Bird Eggs Administration Procedures Based on PALS Assessment, contributed by New Standards (NS)
Description: Students gather original data throughout two performance tasks. They analyze their results along with given data to determine which eggs are best for rocky cliff environments. The task assesses ability to perform tasks, make simple observations, collect and organize data, and analyze results. This task is designed to take students approximately 60 minutes to complete. This task should be administered during the Second Nine Weeks.
SOL Standards: 3.1 Scientific Investigation, Reasoning, and Logic: The student will demonstrate an understanding of scientific reasoning, logic, and the nature of science by planning and conducting investigations. 3.4 Life Processes: The student will investigate and understand that adaptations allow animals to satisfy life needs and respond to the environment. 3.5 Living Systems: The student will investigate and understand relationships among organisms in aquatic and terrestrial food chains 3.6 The student will investigate and understand that ecosystems will support a diversity of plants and animals that share limited resources
General Instructions to the Teacher: This task can be split into two days. Students will be working individually during this exercise. Teachers can make appropriate modifications to meet student needs (i.e. read aloud, record information, etc.). The eggs should be clearly labeled before students begin.
Advance Preparation: Label eggs Prepare materials that students can use as a ramp Fill clear containers with room temperature water
Materials for Bird Eggs: The teacher will need: Clear containers, large enough to hold enough water to determine if egg floats or sinks Three types of eggs (X: metal-sphere, Y: styrofoam-raindrop, and Z: wooden-egg shape) Students should have: Eggs X, Y, and Z Materials to create a ramp Clear container with water
1
Bird Eggs Task with Student Directions Based on PALS Assessment, contributed by New Standards (NS)
When Maria was looking through books about birds, she noticed pictures of sea gulls nesting on cliffs above the sea. Maria wondered why the birds’ eggs didn’t roll off the cliffs and get broken on the rocks. She also wondered if the eggs of sea gulls that nested next to the water were different.
Maria knew that the eggs might be adapted to survive in the different habitats. In the activities of this experiment, you will study about bird eggs. At the end of your experiments, you will decide on the best egg to survive on cliffs and the best egg to survive next to water.
Egg Characteristics:
2
WRITE
1. The strength of a bird’s egg depends on many things. Use an “X” to mark things that can make a bird’s egg strong. You may mark more than one answer. ______The shape of the egg. ______The color of the egg. ______The material the shell is made of. ______The size of the egg. ______The thickness of the shell. ______The size of the yolk. ______The weight of the egg.
2. Choose ONE of the things you marked in question A and tell how you know it makes an egg strong. I think the ______will make it stronger because ______
How does the shape of an egg make a difference?
DO You will now experiment with model eggs to see which shape is best for rocky ledges. Make an inclined plane. Take the eggs out of the bag. ______
Step 1 Set up your ramp so it faces away from you where there are no papers or materials near the ramp.
Step 2 Step 3 Set the egg on its side and roll it Carefully watch how it rolls OFF THE INCLINED. from the top of the ramp away PLANE. 3 from you, like this:
WRITE
3. In the table below, draw a line that shows a path that each egg takes as it rolls on the table. For example, if the egg rolls straight after it leaves the ramp, you would draw a line like the sample below.
Be sure to roll ALL THREE eggs. Draw the paths below.
Sample Egg Draw a line that shows Draw a line that shows Draw a line that shows how Egg X rolls: how Egg Y rolls: how Egg Z rolls: Roll
Egg Shape Observation:
WRITE 4
4. Complete the following table using your drawings.
Egg Describe the shape of the egg. Describe in words how the egg rolled.
X
Y
Z
WRITE
5. Does the shape of each egg make a difference in the way it rolls? Explain your answer. The shape of the egg does / does not make a difference in the way the egg rolls because______
5
Egg Characteristics:
WRITE 6. Whether an egg will sink or float depends on many things. Use an “X” to mark things that can make a bird’s egg float. You may mark more than one answer. ______The shape of the egg. ______The color of the egg. ______The material the shell is made of. ______The size of the egg. ______The thickness of the shell. ______The size of the yolk. ______The weight of the egg.
7. Choose ONE of the things you marked in question A and tell how you know it makes an egg float. I think the ______makes an egg float because______6
Test each egg’s ability to float or sink by placing it in the water. DO
8. In the table below, draw how each egg floated or sank. Draw where the egg is in the container.
Be sure to test ALL THREE eggs to see if they float or sink.
Sample Egg Draw whether Egg X Draw whether Egg Y Draw whether Egg Z floats or sinks: floats or sinks: floats or sinks:
WRITE
9. Complete the following table.
Egg Describe in words how the egg floated or sank.
X
Y
Z
7
WRITE
10. After looking at the data about how eggs float, sink, or roll, which egg do you think would be best for a bird that lays its eggs on a bare, rocky ledge? Why?
I think Egg ______would be best for a bird that lays its eggs on a bare, rocky ledge because______
8
11. After looking at the data about how eggs float, sink, or roll, which egg is best for a nest close to the water? Why?
I think Egg ______is best for a nest close to the water because ______
9
Task Name: Bird Eggs Course: Grade 3 Science
Criteria Advanced - 4 Proficient - 3 Basic - 2 Below Basic - 1 The response includes a The response includes a The response includes a The response recommendation about a recommendation about a recommendation about a includes a characteristic likely to characteristic likely to affect characteristic likely to recommendation affect the strength of the the strength of the egg, and affect the strength of the about a Egg egg, and detailed reasoning some reasoning for why it egg, and little or no characteristic not Characteristics for why it affects the affects the strength. reasoning for why it likely to affect Questions 1 & strength. affects the strength. the strength of 2 the egg, and without reasoning to support the answer. The responses include The response includes The responses include The responses complete records of records of observations, partial records of include an observations that are although student entries observations. Student attempt to detailed, reasonable, and might be incomplete, entries might be record Egg Shape accurate. Although minor inaccurate, or lack detail. incomplete, inaccurate, or observations Observation misconceptions might be Misconceptions might be lack detail. although major Questions 3 & present, the written and present and the written and Misconceptions might be omissions, lack 4 graphic representations are graphic representation present and the written of detail, and coherent and consistent. might disagree. and graphic inaccuracy are representation might present. reflect inaccurate or unreasonable outcomes. The response clearly states The student response may The response may contain The response the effect of egg shape on include a statement about phrases from the prompt might include the way it rolls. The how the shape of the egg or restate the question but marks, words, or responses uses evidence of affects the way it rolls. is largely incomplete or phrases prior experience to support Explanations, if present, incorrect. The responses unrelated to the conclusions about the might be vague, lack show little or no evidence task. relationship between eggs supporting evidence related that the student is able to Data Analysis shape and the way the egg to the task or to prior use evidence to explain of Egg Roll rolls. Minor conceptual or experience, or be observations. Question 5 procedural errors might be incomplete. Conceptual or present. The response procedural errors might be contains strong evidence present. The response that the student is able to contains partial evidence explain observations based that the student is able to on evidence and data explain observations based recorded in the task. on evidence or data recorded in the task. The response includes a The response includes a The response includes a The response recommendation about a recommendation about a recommendation about a includes a characteristic likely to characteristic likely to affect characteristic likely to recommendation affect whether an egg will whether an egg will sink or affect whether an egg will about a Egg sink or float, and detailed float, and some reasoning sink or float, and little or characteristic not Characteristics reasoning for why it affects for why it affects the no reasoning for why it likely to affect Questions 6 & the buoyancy. buoyancy. affects the buoyancy. whether an egg 7 will sink or float, and without reasoning to support the answer.
10
The responses include The responses partial records of The responses include The response includes include an observations. Student complete records of records of observations, attempt to entries might be observations that are although student entries record incomplete, inaccurate, or detailed, reasonable, and might be incomplete, observations Buoyancy lack detail. accurate. Although minor inaccurate, or lack detail. although major Observation Misconceptions might be misconceptions might be Misconceptions might be omissions, lack Questions present and the written present, the written and present and the written and of detail, and 8 & 9 and graphic graphic representations are graphic representation inaccuracy are representation might coherent and consistent. might disagree. present. reflect inaccurate or unreasonable outcomes. The response is complete The response is largely The response and correct. It includes a The response is mostly incomplete, incorrect, and may contain recommendation about the complete but might contain contains errors in phrases from the egg shape best suited for errors in reasoning or data reasoning and data prompt or the environment and interpretation. The response interpretation. If present, restate the whether the egg rolls, might include a a recommendation about question but is floats, or sinks. The recommendation about the the egg shape best suited largely response explains the Conclusion – egg shape best suited for the for the environment or incomplete or reasoning used to make Terrestrial environment or whether the whether the egg rolls, incorrect. The this recommendation. The Question 10 egg rolls, floats, or sinks. The floats, or sinks is not responses show explanation is supported explanation for the explained or supported by little or no with data, observations, or recommendation might be evidence, observations or evidence that the other sources of vague. The response gives other information. The student is able to information. The response only partial evidence that response gives minimal use evidence to gives strong evidence that the student is able to use evidence that the student explain the student is able to information to construct is able to use information observations. synthesize multiple pieces ideas or evaluate issues. to construct ideas or of information to construct evaluate issues. ideas and evaluate issues. The response is complete The response is largely The response and correct. It includes a The response is mostly incomplete, incorrect, and may contain recommendation about the complete but might contain contains errors in phrases from the egg shape best suited for errors in reasoning or data reasoning and data prompt or the environment and interpretation. The response interpretation. If present, restate the whether the egg rolls, might include a a recommendation about question but is floats, or sinks. The recommendation about the the egg shape best suited largely response explains the egg shape best suited for the for the environment or incomplete or Conclusion – reasoning used to make environment or whether the whether the egg rolls, incorrect. The Aquatic this recommendation. The egg rolls, floats, or sinks. The floats, or sinks is not responses show Question 11 explanation is supported explanation for the explained or supported by little or no with data, observations, or recommendation might be evidence, observations or evidence that the other sources of vague. The response gives other information. The student is able to information. The response only partial evidence that response gives minimal use evidence to gives strong evidence that the student is able to use evidence that the student explain the student is able to information to construct is able to use information observations. synthesize multiple pieces ideas or evaluate issues. to construct ideas or of information to construct evaluate issues. ideas and evaluate issues.
11