine if the unmarked sample is salt water or fresh water. Lastly, students will predict the outcome of adding salt to the salt water sample. This task includes: |
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Source Subject Grade Level |
Identifying Creatures This task (in PALM and in PALS) focuses on the Understandings of Scientific Inquiry. Students must use a classification key about facial properties to identify three creatures. This task includes: |
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Source Subject Grade Level |
Keep Cool This task (in PALM and in PALS) focuses on the Properties of Objects and Materials. Students must test cups of various materials to determine which would be best suited to keep a cold drink cool on a hot day. This task includes: |
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Source Subject Grade Level |
Measurement: Length, Volume, and Temperature This task (in PALM and in PALS) focuses on the Properties of Objects and Materials. Students must practice basic laboratory skills by measuring, recording temperature, and calculating the volume of water needed. This task includes: |
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Source Subject Grade Level |
Measurement: Using the Balance This task (in PALM and in PALS) focuses on the Properties of Objects and Materials. Students must practice basic lab skills by using a balance to weigh various objects. This task includes: |
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Source Subject Grade Level |
Plastic Wrapped This task (in PALM and in PALS) focuses on Properties of Objects and Materials. Students must test different plastic wrap samples and rank them by quality. This task includes: |
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Source Subject Grade Level |
Pulse In this task (in PALM and in PALS), students must determine a base pulse rate, and then continue to observe and record the pulse rate during various activities and over time. They must then describe and explain their observations. This task includes: |
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Source Subject Grade Level |
Swings This task (in PALM and in PALS) focuses on the Positition and Motion of Objects. Students must determine what variables will affect a swing. To aid in understanding the idea of a pendulum, students must then examine their observations and answer questions. This task includes: |
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Source Subject Grade Level |
Temperature School This task (in PALM and in PALS) focuses on Heat and Temperature. Students must measure, record, and graph temperatures from three water samples and then grasp the concepts of cooling and warming in order to relate to the outside world. This task includes: |
If you would like to recommend additional open-sourced performance task banks to be included in the database, or if you would like to report a broken link, please email Pai-rou Chen.
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