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Source Task

Source
Performance Assessment Links in Science (PALS)

Subject
Science

Grade Level
5, 6, 7, 8

Blue

In this task, students will be assessed on their ability to follow instructions on carrying out a simple chemical experiment. 

This task includes: 
1. Task Description 
2. Student Instructions
3. Scoring Rubric
4. Technical Quality Info

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

Subject
Science

Grade Level
3, 7

Bottle and Balloon

The Bottle and Balloon task allows students to watch a video showing what happen to a limp balloon attached to the mouth of a bottle when the bottle is placed in hot water. Students will complete this task working in stations. The resource required for this task is a video. 

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

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

Subject
Science

Grade Level
3, 7

Bubbles

The Bubbles task allows students to generate and classify questions. While blowing bubbles in this task, students will discuss and record questions they have about the bubbles. They will then decided which questions they could answer with experiments and which they would need to ask a scientist. Students will complete this task in teams. Resources required for this task include a bubble mixture, straws, paper towels, two notepads, a cue card, four jars, red and blue stickers, and an answer sheet.

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.

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

Subject
Science

Grade Level
3, 7

Bug Sort

The Bug Sort task focuses on the classification of bugs.  In this task students will sort sixteen pictures of bugs into four groups by their similar features. Students must give each group a name and describe three features that are special to the bugs in each group. Students will complete this task working teams. Resources required for this task are two sets of sixteen pictures, two instruction cards, and an answer sheet.

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.

Source
Stanford Education Assessment Laboratory (SEAL)

Subject
Science

Grade Level
6, 7, 8, 9

Bugs

In this task, students will conduct an experiment using sow bugs.

This task includes:
1. Teacher Instructions
2. Computer simulation and instructions
3. Three scoring forms

Source
Performance Assessment Links in Science (PALS), GLOBE Classroom Assessment Tools

Subject
Science

Grade Level
5, 6, 7, 8

Building Materials

In this task, students will decide which rock type is best to make benches and tables.

This task includes:
1. Task Description
2. Student Instructions
3. Scoring Rubric
4. Technical Quality Info

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

Subject
Science

Grade Level
3, 7

Bush

The Bush task allows students to look at a picture of the bush and think about how plants and animals live together in the bush and why plants are important to people.  Students can click on different parts of the bush picture to see some of the animals and plants. This task includes three follow up questions. Students will complete this task working one on one with a teacher-administrator. Resources required for this task include a computer program on a laptop computer.

The Bush 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
iEARN Collaboration Centre

Subject
Interdisciplinary, social studies, Science

Grade Level
K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

CIVICS

The CIVICS task serves as a platform for young people to be actively involved in their communities. Groups of students will be guided to work around Millennium Development Goals focusing issues like environment, eradication of poverty, women education, education and literacy. Students will plan action projects and respond some of these issues through a process of reflection, dialogue and action. This task includes several possible classroom activities.

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

Subject
Science

Grade Level
3, 7

Candle in a Jar

The Candle in a Jar task allows students to observe chemical changes through an experiment. Students will observe how a candle burning in a cup surrounded by baking soda is put out when the baking soda reacts with vinegar. They will then answer six question about the experiment. Students will complete this task working one on one with a teacher-administrator. Resources required for this task include plastic glass, a birthday candle, a teaspoon, baking soda, vinegar, long matches, and blu tack.

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.

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

Subject
Science

Grade Level
3, 7

Candles in Jars

The Candles in Jars task allows students to predict and explain the effect on burning of different environmental conditions. Students will complete this task working one on one with a teacher-administrator. Resources required for this task include a video and a picture of a candle in a jar.

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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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.