Assessment rubrics

Understanding of basic concepts

Nutritional and other requirements for maintaining a healthy body.
How astronauts are able to meet their basic needs in space.
How weather conditions relate to the transfer of energy from the sun.

R	Level 1	Level 2	Level 3	Level 4
Significantly below the standard	Approaching the standard	The standard	Exceeds the standard
Produces insufficient evidence to demonstrate learning. Demonstrates significant misconceptions. Requires additional learning activities and remediation.	Shows limited understanding of basic concepts by planning meals for space menus that rarely contain the required elements of balanced food groups and minimum energy content and giving partial explanations that are rarely appropriate of: Water as a nutritional component of tomatoes. The similarity in the effects of convection on Earth and Mars. The germination requirements of tomato seeds.	Shows some understanding of basic concepts by planning meals for space menus that sometimes contain the required elements of balanced food groups and minimum energy content and giving incomplete and sometimes appropriate explanations of: Water as a nutritional component of tomatoes. The similarity in the effects of convection on Earth and Mars. The germination requirements of tomato seeds.	Shows general understanding of basic concepts by planning meals for space menus that generally contain the required elements of balanced food groups and minimum energy content and giving nearly complete and generally appropriate explanations of: Water as a nutritional component of tomatoes. The similarity in the effects of convection on Earth and Mars. The germination requirements of tomato seeds.	Shows thorough understanding of basic concepts by planning meals for space menus that consistently contain the required elements of balanced food groups and minimum energy content and giving complete and appropriate explainations of: Water as a nutritional component of tomatoes. The similarity in the effects of convection on Earth and Mars. The germination requirements of tomato seeds.

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Level 4

Significantly below the standard

Approaching the standard

The standard

Exceeds the standard

Produces insufficient evidence to demonstrate learning.

Demonstrates significant misconceptions.

Requires additional learning activities and remediation.

Shows limited understanding of basic concepts by planning meals for space menus that rarely contain the required elements of balanced food groups and minimum energy content and giving partial explanations that are rarely appropriate of:

Water as a nutritional component of tomatoes.
The similarity in the effects of convection on Earth and Mars.
The germination requirements of tomato seeds.

Shows some understanding of basic concepts by planning meals for space menus that sometimes contain the required elements of balanced food groups and minimum energy content and giving incomplete and sometimes appropriate explanations of:

Water as a nutritional component of tomatoes.
The similarity in the effects of convection on Earth and Mars.
The germination requirements of tomato seeds.

Shows general understanding of basic concepts by planning meals for space menus that generally contain the required elements of balanced food groups and minimum energy content and giving nearly complete and generally appropriate explanations of:

Water as a nutritional component of tomatoes.
The similarity in the effects of convection on Earth and Mars.
The germination requirements of tomato seeds.

Shows thorough understanding of basic concepts by planning meals for space menus that consistently contain the required elements of balanced food groups and minimum energy content and giving complete and appropriate explainations of:

Water as a nutritional component of tomatoes.
The similarity in the effects of convection on Earth and Mars.
The germination requirements of tomato seeds.

Inquiry

Rephrase questions in a testable form.
State a prediction and a hypothesis based on an observed pattern of events.
Carry out procedures to explore a given problem and to ensure a fair test of a proposed idea, controlling major variables.
Record observations using a single word, notes in point form, sentences, and simple diagrams and charts.
Estimate measurements.
Select and use tools for measuring.
Compile and display data, by hand or by computer, in a variety of formats including frequency tallies, tables, and bar graphs.
Identify and suggest explanations for patterns and discrepancies in data.
Draw a conclusion, based on evidence gathered through research and observation, that answers an initial question.

R	Level 1	Level 2	Level 3	Level 4
Significantly below the standard	Approaching the standard	The standard	Exceeds the standard
Produces insufficient evidence to demonstrate learning. Demonstrates significant misconceptions. Requires additional learning activities and remediation.	Applies few of the required skills and strategies in Tomatosphere principal investigation and supplementary class investigations. Shows little awareness of safety procedures.	Applies some of the required skills and strategies in Tomatosphere principal investigation and supplementary class investigations. Shows some awareness of safety procedures.	Applies most of the required skills and strategies in Tomatosphere principal investigation and supplementary class investigations. Usually shows awareness of safety procedures.	Applies all of the required skills and strategies in Tomatosphere principal investigation and supplementary class investigations. Consistently shows awareness of safety procedures.

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Level 4

Significantly below the standard

Approaching the standard

The standard

Exceeds the standard

Produces insufficient evidence to demonstrate learning.

Demonstrates significant misconceptions.

Requires additional learning activities and remediation.

Applies few of the required skills and strategies in Tomatosphere principal investigation and supplementary class investigations.

Shows little awareness of safety procedures.

Applies some of the required skills and strategies in Tomatosphere principal investigation and supplementary class investigations.

Shows some awareness of safety procedures.

Applies most of the required skills and strategies in Tomatosphere principal investigation and supplementary class investigations.

Usually shows awareness of safety procedures.

Applies all of the required skills and strategies in Tomatosphere principal investigation and supplementary class investigations.

Consistently shows awareness of safety procedures.

Communication of required knowledge

Define objects and events in their investigations.
Describe processes for investigating scientific questions and solving technological problems.
Demonstrate the importance of using the languages of science and technology to communicate ideas, processes and results.

R	Level 1	Level 2	Level 3	Level 4
Significantly below the standard	Approaching the standard	The standard	Exceeds the standard
Produces insufficient evidence to demonstrate learning. Demonstrates significant misconceptions. Requires additional learning activities and remediation.	Communicates with little clarity and precision rarely using appropriate terminology, vocabulary and symbols.	Communicates with some clarity and precision sometimes using appropriate terminology, vocabulary and symbols.	Generally communicates with clarity and precision usually using appropriate terminology, vocabulary and symbols.	Consistently communicates with clarity and precision always using appropriate terminology, vocabulary and symbols.

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Level 4

Significantly below the standard

Approaching the standard

The standard

Exceeds the standard

Produces insufficient evidence to demonstrate learning.

Demonstrates significant misconceptions.

Requires additional learning activities and remediation.

Communicates with little clarity and precision rarely using appropriate terminology, vocabulary and symbols.

Communicates with some clarity and precision sometimes using appropriate terminology, vocabulary and symbols.

Generally communicates with clarity and precision usually using appropriate terminology, vocabulary and symbols.

Consistently communicates with clarity and precision always using appropriate terminology, vocabulary and symbols.

Application

Make connections between the germination of tomato seeds in the Tomatosphere Investigation and the use of plants in promoting human health in space applications.

R	Level 1	Level 2	Level 3	Level 4
Significantly below the standard	Approaching the standard	The standard	Exceeds the standard
Produces insufficient evidence to demonstrate learning. Demonstrates significant misconceptions. Requires additional learning activities and remediation.	Makes very simple connections between the germination of tomato seeds in the Tomatosphere Investigation and the use of plants in promoting human health in space applications.	Makes simple connections between the germination of tomato seeds in the Tomatosphere Investigation and the use of plants in promoting human health in space applications.	Makes connections of some complexity between the germination of tomato seeds in the Tomatosphere Investigation and the use of plants in promoting human health in space applications.	Makes complex connections between the germination of tomato seeds in the Tomatosphere Investigation and the use of plants in promoting human health in space applications.

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Level 4

Significantly below the standard

Approaching the standard

The standard

Exceeds the standard

Produces insufficient evidence to demonstrate learning.

Demonstrates significant misconceptions.

Requires additional learning activities and remediation.

Makes very simple connections between the germination of tomato seeds in the Tomatosphere Investigation and the use of plants in promoting human health in space applications.

Makes simple connections between the germination of tomato seeds in the Tomatosphere Investigation and the use of plants in promoting human health in space applications.

Makes connections of some complexity between the germination of tomato seeds in the Tomatosphere Investigation and the use of plants in promoting human health in space applications.

Makes complex connections between the germination of tomato seeds in the Tomatosphere Investigation and the use of plants in promoting human health in space applications.