Assessment rubrics

Produces insufficient evidence to demonstrate learning.

Demonstrates significant misconceptions.

Requires additional learning activities and remediation.

Shows limited understanding of basic concepts.

Infrequently transfers simple concepts to new contexts in the building of a simulated Martian greenhous.

Demonstrates limited understanding of relationships between concepts by giving partial explanations that are rarely appropriate of:

• The significance of light intensity in potential Martian agriculture.
• The impact of environmental conditions on Mars on maintaining a stable greenhouse ecosystem.

Shows some understanding of basic concepts.

Sometimes transfers simple concepts to new contexts in the building of a simulated Martian greenhous.

Demonstrates some understanding of relationships between concepts by giving incomplete and sometimes appropriate explanations of:

• The significance of light intensity in potential Martian agriculture.
• The impact of environmental conditions on Mars on maintaining a stable greenhouse ecosystem.

Shows general understanding of basic concepts.

Usually transfers simple and some complex concepts to new contexts in the building of a simulated Martian greenhous.

Demonstrates considerable understanding of relationships between concepts by giving nearly complete and generally appropriate explanations of:

• The significance of light intensity in potential Martian agriculture.
• The impact of environmental conditions on Mars on maintaining a stable greenhouse ecosystem.

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.

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.

Uses scientific terminology, symbols, conventions, and SI units with limited accuracy and effectiveness.

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

Uses scientific terminology, symbols, conventions, and SI units with some accuracy and effectiveness.

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

Uses scientific terminology, symbols, conventions, and SI units with considerable accuracy and effectiveness.

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 viability of Martian agriculture.

Makes simple connections between the germination of tomato seeds in the Tomatosphere Investigation and the viability of Martian agriculture.

Makes connections of some complexity between the germination of tomato seeds in the Tomatosphere Investigation and the viability of Martian agriculture.