4 SS5

LO 3

Ecosystems

Formative Assessment:

· What are the ecosystems of Missouri? How do they compare to other ecosystems in the United States?

· Where is each ecosystem located?

· What kind of plants and animals live there?

· What is the weather like?

Instructional Strategies or Activities:

Divide the class into groups of 2-3 students researching the same ecosystem. As research scientists, they will use the internet and other classroom resources to find information about the ecosystem they are assigned. They will report their findings with a short informative paragraph, and design a pop-up illustration to display their work. They will also complete a map and a travel brochure to report their findings.

Information to look for:

What is this ecosystem? Give a full definition and description.

Where is this ecosystem located?

Are there different types?

What kind of plants and animals live there?

What is the weather like?

Summative Assessment:

Paragraph scoring guide:

40	30	20	10
Paragraph is written legibly, uses some elaborate vocabulary for a 4^th grader, uses correct grammar most of the time, stays on task, gives complete information of subject.	Paragraph is written legibly, uses little elaborate vocabulary for a 4^th grader, uses correct grammar half of the time, stays on task, gives information, but could leave extra details out.	Paragraph is written legibly, uses no elaborate vocabulary, makes many grammar mistakes, stays on task, skips from fact to fact with no sequence, gives random information with no details.	Paragraph is not written legibly, uses simple sentences with no elaborate vocabulary, makes many grammar mistakes, does not stick to the subject; facts are random with no sequencing or details.

Project scoring guide:

Paragraph	Illustration	Brochure	Map
Points possible 40	Points possible 20	Points possible 20	Points possible 20
Total	Total	Total	Total