Example Technology Performance Assessment Task

Performance Task #6	A Report with Graphics
Grade:	5
Content Area(s) Integrated:	Science
Unit Title/Theme:	Our Solar System
Task Developer/Author:	Christina Smith

1. Setting the Context

This task will be completed at the end of a semester study on the solar system. Students will have completed reading activities, and short projects in small groups and individually that will give students learning opportunities in the science content and practice in documenting sources, embedding original art and manipulating the image, adding non textual elements as well as manipulating styles and formats, and using writing tools. Students will choose the earth, moon or sun and write a report that shares the information with a younger audience.

2. Grade Expectations

Technology

IT1 - Basic Operations & Concepts

• Using effective keyboarding:

o posture (i.e., back straight, body leaning slightly forward, etc.)

o techniques (e.g., eyes on monitor or copy-not the keyboard, etc.)

o attitudes (e.g., willingness to change habits, persistence and diligence).

IT2 - Social, Ethical & Human Issues

• Documenting sources of information obtained through electronic resources using acceptable formats.

IT3 - Productivity Tools

• Embedding an original piece of art, applying text wrap and resizing.

• Adding non-textual elements (e.g., arrows, lines, shapes, etc.).

• Manipulating styles and formats (e.g. header, footer, borders, page breaks, lists).

• Using spell check, and thesaurus.

• Modifying a digital image using flip; rotate, resize, crop

Content

S5-6:44
Characteristics of the Solar System

Creating a diagram or model of the orbit of the earth around the sun and the moon around the earth.

Science Concepts:

a. The earth orbits the sun in a near circular path that takes a year to complete.

b. The moon’s orbit around the earth once in about 28 days changes the portion of the moon visible to us, as a result of the sun’s reflected light. (phases of the moon).

3. The Performance Task

Students will conduct research on the Solar System and discover knowledge to share with younger learners

Goal(s): Research the Solar System and relate the science concepts of the earth’s orbit, the moon’s orbit and the phases of the moon to younger learners

Role: The role of the student is researcher, designer, and teacher

Audience: Younger science students and teacher

Situation: Due to the closing of a local school and the rearranging of library materials all the solar system books are missing. The 3^rd grade teacher is in need of information for her students. She has asked you to design a report about one of the following, the sun, the earth and the moon and how they relate to each other. You will need to include facts, graphics and original artwork.

Product/Performance: Report

4. Activities

Writing

Students will select a Solar System topic focused on the Sun, Earth and Moon and design a written report from information gathered in previous lessons. Using effective keyboarding, students will compose a draft of the text that will be used in the final product, documenting sources of information using acceptable formats. Students will check/edit their work using writing tools including spell check and thesaurus.

Illustrations

Students will draw a scientific model that corresponds to their writing focus using a paint and/or draw application and save.

Students will draw or locate an appropriate illustration related to their writing. The image will be scanned and saved.

Final Product

Both the paint drawing and the scanned image will be embedded into the report applying text wrap and resizing as well as modifying the digital images using flip; rotate; resize; crop. In addition students will add non-textual elements such as arrows, lines or shapes to emphasize important concepts.

5. Materials and Resources

Solar System Resources	Scanner
On line Encyclopedia	Printer
Computer lab	Documenting resources examples
Word processing software	Paint and/or draw program

6. Criteria/Rubric

Grade Expectation	Introduced	With Assistance	Met the Standard
Basic Operations
Using effective keyboarding: · Posture (i.e., back straight, body leaning slightly forward, etc.) · techniques (e.g., eyes on monitor or copy-not the keyboard, etc.) · attitudes (e.g., willingness to change habits, persistence and diligence).
Social, Ethical & Human Issues
Documenting sources of information obtained through electronic resources using acceptable formats.
Productivity Tools
Embedding an original piece of art, applying text wrap and resizing.
Adding non-textual elements (e.g., arrows, lines, shapes, etc.).
Manipulating styles and formats (e.g. header, footer, borders, page breaks, lists).
Using spell check, and thesaurus.
Modifying a digital image using flip; rotate, resize, crop

Science
Grade Expectation	Introduced	With Assistance	Met the Standard
Solar System
Creating a diagram or model of the orbit of the earth around the sun and the moon around the earth.
Included information about the earth orbiting the sun in a near circular path that takes a year to complete.
Included information about the moon’s orbit around the earth once in about 28 days changes the portion of the moon visible to us, as a result of the sun’s reflected light. (phases of the moon).