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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Discovering the Problem of Solid Waste In this task, students will sort through a garbage can and graph their findings to be used in creating a solution for minimizing waste. This task includes: |
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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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Follow Those Tracks In this task, students will examine a picture of animal tracks and write a story about what they believe happened. This task includes: |
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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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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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Incline In this task, students must figure out the forces necessary to move a truck on an incline and then use that knowledge to determine the most cost efficient way to transport trash. This task includes: |
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Insects and Spiders In this task, students will use various materials to create either an insect or a spider and explain why it is one or the other. This task includes: |
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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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Magnetic Mapping In this task, students will work in groups to observe and record the effects of various objects on a compass. This task includes: |
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Magnetic Testing In this task, students must explore which of the given items are magnetic and record observations while answering further questions. This task includes: |
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