Alaska Science Performance Standard L1/D1

Alaska Science
Key Element D1

A student who meets the content standard should apply scientific knowledge and skills to understand issues and everyday events.

Performance Standard Level 1, Ages 5–7

Students use science knowledge to describe everyday events.

Sample Assessment Ideas

Students tell why it is easier to make snowballs in the spring than in the winter.
Each student observes where the snow remains on the playground in the spring; give possible scientific explanations as to why the snow is still there.

Expanded Sample Assessment Idea

Expanded Sample Assessment Idea

Students test three sleds to determine which travels the greatest distance.

Procedure Students will: Hold the sled at the top of an incline, another student rides the sled, and a third student at the bottom of the hill measures the distance. The same student should ride the sled for each trip down the incline. Measure, record and graph the distance traveled by the sled. Repeat experiment with each sled. Use simplified language to discuss friction, motion and force. Relate this activity to another similar activity, such as sliding down the playground slide, and so on. Reflection and Revision Discuss factors other than the sled design that would increase the distance traveled by the sled. Repeat experiment using these factors.	Levels of Performance
	Stage 4	Student work is complete, correct, and contains evidence of elaboration, extension, higher order thinking skills, and relevant knowledge. Student actively participates with group to perform an accurate test that considers several factors that may affect the distance traveled by the sled.
	Stage 3	Student work is generally complete and correct but may contain evidence of some inaccuracies or omissions. Student participates with group to perform an accurate test to determine the distance traveled by the sled. Multiple factors are not considered.
	Stage 2	Student work may be incomplete or inaccurate. Student may be a reluctant group participant. The test may include three types of sleds but does not control the variables or make accurate measurements.
	Stage 1	Student work is incomplete and inaccurate. Student does not participate in group task or participates in group sledding adventure rather than testing the sleds.

Standards Cross-References
( Alaska Department of Education & Early Development Standards)

National Science Education Standards

Use data to construct a reasonable explanation. This aspect of the standard emphasizes the students’ thinking as they use data to formulate explanations. Even at the earliest grade levels, students should learn what constitutes evidence and judge the merits or strengths of the data and information that will be used to make explanations. After students propose an explanation, they will appeal to the knowledge and evidence they obtained to support their explanations. Students should check their explanations against scientific knowledge, experiences, and observations of others. (Page 122)

People have always had questions about their world. Science is one way of answering questions and explaining the natural world. (Page 138)

Some objects occur in nature; others have been designed and made by people to solve human problems and enhance the quality of life. (Page 138)

Benchmarks

People can often learn about things around them just by observing those things carefully, but sometimes they can learn more by doing something to the things and noting what happens. (Page 10)

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