Students investigated the life cycle of butterflies by observing a live
butterfly as it developed through its life cycle stages in a commercially
prepared butterfly habitat; and by accessing information in reference materials.
Students recorded their observations in journals and reported what they
learned in writing and artwork.
| 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 |
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 b
Life Sciences Concepts:
The student produces evidence that demonstrates understanding of life
cycles of organisms,…that all plants and animals have life cycles.
 
The student provides evidence of understanding of the butterfly’s
life cycle by keeping a narrative journal of observations and by making
a diagram that illustrates the four stages of the life cycle, three
of which were personally observed.
 The student summarized
information about butterfly life cycles from reference sources in
narrative form and in a diagram.
a
Life Sciences Concepts: The
student produces evidence that demonstrates understanding of characteristics
of organisms, such as…the relationship between structure and
function.
 
The student relates the structure of a butterfly’s probe to
its function of getting nectar. This relationship is described in
both written form and in an illustration.
 c
Scientific Thinking: The
student uses evidence from reliable sources.
The student reports
from personal observations.
The student’s bibliography lists several references used in
developing the report.
 c
Scientific Tools and Technologies: The
student acquires information from multiple sources, such as experimentation
and print and non-print sources.
The student’s bibliography lists references, both print and
software, used in developing the report.
 a
Scientific Communication: The
student represents data and results in multiple ways, such as…diagrams
and artwork; and technical and creative writing.
The student presents data in narrative form
(,
,
)
accompanied by diagrams (,
)
and artwork ().
 b
Scientific Investigation:
The student demonstrates scientific competence by completing…a
systematic observation….
The student’s observations of a closed habitat were made systematically
over a period of weeks. During this time, the student recorded observations
of three of the stages of development of a butterfly, and used reference
materials to find out about the unobserved stage.
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