Assessment
Note: The chart that follows identifies four levels of achievement. Levels 1 and 2 describe performance that is approaching the standard for the grade; level 3 describes the standard for the grade; and level 4 describes performance that is above the standard.
| The Student | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| demonstrates understanding of content | demonstrates limited understanding of factors involved in selecting plants that could be grown in Lunar or Martian greenhouses in order to meet the nutritional requirements of space travelers. | demonstrates some understanding of factors involved in selecting plants that could be grown in Lunar or Martian greenhouses in order to meet the nutritional requirements of space travelers. | demonstratesýý considerable understanding of factors involved in selecting plants that could be grown in Lunar or Martian greenhouses in order to meet the nutritional requirements of space travelers. | demonstrates thorough understanding of factors involved in selecting plants that could be grown in Lunar or Martian greenhouses in order to meet the nutritional requirements of space travelers. |
| uses processing skills and strategies (e.g., analysing, interpreting, evaluating, forming conclusions) | conducts the water content of fruits and vegetables investigations with limited effectiveness - preparing samples, collecting data and making calculations incompletely and with limited accuracy | conducts the water content of fruits and vegetables investigations with some effectiveness -ýý preparing samples, collecting data and making calculations fairly completely and with some accuracy | conducts the water content of fruits and vegetables investigations with considerable effectiveness -ýý preparing samples, collecting data and making calculations completely and with general accuracy | conducts the water content of fruits and vegetables investigations with a high degree of effectiveness - preparing samples, collecting data and making calculations completely and accurately |
| uses critical thinking processes (e.g., problem solving, decision making, scientific inquiry) | completes required tasks to develop greenhouse plan with limited effectiveness | completes required tasks to develop greenhouse plan with some effectiveness | completes required tasks to develop greenhouse plan with considerable effectiveness | completes required tasks to develop greenhouse plan with a high degree of effectiveness |
| communicates using scientific conventions, vocabulary, and terminology | records observations, graphs data and organizes ideas with limited accuracy and effectiveness | records observations, graphs data and organizes ideas with some accuracy and effectiveness | recording observations, graphs data and organizes ideas with general accuracy and effectiveness | recording observations, graphs data and organizes ideas accurately and effectively |
Tomatosphere is sponsored by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the Canadian Space Agency, Heinz Canada Ltd, HeinzSeed, Ontario Centres of Excellence, Stokes Seeds and the University of Guelph.
The Energy to Survive
Teacher Resources
- NEW Four Optional Units
- NEW Aerocapture technology
- 2008 Teachers' Guide
- Tips 'n' Tricks
- Tomatosphere Project Overview
- PDF Resources [Printable charts from the Teachers' Guide]
- Astronaut Mike Fincke talks about the importance of Tomatosphere [Video]
- NEW Tomatoes in Space [Video]
- International Space Station
- Introduction to Tomatosphere [Video]
- CSA Teachers' Conference
- NEW CSA Teacher Resources
- Heinz Tomato Breeding Program
- Tomatosphere Supplies

