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Source Task

Source
National Monitoring Study of Student Achievement (NMSSA, New Zealand)

Subject
Science

Grade Level
3, 7

Dirty Water

The Dirty Water task allows students to demonstrate their knowledge on evaporation and condensation and watch a short video showing dirty water was turned into clean water. Students will complete this task working one on one with a teacher-administrator. Resources required for this task include a video recording on laptop computer and picture showing the three forms of water.

This task is a part of the Material World task series from 2003 by NEMP

Source
National Monitoring Study of Student Achievement (NMSSA, New Zealand)

Subject
Science

Grade Level
3, 7

Disappearing Water

The Disappearing Water task allows students to demonstrate their explanation of evaporation and their understanding of the water cycle. Students will complete this task working in stations. The resource required for this task include a video showing evaporation with hand fanning and the use of a hair dryer.

This task is a part of the Material World task series from 1999. This task is classified as a trend task by NEMP. Trend tasks are used to examine trends in student performance: whether they have improved, stayed constant or declined over the four-year period since the previous assessments.

Source
National Monitoring Study of Student Achievement (NMSSA, New Zealand)

Subject
Science

Grade Level
3, 7

Dropping Coins

The Dropping Coins task allows students to demonstrate their intuition or prior learning about the effects of gravity on objects of differing mass, then carry out a practical investigation and interpret the outcome. Students will complete this task working in stations. Resources required for this task include a two coins of different weight and size.

This task is a part of the Physical World task series from 1999. This task is classified as a trend task by NEMP. Trend tasks are used to examine trends in student performance: whether they have improved, stayed constant or declined over the four-year period since the previous assessments.

Source
National Monitoring Study of Student Achievement (NMSSA, New Zealand)

Subject
Science

Grade Level
3, 7

Dunes

The Dunes task allows students to learn about the function and protection of sand dunes. Students will look at pictures of a beach with sand dunes and answer five questions. Students will complete this task working one on one with a teacher-administrator. Resources required for this task include two pictures of a beach with sand dunes.

This task is a part of the Planet Earth and Beyond World task series by NEMP from 2007.

Source
National Monitoring Study of Student Achievement (NMSSA, New Zealand)

Subject
Science

Grade Level
3, 7

Emptying Rate

The Emptying Rate task allows students to plan and conduct an investigation of the flow properties of liquids of different viscosity. Students will complete this task working in teams. Resources required for this task include a video demonstrating the task, a basin, a 500ml plastic drink bottle with bottom cut off and small hole drilled in cap, tap water, a 900ml bottle of detergent, a measuring jug, a laminated activity card, a results sheet, and a stopwatch.

This task is a part of the Material World task series from 1999. This task is classified as a trend task by NEMP. Trend tasks are used to examine trends in student performance: whether they have improved, stayed constant or declined over the four-year period since the previous assessments.

Source
National Monitoring Study of Student Achievement (NMSSA, New Zealand)

Subject
Science

Grade Level
3, 7

Endangered Animals

The Endangered Animals task focuses on having students identify reasons for animals being endangered and suggesting ways and reasons to help them.  Students will look at pictures of five endangered animals: 
the kiwi, a panda, a tiger, a yellow-eyed penguin and a Hector’s dolphin. This task includes four follow up questions. Students will complete this task working one on one with a teacher-administrator. Resources required for this task are pictures of the endangered animals.

The Endangered Animals task is a part of the Living World task series from 2007. This task is classified as a trend task by NEMP. Trend tasks are used to examine trends in student performance: whether they have improved, stayed constant or declined over the four-year period since the previous assessments.

Source
National Monitoring Study of Student Achievement (NMSSA, New Zealand)

Subject
Science

Grade Level
3, 7

Environmental Issues

The Environmental Issues task allows students to judge the relative importance of seven environmental threats and justify these decisions. Students will complete this task working one on one with a teacher-administrator.  Resources required for this task include seven pictures showing environmental disasters.

This task is a part of the Planet Earth and Beyond task series from 1999. This task is classified as a trend task by NEMP. Trend tasks are used to examine trends in student performance: whether they have improved, stayed constant or declined over the four-year period since the previous assessments.

Source
National Monitoring Study of Student Achievement (NMSSA, New Zealand)

Subject
Science

Grade Level
3, 7

Estimations

The Estimation task allows students to practice making estimations of length, weight, temperature, volume, and time of things they visually observe. Students will complete this task working one on one with a teacher-administrator. Resources required for this task include a 6mm x 16cm wooden rod, a small bottle containing 30ml water, a 15cm diameter wire circle (year 8 only), and a video showing a swimmer swimming 25m.

This task is a part of the Physical World task series from 1995 by NEMP.
 

Source
National Monitoring Study of Student Achievement (NMSSA, New Zealand)

Subject
Science

Grade Level
3, 7

Estuary Ecology

In the Estuary Ecology task students will watch a short video about an estuary and answer five questions. Students will complete this task working one on one with a teacher-administrator. The resource required for this task is a video showing two children looking at an estuary, featuring wildlife and some evidence of pollution.

This task is a part of the Living World task series from 1995. This task is classified as a trend task by NEMP. Trend tasks are used to examine trends in student performance: whether they have improved, stayed constant or declined over the four-year period since the previous assessments.

Source
National Monitoring Study of Student Achievement (NMSSA, New Zealand)

Subject
Science

Grade Level
3, 7

Experimenting with Air and Water

The Experimenting with Air and Water task allows students to investigate the properties of air. Students will watch a short video and do a simple experiment. Students will complete this task working one on one with a teacher-administrator. Resources required for this task include a video recording on laptop computer, a water bottle, a plastic glass, a small sample cup, a small “post-it” paper, a tray, and paper towels.

This task is a part of the Material World task series from 2003. This task is classified as a trend task by NEMP. Trend tasks are used to examine trends in student performance: whether they have improved, stayed constant or declined over the four-year period since the previous assessments.

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