Jessica Dutcher

EDUC 351
Performance Task

The Lighthouse
Science Project
A performance task for 4th grade
students

Jessica Dutcher
EDUC 351
Performance Task

Help Wanted Lighthouse Electrician

The new owners of the
Charlotte-Genesee Lighthouse are
having a problem with the
electrical system. For some strange
reason every time one lightbulb goes out the rest of the lights in
the lighthouse go out too! Because the owners are busy people
they do not have time to figure out the problem themselves.
Instead they are looking for an electrician and are planning to hire
one person for the job. Each of you have already applied and set
up an interview date. Before you can go to the interview there are
a few activities you will need to complete to show the owners that
you have the right skills and knowledge for the job. If you can
show the owners that you have the right set of skills and
knowledge to successfully fix the problem then you just might get
the job!
Before you can go to your interview you will need to
complete the following activities. Each of the activities that you
complete will help you to gain knowledge about the problem as
well as help you to figure out the problems the new owners are
having with the lighthouse. It is important that you follow the
directions and complete each activity.
After you have completed the activities and think you know
what the problem and the solution is, you will be organizing your
findings into a paper and attending an interview with the owners
of the lighthouse. In your paper and during the interview be sure
to include the following:
You must include the definition for a series circuit.
You must include the definition for a parallel circuit.

Jessica Dutcher
EDUC 351
Performance Task

You must include how you plan to solve the problem with the
electrical system of the lighthouse.
You must include an explanation of why you have chosen
that solution.
Your paper should be about 1 to 2 pages in length.
Good Luck!

Activity #1- Series Circuits

Directions: Using the Circuit Builder website you will be
investigating series circuits. You will begin at level 1.1. For each
level follow the steps at the top.
Circuit Builder http://thefusebox.northernpowergrid.com/page/circuitbuilder.cfm
Level 1.1
Draw the circuit you just created in the space below.

Level 1.2
Draw the circuit you just created in the space below.

Level 1.3

Jessica Dutcher
EDUC 351
Performance Task

Draw the circuit you just created in the space below.

Questions:
What do the 3 drawings from level 1.1, 1.2, and 1.3 represent?
______________________________________________________________________________

Is this a system? Why or why not?

______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

How many paths for current are there in a series circuit?

______________________________________________________________________________

What is the purpose of the switch in level 1.2, and 1.3?

_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

Level 2.1
Draw the circuit you just created in the space below.

Jessica Dutcher
EDUC 351
Performance Task

What is different about this circuit?

______________________________________________________________________________

Level 2.2
Draw the circuit you just created in the space below?

When you use the bat to break one of the bulbs, what happens to the other
bulb?
______________________________________________________________________________

Questions:
Does the electricity have to flow through each bulb to complete the circuit?
How do you know?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

What would happen in a series circuit if one bulb burns out?

______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

Jessica Dutcher
EDUC 351
Performance Task

Activity #2- Parallel circuit

Directions: Using the Circuit Builder website you will be
investigating parallel circuits. You will begin at level 3.1. For each
level follow the steps at the top.
Circuit Builder http://thefusebox.northernpowergrid.com/page/circuitbuilder.cfm
Level 3.1
Draw the circuit you just created in the space below.

Level 3.2
Draw the circuit you just created in the space below.

Jessica Dutcher
EDUC 351
Performance Task

This time when you break on bulb with the bat, what happens to the other
bulb?
______________________________________________________________________________
Level 3.3
Draw the circuit you just created in the space below.

In this circuit with the bulb and the buzzer, do you think the buzzer would
keep buzzing if the bulb was broken with the bat? Why or why not?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

Questions:
Is this a system? Why or why not?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
How many paths for the current are there in a parallel circuit?

Jessica Dutcher
EDUC 351
Performance Task

______________________________________________________________________________
Does electricity have to flow through each bulb to complete the circuit? How
about through the bulb and the buzzer? How do you know?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
What would happen to the other bulb in a parallel circuit if one bulb burns
out?
______________________________________________________________________________

Are the lights in your classroom wired in parallel or series? Explain.

______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Which type pf circuit, series or parallel, would you want your house to be
wired in? Explain.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

Jessica Dutcher
EDUC 351
Performance Task

Activity #3- Compare series and parallel circuits

Create a venn diagram comparing the two types of circuits.
***Hint: This will be helpful when writing your paper

Series Circuits
Circuits

Parallel

Jessica Dutcher
EDUC 351
Performance Task

Now that you have completed each activity it is time to decide what
the problem is with the lighthouses electrical system. After you
have come up with the problem you must also decide how you will
fix the problem.
Problem: What is the problem with the electrical system of the
lighthouse? Why?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

Solution: How are you going to fix the problem with the electrical
system of the lighthouse? Why?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

Jessica Dutcher
EDUC 351
Performance Task

Now that you have established the problem and have come up with
a solution to fix that problem it is time to write your paper and
prepare for the interview.
In your explanation be sure to include the following:

You must include the definition for a series circuit.

You must include the definition for a parallel circuit.
You must include the problem with the electrical system of
the lighthouse.
You must include how you plan to solve the problem with
the electrical system of the lighthouse.
You must include an explanation of why you have chosen
that solution.

______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

Jessica Dutcher
EDUC 351
Performance Task

______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

Jessica Dutcher
EDUC 351
Performance Task

______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
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______________________________________________________________________________
Student Checklist
Activities:
____ Is each activity completed?
____ Were you able to compare and contrast series and parallel circuits?
____ Can you accurately define series and parallel circuits?
Paper:
____ Is your paper organized with an introduction, a body paragraph, and a
conclusion?
____ Did you define series circuit and parallel circuit?
____ Did you state and explain the problem?
____ Did you state and explain the solution?
Interview:
____ Were you successful in explaining the problem and the solution?
____ Did you get the job?
____ Did you speak in a loud and clear voice during the interview?
____ Were you confident in your answers?

Jessica Dutcher
EDUC 351
Performance Task

Performance Task Rubric

Job for lighthouse electrician (Interview and Paper)
Students Name: ________________________________

Category

Completion
of circuit
activities

I completed all of
the activities on
circuits

I completed the
first and part of
the second activity
on circuits

I completed one of
the activities on
circuits

Grammar,
Punctuatio
n, and
spelling
used in
Paper

My paper includes
no grammar,
punctuation, or
spelling errors

My paper includes
2-4 grammar,
punctuation, and
spelling errors

My paper includes
5 or more
grammar,
punctuation, and
spelling errors

to

Jessica Dutcher
EDUC 351
Performance Task

Organizatio
n of Paper

My paper has all

of the following:
an introduction, a
body, a
conclusion, and
transition phrases

My paper has 2 of
the following: an
introduction, a
body, a
conclusion, and
transition phrases

My paper has 1 of
the following: an
introduction, a
body, a conclusion,
and transition
phrases

Interview
skills

During the
interview I do all
of the following:
speak in a loud,
clear voice, make
eye contact, and
explain my
solution to the
problem

During the
interview I do 2 of
the following:
speak in a loud,
clear voice, make
eye contact, and
explain my solution
to the problem

During the
interview I do 1 of
the following:
speak in a loud,
clear voice, make
eye contact, and
explain my
solution to the
problem

Tota
_ou
1

The Lighthouse Science Project

A Performance Task for Students in 4th Grade
Teachers Edition
Common Core State Standards
NYS MST Standard # 1- Inquiry
The central purpose of scientific inquiry is to develop explanations of natural
phenomena in a continuing, creative process.
NYS MST Standard #4- Science Content

Jessica Dutcher
EDUC 351
Performance Task

Energy exists in many forms, and when these forms change energy is
conserved.
Enduring Understandings
Knowledge of the way electricity flows through different types of electrical
circuits can be used to solve real problems.
Essential Questions
1.
2.
3.
4.

What is a parallel circuit?

What is a series circuit?
What happens when a circuit is not complete?
Why do all the lights go out if one light bulb dead in a series circuit?

Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to explain what happens in a series circuit when
one light bulb goes out.
Students will be able to identify and describe the single path for
current in a series circuit.
Students will be able to identify and describe the multiple paths for
current in a parallel circuit.
Students will be able to apply their knowledge of different types of
electrical circuits to real world problems.
Materials

Performance Task packets

Pencils
Access to Circuit Builder (online activity)

GRASPS:
G is for Goal: To get hired by the owners of the Charlotte-Genesee
lighthouse as an electrician. In order to be hired for the job, you will need to
be able to prove to the owners that you have the knowledge needed to fix
the problem with the lighthouses electrical system.
R is for Role: You are an applicant for the job of the Charlotte-Genesee
lighthouses electrician.
A is for Audience: The owners of the Charlotte-Genesee lighthouse.
S is for Situation: The new owners of the Charlotte-Genesee Lighthouse
are having a problem with the electrical system. For some strange reason
every time one lightbulb goes out the rest of the lights in the lighthouse go
out too! Because the owners are busy people they do not have time to figure

Jessica Dutcher
EDUC 351
Performance Task

out the problem themselves. Instead they are looking for an electrician and
are planning to hire one person for the job. Each of you have already applied
and set up an interview date. Before you can go to the interview there are a
few activities you will need to complete to show the owners that you have
the right skills and knowledge for the job. If you can show the owners that
you have the right set of skills and knowledge to successfully fix the problem
then you just might get the job! You will present your findings on the problem
and the proposed solution in both a written format (paper), as well as in an
interview with the owners.
P is for Product/Performance/Purpose: After you have completed the
required activities and know what the problem is as well as the solution to
the problem you will be writing a paper as well as being interviewed by the
owners. In your interview you must demonstrate that you have the
necessary skills and knowledge to solve the problem and hopefully you will
get the job!
S is for Standards/Criteria for Success: Your paper and interview must
include the following items if you are going to be considered for the job.

You must include the definition for a series circuit.

You must include the definition for a parallel circuit.
You must include the problem with the electrical system of the
lighthouse.
You must include how you plan to solve the problem with the electrical
system of the lighthouse.
You must include an explanation of why you have chosen that solution.
Your paper should be about 1 to 2 pages in length.

Resources:
Circuit Builder http://thefusebox.northernpowergrid.com/page/circuitbuilder.cfm