Balance and Motion

BALANCE AND MOTION Assessment Task A

Procedure: 1. Give this assessment to small groups of students, 1-3 at a time, to assure that the students are working independently. 2. Provide materials for the mobile that are readily accessible in the classroom such as ruler, scissors, pencils, crayons, string, erasers, paper scraps, glue sticks, unifix cubes, disks, tape, masking tape, paper clips, and rubber bands. 3. Encourage student to use what they have learned about balance.

Task 1. Construct a mobile that is balanced and uses counterweights 2. Describe with words and pictures what you did to make your mobile balance.

Big Ideas • position and motion of objects • balance: equilibrium, stability, counterweight • the designed world, technological designs • scientific thinking; asks questions about natural phenomena, works individually or in groups to collect and share information and ideas • designs and models

Essential Concepts • Students will solve problems through trial and error • Students will explore and describe systems that are unstable and modify them to reach stability

Practice Standards addressed by this task Science 5.1.P.A.1 5.1.P.B.1 5.1.P.B.2 5.1.P.B.3 5.1.P.C.1 5.1.P.D.1 BALANCE AND MOTION Assessment Task A

Rubric 5 Achieved the standard with honors • able to make a balanced mobile • illustration and explanation (written or oral) demonstrates a clear understanding of balance point and counterweights

4 Achieved the standard • able to make a balanced mobile • illustration and explanation demonstrates some understanding of balance point and counterweights with few errors

3 Nearly achieved the standard • able to make a mobile, though may not be balanced • illustration and explanation demonstrates partial understanding of balance point and counterweights with major errors

2 Below the standard • unable to make a mobile • illustration and explanation demonstrates little or no understanding of balance point and counterweights

1 no or inappropriate response Little evidence of achievement BALANCE AND MOTION Assessment Task A

1. Construct a mobile that is balanced and uses counterweights.

2. Describe with words and pictures what you did to make your mobile balance. Use key words First, Next, Then, Finally. BALANCE AND MOTION Assessment Task B

Procedure: 1. Give this assessment to small groups of students, 1-3 at a time, to assure that the students are working independently. 2. Provide slim straw from the kit and 1-1 1/2 inch ball of clay. 3. Encourage student to use what they have learned about spinning.

Task: 1. Create a top that spins for at least 3 seconds using a coffee stirrer and modeling clay. 2. Describe with words or pictures what you did to make your top stable. Big Ideas • Balance: equilibrium, center of gravity , stability • rotational motion

Essential Concepts • Students will solve problems through trial and error. • Students will explore and describe systems that are unstable and modify them to reach stability.

Practice Standards addressed by this task Science 5.1.P.A.1 5.1.P.B.1 5.1.P.B.2 5.1.P.B.3 5.1.P.C.1 5.1.P.D.1

BALANCE AND MOTION Assessment Task B

Rubric 5 Achieved the standard with honors • able to make a top that spins for at least 3 seconds • illustration and explanation (written or oral) demonstrates a clear understanding of balance, stability and rotational motion

4 Achieved the standard • able to make a top that spins for at least 3 seconds • illustration and explanation (written or oral) demonstrates some understanding of balance, stability and rotational motion with a few errors

3 Nearly achieved the standard • able to make a top that spins • illustration and explanation (written or oral) demonstrates partial understanding of balance, stability and rotational motion with major errors

2 Below the standard • unable to make a top that spins • illustration and explanation (written or oral) demonstrates little or no understanding of balance, stability and rotational motion

1 no or inappropriate response Little evidence of achievement BALANCE AND MOTION Assessment Task B

Task: 1. Create a top that spins for at least 3 seconds using a coffee stirrer and modeling clay.

2. Describe with words or pictures what you did to make your top stable.