10 Performance-Based Projects for the Science Classroom

<p>Each book in the <i>10 Performance-Based Projects</i> series provides 10 ready-made projects designed to help students achieve higher levels of thinking and develop 21st-century skills. Projects are aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards, allowing students to explore and be creative as well as gain enduring understanding. Each project represents a type of performance assessment, including portfolios, oral presentations, research papers, and exhibitions. Included for each project is a suggested calendar to allow teacher scheduling, mini-lessons that allow students to build capacity and gain understanding, as well as multiple rubrics to objectively assess student performance. The lessons are presented in an easy-to-follow format, enabling teachers to implement projects immediately. <br><br>Grades 3-5</p> INTRODUCTION Why Project-Based Learning? What Are the Advantages of Using PBL in a Science Classroom? What Sorts of Products Could Be Used in a Science Classroom? Project 1: Oral Presentation Project Outline: Survival of the Fittest Suggested Timeline Lesson: What Helps Organisms Survive? Lesson: Conducting Research Lesson: What Makes a Good Presentation? Handouts Product Rubric Project 2: Debate/Speech Project Outline: Biome in a Biodome Suggested Timeline Lesson: What Is an Ecosystem? Lesson: Roles in an Ecosystem Lesson: Different Types of Ecosystems Lesson: Creating an Argument Handouts Product RubricProject 3: Group Discussion Project Outline: How Can We Save the Planet? Suggested Timeline Lesson: Can You Make a Difference? Lesson: Developing a Proposal Handout Assessment Forms Product Rubric Project 4: Role-Playing Project Outline: Dinosaurs on Trial Suggested Timeline Lesson: The Theory of Dinosaurs Lesson: Roles of the Trial Handouts Reflection Rubric Project 5: Interview Project Outline: You Can Make a Living Doing Science? Suggested Timeline Handouts Product Rubric Project 6: Exhibition Project Outline: City of the Future Suggested Timeline Lesson: What Makes a City a City? Lesson: Converting Energy Handouts Product Rubric Project 7: Essay Project Outline: Build Your Own Mousetrap Suggested Timeline Lesson: What Makes a Mousetrap Effective? Handouts Product Rubric Project 8: Research Paper Project Outline: Going to the Zoo Suggested Timeline Lesson: Researching Your Animal Handouts Product Rubric Project 9: Journal/Student Log Project Outline: Energy Around the House Suggested Timeline Lesson: Energy Around the Classroom Handout Product Rubric Project 10: Portfolio Project Outline: Is the Weather Report Always Right? Suggested Timeline Lesson: How to Check the Weather Lesson: Recording Data Product Rubric REFERENCES ABOUT THE AUTHOR NEXT GENERATION SCIENCE STANDARDS ALIGNMENT