Student teams made pendulums and were asked to hypothesize about how to
increase the number of swings during a given period of time (15 seconds).
Students tested their hypotheses, collected data, and presented the data
in the form of written reports.
| This sample of student work was produced under the following
conditions: |
| alone |
in a group |
| in class |
as homework |
| with teacher feedback |
with peer feedback |
| timed |
opportunity for revision |
 a
Physical Sciences Concepts: The
student produces evidence that demonstrates understanding of properties
of objects and materials, such as similarities and differences in
the size [and] weight…of objects….
  The
student describes how changing the properties of the system affected
the data. In changing the variables of weight and string length and
by describing the effects of those changes, the student demonstrates
an understanding of those properties.
b
Physical Sciences Concepts: The
student produces evidence that demonstrates understanding of position
and motion of objects, such as how the motion of an object can be
described by measuring its position over time….
 The student’s
observation about the consistent number of swings (oscillations) over
the same period of time clearly meets the standard.
|
 |
 The student demonstrates
an understanding of position over time when comparing the effects of long
and short strings on the number of swings.
 a
Scientific Connections and Applications:
The student produces evidence that demonstrates understanding of big
ideas and unifying concepts, such as…cause and effect.
 The student clearly
understands the causal relationship between the length of the string
and the number of swings. (The substitution of “effect”
for “affect,” a minor error that occurs in two places,
should be corrected in a revision.)
 f
Scientific Thinking: The
student works individually and in teams to collect and share information
and ideas.
 The use of the
word “we” throughout the work indicates that the student
worked in a group.
 The entire written
report is an individual effort.
|
 |
 a
Scientific Tools and Technologies: The
student uses technology and tools (such as rulers,…watches) to gather
data and extend the senses.
Although the student neglects to mention these tools, it is evident from
the description of the procedure that the student used a centimeter ruler
, a
protractor ,
and a watch  .
 a
Scientific Communication: The
student represents data and results in multiple ways, such as numbers,
tables, and graphs;…and technical and creative writing.
 The entire narrative
is well-written and accurately describes the investigation. The student
represents data in both table and graph formats. By convention, the
dependent variable, number of swings, would be plotted on the y-axis,
and the independent variable, length of string, would be plotted on
the x-axis. This is not necessarily expected of elementary students.
c
Scientific Communication: The
student communicates in a form suited to the purpose and the audience,
such as writing instructions that others can follow.
Other students could easily replicate the investigation by following
the procedure described in the narrative. |
 |
 a
Scientific Investigation: The
student demonstrates scientific competence by completing…an experiment,
such as conducting a fair test.
This work sample is
evidence that the student conducted a fair test. Each of three variables
was tested separately to determine which variable affected the speed (period
of oscillation) of the pendulum. |
