The Future is Wild Grading Rubric – Student # __________
Topic
Background
Information
Visualization of
Environment
Visualization of New
Species
Counts twice
Adaptations
Diet
Homologous
Structure or
Vestigial Organ
Explanation of
Variation
Quality of
Presentation
TOTAL (35 points)
Exceeds Expectations
The new species has a creative name related to the organism’s origins or characteristics. The original species name, the time period, and the environment assigned are described.
4
The pictures of the environment/new species is colored and has been generated by the student showing a high degree of detail aligned with the description provided.
4
Three adaptations are described accurately and thoroughly. Detailed explanation of how the adaptation increases the organism’s fitness as well as why the adaptation was necessary is included.
6
A food chain including pictures of the new species and other organisms in the environment. The chain begins with a producer, ends with a top-level consumer, identifies each organism as an autotroph/ heterotroph and a producer/ consumer. More than 4 organisms are present.
5
A well thought out and
thorough explanation relates structures in the ancestor species to new species.
4
The explanation for variation is based on scientific principles and all parts of the topic are thoroughly explained
4
The presentation is appealing to the eye, professional in appearance, and the lay-out is well organized
4
A food chain including the new species is shown. The chain begins with a producer, ends with a top-level consumer. Organisms are not labeled. Four organisms are present.
2-3
An explanation relates structures in the ancestor species to new species but detail is lacking.
2
The explanation for variation provides evidence of some knowledge of the related content
2
The presentation is neatly completed and the lay-out includes required components
2
Needs Improvement
The new species has been given a name that is very similar to the original or unrelated to the organism. One of the original species name, the time period, or the environment assigned is not listed.
2
The pictures accurately represents most of the described environment/new species but some inconsistencies are present.
2
Three adaptations are described. A partial explanation of how the adaptation increases the organism’s fitness is included.
2-3
Meets Expectations
The new species has a creative name. The original species name, the time period, and the environment assigned are listed.
3
The pictures of the environment/new species is in color and demonstrates an accurate representation based on the description provided.
3
Three adaptations are described accurately.
Adequate explanation of how the adaptation increases the organism’s fitness as well as why the adaptation was necessary is included.
4-5
A food chain including the new species is shown.
The chain begins with a producer, ends with a toplevel consumer, identifies each organism as an autotroph/heterotroph and a producer/ consumer.
Only 4 organisms present. Missing picture(s)
4
A well thought out explanation relates structures in the ancestor species to new species.
3
The explanation for variation is based on scientific principles and knowledge of the related content is evident
3
The presentation is appealing to the eye, neatly completed, and the lay-out is fairly easy to follow
3
A food chain including the new species is shown. Organisms are not in the correct positions within the food chain and/or all trophic levels haven’t been represented.
Less than 4 organisms.
0-1
A relationship between structures in the ancestor species and the new species in unclear or absent
0-1
The explanation for variation inaccurate or missing demonstrating a lack of knowledge of the related content
0-1
The presentation is messy, lacks detail, and is difficult to follow.
0-1
Unacceptable
The new species name is the same as the original or absent.
The original species name, environments assigned, or time period are incomplete or absent.
0 - 1
The pictures are not representative of the described environment/new species, lacks sufficient detail, or is absent.
0 - 1
Less than three adaptations are described. Explanation of how the adaptation increases the organism’s fitness is incomplete of missing.
0-1

The Future is Wild Grading Rubric – Student # __________
Topic
Background
Information
Visualization of
Environment
Visualization of New
Species
Counts twice
Adaptations
Diet
Homologous
Structure or
Vestigial Organ
Explanation of
Variation
Quality of
Presentation
TOTAL (35 points)
Exceeds Expectations
The new species has a creative name related to the organism’s origins or characteristics. The original species name, the time period, and the environment assigned are described.
4
The pictures of the environment/new species is colored and has been generated by the student showing a high degree of detail aligned with the description provided.
4
Three adaptations are described accurately and thoroughly. Detailed explanation of how the adaptation increases the organism’s fitness as well as why the adaptation was necessary is included.
6
A food chain including pictures of the new species and other organisms in the environment. The chain begins with a producer, ends with a top-level consumer, identifies each organism as an autotroph/ heterotroph and a producer/ consumer. More than 4 organisms are present.
5
A well thought out and
thorough explanation relates structures in the ancestor species to new species.
4
The explanation for variation is based on scientific principles and all parts of the topic are thoroughly explained
4
The presentation is appealing to the eye, professional in appearance, and the lay-out is well organized
4
A food chain including the new species is shown. The chain begins with a producer, ends with a top-level consumer. Organisms are not labeled. Four organisms are present.
2-3
An explanation relates structures in the ancestor species to new species but detail is lacking.
2
The explanation for variation provides evidence of some knowledge of the related content
2
The presentation is neatly completed and the lay-out includes required components
2
Needs Improvement
The new species has been given a name that is very similar to the original or unrelated to the organism. One of the original species name, the time period, or the environment assigned is not listed.
2
The pictures accurately represents most of the described environment/new species but some inconsistencies are present.
2
Three adaptations are described. A partial explanation of how the adaptation increases the organism’s fitness is included.
2-3
Meets Expectations
The new species has a creative name. The original species name, the time period, and the environment assigned are listed.
3
The pictures of the environment/new species is in color and demonstrates an accurate representation based on the description provided.
3
Three adaptations are described accurately.
Adequate explanation of how the adaptation increases the organism’s fitness as well as why the adaptation was necessary is included.
4-5
A food chain including the new species is shown.
The chain begins with a producer, ends with a toplevel consumer, identifies each organism as an autotroph/heterotroph and a producer/ consumer.
Only 4 organisms present. Missing picture(s)
4
A well thought out explanation relates structures in the ancestor species to new species.
3
The explanation for variation is based on scientific principles and knowledge of the related content is evident
3
The presentation is appealing to the eye, neatly completed, and the lay-out is fairly easy to follow
3
A food chain including the new species is shown. Organisms are not in the correct positions within the food chain and/or all trophic levels haven’t been represented.
Less than 4 organisms.
0-1
A relationship between structures in the ancestor species and the new species in unclear or absent
0-1
The explanation for variation inaccurate or missing demonstrating a lack of knowledge of the related content
0-1
The presentation is messy, lacks detail, and is difficult to follow.
0-1
Unacceptable
The new species name is the same as the original or absent.
The original species name, environments assigned, or time period are incomplete or absent.
0 - 1
The pictures are not representative of the described environment/new species, lacks sufficient detail, or is absent.
0 - 1
Less than three adaptations are described. Explanation of how the adaptation increases the organism’s fitness is incomplete of missing.
0-1