Example Technology Performance Task

 

Task #2

Word Processed Science Experiment

Grade

2

Content Area(s)

Physical Science

Unit Title/Theme

Motion & Force

Task Developer/Author

Leah Joly

 

 

 

 

1.                 Setting the Context

 

This task will be completed during a month-long study on Motion & Forces in a second grade classroom.  Students will have learned about the science standards through books read aloud, research, a science fair, class discussions, and most importantly, hands-on science experiments. If multiple copies are available, non-fiction literature relating to motion and forces will be included in guided reading groups.  Students will have practice using expected technology skills during a variety of activities throughout the study.

 

 

2.                 Grade Expectations/Standards

 

Technology

IT1 - Basic Operations & Concepts

·        Differentiating between right and left mouse click [Windows] or click, hold, and drag [Mac/Windows], recognizing and using keys: letters, numbers, and space bar, shift, return/enter, punctuation, delete/backspace keys)

·        Launching a program from the desktop using a shortcut or alias.

·        Creating, opening, saving, and printing a document.

·        Cutting, copying, and pasting within a document.

IT3 - Productivity Tools

·        Entering, selecting, deleting text

·        Manipulating styles (e.g., bold face, italicize and underline).

 

Content

 

Conducting Experiments

S1-2:4

Students demonstrate their ability to CONDUCT EXPERIMENTS

by…

Referring to and following a simple plan for an investigation.

AND

Describing observations using senses rather than feelings (e.g., The snail has a hard shell with wavy, brown lines, rather than the snail is awesome).

AND

Recording observations of similarities and differences.

 

Motion

S1-2:19

Students demonstrate their understanding of Motion by

Investigating and describing how objects move in different ways.

Science Concepts:

a. The position and movement of an object can be described such as fast, slow, speeding up and slowing down and movement in different directions.

 

Force

S1-2:21

Students demonstrate their understanding of Force by…

Investigating and identifying how pushing or pulling moves or does not move an object.

Science Concepts:

a. A force is a push or a pull. Force can change the motion of an object.

 

 

 

3. The Performance Task

 

Through investigation and experimentation, students will gain a greater understanding of Motion and Force.

 

Goal: the student will create, save, and print a written sequence of steps for a science experiment using a word processing program.  The student will also be able to correctly sequence another student’s experiment without using the keyboard.

 

Role: Investigator

 

Audience:  Peers and teacher

 

Situation: Classroom

 

Product:  A word processed sequence of steps for a physical science experiment

 

4. Activities

Activities

During the month-long study of motion and forces, the teacher will select one week to lead the students in four specific science experiments.  Each day a new experiment will be introduced.  The teacher will verbally give directions for each experiment and there will be time for the students to try each experiment in small groups.  It is suggested that the experiments be taken from current available curriculum or one of the websites listed below:

http://wings.avkids.com/Curriculums/Forces_Motion/

http://www.at-bristol.org.uk/Newton/experiment.htm

http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/experiments/

http://www.brainpop.com/science/seeall/

On day five the teacher will the list the names of the four experiments on the board.  Each child will choose one experiment about which to write a sequence of steps.  The student will:

·        launch a word processing program

·        list the steps of the chosen experiment

·        add a title to the experiment in a larger, bold face font

·        center the title

·        save and print the document

Once approved by the teacher, each student will:

·        with their mouse, use cut, copy and paste to rearrange the procedure out of order

·        switch computers with a partner and put that document into the correct order without using a keyboard

Possible Extension

Another way of assessing whether the student has correctly written the steps of the experiment is to have the partner try the experiment exactly as it was written.  This would show whether the procedure was clear and easy to follow.

5. Materials and Resources

·        Variety of materials for science experiments

·        Computer

·        Word processing program

·        Printer

·        paper

 

 

6. Criteria/Rubric

Grade Expectation

Just Starting

With Assistance

Met the Standard

Basic Operations

Differentiates between right and left mouse click [Windows] or click, hold, and drag [Mac/Windows], recognizes and uses keys: letters, numbers, and space bar, shift, return/enter, punctuation, delete/backspace keys)

 

 

 

Launches a program from the desktop using a shortcut or alias.

 

 

 

Creates, opens, saves, and prints a document.

 

 

 

Cuts, copies, and pastes within a document.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Productivity Tools

Enters, selects, deletes text

 

 

 

Manipulates styles (e.g., bold face, italicize and underline).

 

 

 

Science

Conducts experiments by referring to and following a simple plan for an investigation.

 

 

 

Motion:  Investigating and describing how objects move in different ways.

 

 

 

Force:  Investigating and identifying how pushing or pulling

moves or does not move an object.

 

 

 

 

Pre-Assessment Technology Checklist

Student Name

Left/right mouse click

Selecting appropriate keys

Launching a program

Creating, opening, saving, printing a document

Cutting, copying, pasting

Entering, selecting, deleting text

 

Manipulating text  styles