Science Assessment

Rubric
Topic:
Criteria

Name
s:
Level:

Below Standard

Approaching Standard

At Standard

Knowledge
and
Understan
ding
Earth
Science

Makeslittletonoattempttoexplain
howorwhyavolcaniceruption
works.Usesnoscientific
terminology.Cannotexplainwhata
geologicaleventisandcannot
identify1example.Doesnotname
anytypesofvolcanoesorlabelthem.

Canpartiallyexplainhowandwhya
volcaniceruptionworks.Usessome
scientificterminology.Canpartially
explainwhatasuddengeologicalchange
isandidentify1example.Cannameat
least1typeofvolcano(active,dormant
orextinct)andlabelatleast2partsofa
volcano.

Science
Inquiry

Planning&Conducting:Doesnot
useequipmenttoconstructtheir
volcanoortomeasuretheimpactof
thevolcaniceruptionontheirsmall
community.
Isnotcareful/safewithtoolsand/or
groupmembers.

Planning&Conducting:Cansafelyuse
someequipmenttoconstructtheir
volcanoandmeasurewithassistancethe
extentoftheimpactofthevolcanic
eruptionontheirsmallcommunity.
Workswithtoolsandgroupmembersin
asafeandcarefulmannermajorityofthe
time,withminimaltonoassistance.
Communicating:Communicate
ideas,explanationsandprocessesatleast
2differentwaysintheirsciencejournals.
Participatesinsomeclassorgroup
discussions.Almostcompletefinal
presentationcoveringsomeinformation
(atleast2subheadings)exploredover
thedurationoftheunit.

Canexplainconfidentlythebasicsastohow
andwhyavolcaniceruptionworks.
Consistentlyusesawiderangeofscientific
terminology.Canexplainwhatasudden
geologicalchangeisandidentifyatleast1
example.Cannameatleast2differenttypes
ofvolcanoes(active,dormantand/orextinct)
andunderstandthedifferencesbetween
them.Canlabelatleast3partsofavolcano.
Planning & Conducting: Cansafelyuse
arangeofequipmenttoconstructtheir
volcanoandmeasurewithassistancethe
extentoftheimpactofthevolcanic
eruptionontheirsmallcommunity.Works
withtoolsandgroupmembersinasafeand
carefulmannerwithnoassistance.

Communicating:Doesnot
communicateideas,explanations
and/orprocessesintheirscience
journals.Doesnotparticipatein
classorgroupdiscussions.
Incompletefinalpresentationwith
littletonoinformation(1orless
subheadings)exploredoverthe
durationoftheunit.
Questioning and predicting:
Does not identify or record
any questions in their science
journal. No attempt to predict
what might happen during
the volcanic eruption
activity.
Science as

Use and Influence of Science:

Communicating: Communicateideas,
explanationsandprocessesclearlyinatleast
3differentwaysintheirsciencejournals.
Participatesinmajorityofclassandgroup
discussions.Acompletefinalpresentation
coveringarangeofinformation(atleast3
subheadings)exploredoverthedurationof
theunit.

Questioning and predicting: With

guidance,identifyatleast2questions
andrecordthemintheirsciencejournals.
Predictwhatmighthappenduringthe
volcaniceruptionactivitybasedon
priorknowledgeandrecordinscience
journal.

Questioning and predicting: With

guidance,identifyatleast4questionsand
recordthemintheirsciencejournals.Predict
whatmighthappenandwhyduringthe
volcaniceruptionactivitybasedonprior
knowledgeandrecordinsciencejournal.

UseandInfluenceofScience:Can

UseandInfluenceofScience:Can

Above standard
(beginning next level)
Canexplaininextensivedetailhowandwhy
avolcaniceruptionworks.Consistentlyand
independentlyusesawiderangeofscientific
terminologycorrectly.Canexplainwhata
suddengeologicalchangeisandidentify
morethan2examples.Cannameall3types
ofvolcanoes(active,dormantandextinct)
andunderstandthedifferencesbetween
them.Canlabelatleast4partsofavolcano.
Planning&Conducting:Cansafelyand
independentlyusearangeofequipmentto
constructtheirvolcanoandmeasurewith
assistancetheextentoftheimpactofthe
volcaniceruptionontheirsmall
community.Workswithtoolsandgroup
membersinasafeandcarefulmannerand
assistsotherstodothisalso.
Communicating: Communicateideas,
explanationsandprocessesclearlyinatleast
3ormoredifferentwaysintheirscience
journals.Consistentparticipationand
valuablecontributionsmadeinclassand
groupdiscussions.Acompletefinal
presentationcoveringagreatrangeof
information(4ormoresubheadings)
exploredoverthedurationoftheunit.
Questioning and predicting:
Independentlyorwithminimalguidance,
identify4ormorequestionsandrecordthem
intheirsciencejournals.Predictwhatmight
happenandanaccuratescientific
explanationastowhyduringthevolcanic
eruptionactivitybasedonpriorknowledge
andrecordinsciencejournal.
UseandInfluenceofScience:Can

Human
Endeavour

Does not identify waysa

volcaniceruptioncanaffectthe
Earthssurfaceand/orsurrounding
livingandnonlivingthings.Does
notidentifyanydisastermanagement
strategiesforvolcaniceruptions.

identifywithassistanceatleast2waysa
volcaniceruptioncanaffecttheEarths
surfaceand/orsurroundinglivingand
nonlivingthings.Canalsoidentifywith
assistanceatleast2disastermanagement
strategiesforvolcaniceruptions.

independentlyidentifyatleast4waysa
volcaniceruptioncanaffecttheEarths
surfaceand/orsurroundinglivingandnon
livingthings.Canalsoidentifyatleast4
disastermanagementstrategiesforvolcanic
eruptions.

independentlyidentify4ormorewaysa
volcaniceruptioncanaffecttheearths
surfaceand/orsurroundinglivingandnon
livingthings.Canalsoidentify4ormore
disastermanagementstrategiesforvolcanic
eruptions.