Assessment

11/01/03

When it comes to assessment I do not think it is necessary to mark every single worksheet. Perhaps you may want to make sure that the worksheets are accurately completed but not necessarily assess a mark for each one. I think it is important that students learn that not everything is marked however it is important that the tasks be completed regardless. Hopefully this facilitates a students desire to complete activities for intrinsic reasons. I have however included information on how each worksheet may be assessed if desired.

Introductory Activity

Students will be assessed on their ability to demonstrate an understanding of what a habitat is.

Activity #1 Exploring Different Habitats

Students are asked to explore the different kinds of habitats that exist and list some of the characteristics that are unique to each one. They are asked to select a favourite habitat and research additional features of their selected habitat.

Activity #2 Build your own Habitat

Students will be assessed on their ability to construct a habitat that is a safe and successful environment for an animal of their choice to live in.

Further Steps: If you decide that a habitat may be able to sustain a fish, it may be good to give students the opportunity to care for a real fish. It could be an activity not only centred around science but a great way to promote responsibility in the class room.

Activity #3 Human Impacts

Students should demonstrate they have an understanding of the dangers that habitats face. The focus of this activity is mostly on human impacts but a small section is devoted to stating some of the natural hazards faced as well.

Students should be able to conduct the oil & feather experiment and make thoughtful observations about why they see happen.

Activity #4 What can we do?

Students should be able to demonstrate that they understand that they can make a difference on a local level. If they

Activity #5 Reflective Journal

This is for students to reflect on their overall learning experience. Students should be able to articulate what they have learned and what they feel was most important from their learning experience. This is a great place for you as a teacher to find out if there are most interesting topics that students would like to cover or if some of the activities were too challenging or easy.

Overall Assessment

	4	3	2	1
Knowledge	-demonstrates extensive knowledge about habitats -completed all worksheets accurately	-demonstrates some knowledge about habitats -completed all worksheets with mostly accurate information	-demonstrates little knowledge about habitats -completed all worksheets with varying results	-demonstrates insufficient knowledge about habitats -did not complete worksheets
Creativity	-constructed habitat using various different material -habitat demonstrated many different characteristics of the selected habitat	-constructed habitat using various different material -habitat demonstrated few different characteristics of selected habitat	-constructed habitat using minimum materials or habitat does not meet necessary characteristics -habitat demonstrated minimum number of characteristics	-did not construct habitat or habitat does not demonstrate any of necessary characteristics
Work habits	- works independently - tries to find answers on own and asks for help when need -followed instructions accurately	- works independently most of the time - tries to find answers on own and asks for help when need -followed instructions somewhat accurately	- has difficulty working independently - tries to find answers on own and sometimes asks for help when needed -followed instructions accurately	- does not work independently - does not ask for help -does not follow instructions
Communication	-communicate new knowledge effectively to other students	- communicates new knowledge with little difficulty	- needs improvement communicating ideas and new information with other students	-does not communicate new information