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 |
Pop Off The Pop Off task allows students to predict, observe, and explain the results of a chemical reaction through an experiment. During this experiment students will answer six questions. Students will complete this task working one on one with a teacher-administrator. Resources required for this task include two film canisters, two lids (one with a hole), paper towels, two Alka-Seltzer tablets, two pairs of safety goggles, a jug of water, and a tote tray. This task is a part of the Material 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. |
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Source Subject Grade Level |
Possums and Rabbits The Possums and Rabbits task focuses on habitats and adaptation. Students will view a picture of a possum and a rabbit and think about the similarities and differences between the animals, where each animal lives, and how it lives. This task includes seven questions to ask the students. Students will complete this task working one on one with a teacher-administrator. Resources required for this task are four pictures. This task is a part of the Living 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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Source Subject Grade Level |
Powders Year 4 The Powders Year 4 task allows students to use physical and chemical evidence to identify different powders and account for the identifications made. Students will complete this task working in teams. Resources required for this task include a teaspoon of four powders in sample cups (labelled A,B,C, & D), two hand lenses, two eye droppers, sixteen spatulas, a bottle of water, a bottle of vinegar, two sample cups (labelled "water" and "vinegar"), sixteen sheets A5 black paper, an instruction card, a recording sheet, and a teaspoon (for the teacher). This task is a part of the Material World task series from 1999 by NEMP. |
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Source Subject Grade Level |
Raincoats The Raincoats task allows students to experiment and determine which of four fabrics is best for a raincoat. Students will complete this task working in stations. Resources required for this task include a dropper bottle with water, a clock, paper towels, and four squares of fabric [lining material (Marked A); water-resistant nylon (B); cotton (C); felt (D)]. This task is a part of the Material World task series from 1995 by NEMP. |
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Source Subject Grade Level |
Reflections The Reflections task allows students to investigate the properties of reflections through the concave side of a spoon. Students will answer five questions to demonstrate comprehension. Students will complete this task working one on one with a teacher-administrator. The resource required for this task is a large spoon. This task is a part of the Physical World task series from 1995 by NEMP. |
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Source Subject Grade Level |
Rivers The Rivers task allows students to investigate rivers and their effect on the land overtime. Students will look a two pictures of a river and answer four questions. Students will complete this task working one on one with a teacher-administrator. Students will complete this task working in stations. Resources required for this task include two pictures of river. This task is a part of the Plant Earth and Beyond 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. |
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Source Subject Grade Level |
Rocks The Rocks task allows students to describe, differentiate and suggest human uses for different rocks. Students will complete this task working one on one with a teacher-administrator. Resources required for this task include a hand lens and three rocks (sandstone, greenstone, and pumice). This task is a part of the Planet Earth and Beyond task series from 1999 by NEMP. |
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Source Subject Grade Level |
Rod Balance The Rod Balance task allows students to predict and investigate the center of gravity of a rod and a weighted rod. Students will try to balance a rod on their finger by lining up one of the markers on the rod with their finger. They will answer four prediction and result questions. Students will complete this task working one on one with a teacher-administrator. Resources required for this task include a rod with three markers, three rods with weights in different positions, a rod weighted at one end and markers indicated, a recording book, a whiteboard pen, and a wet paper towel. This task is a part of the Physical 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. |
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Source Subject Grade Level |
Rods The Rods task allows students to predict and investigate the heat conductivity of different materials, and explain practical applications, Students will complete this task working one on one with a teacher-administrator. Resources required for this task include five rods, a picture of saucepan, a timer, a mug, a paper towel, water (boiling), and an electric jug. 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. |
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Source Subject Grade Level |
Runaway The Runaway task allows students to investigate motion and resistance to motion. In this task students will experiment to see which objects roll the furthest down an inclined board. Students will make a hypothesis, design and experiment, and then test their experiment. Students will complete this task working in teams. Resources required for this task include a wooden slide, a support for the high end, a glass marble, a wooden bead, a ball of plasticine, a small pom pom, a lump of plasticine, a notepaper, a pencil, a tape measure, and a team answer sheet. This task is a part of the Physical World task series from 2003 by NEMP. |
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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