The annotated work samples in Judging Standards support teachers when reporting
against the achievement standards; when giving assessment feedback; and when
explaining the differences between one student’s achievement and another’s.
Grey highlighting identifies those aspects of the achievement standard addressed in
the work sample. Annotations in black text refer to the assessment pointers while
those in coloured text highlight additional, specific qualities evident in the work.
Reporting against the Achievement Standard
Feathers, fur or leaves?
Prior to the completion of this work sample, students had completed a unit of work that involved investigating the
characteristics and needs of living things. Students gained experience in grouping animals based on observable
characteristics, before moving onto grouping animals with a simple dichotomous key. This work sample was produced
independently, under test conditions. Concepts and activities in the unit of work were drawn from the Primary
Connections text: Feathers, fur or leaves?
By the end of Year 3, students use their understanding of the movement of the Earth, materials and the behaviour of
heat to suggest explanations for everyday observations. They describe features common to living things. They describe
how they can use science investigations to respond to questions and identify where people use science knowledge in
their lives.
Students use their experiences to pose questions and predict the outcomes of investigations. They make formal
measurements and follow procedures to collect and present observations in a way that helps to answer the
investigation questions. Students suggest possible reasons for their findings. They describe how safety and fairness were
considered in their investigations. They use diagrams and other representations to communicate their ideas.
Living things, Physical characteristics, Classification
Student achievement is reported at the end of the semester or year using the letter grades
and achievement descriptors. Letter grades and achievement descriptors should not be used
to assess individual pieces of work.
2014/19692 [PDF 2014/39662]
Science: Year 3 Grade C Work Sample
1
Groups living things according
to easily observable features,
e.g. correctly groups animals
according to whether or not
they can fly.
2014/19692 [PDF 2014/39662]
Science: Year 3 Grade C Work Sample
2
Identifies characteristics of a
living thing, e.g. identifies
growth, reproduction,
movement and the need for
water.
Correctly classifies items as
living or non-living, e.g. offers
‘people’, ‘bugs’, ‘plants’ and
‘fish’ as examples of living
things, and ‘toys’, ‘blanket’,
‘books’ and ‘pencil case’ as
non-living things.
Communicates ideas and
information using a few
methods, e.g. creates a simple
diagram of a butterfly with
some labels.
2014/19692
Science: Year 3 Grade C Work Sample
3
Reproduced with the permission of the Australian Academy of Science. Reproduction of this branching key
does not imply endorsement by the Australian Academy of Science of the SCSA Judging Standards materials.
Groups living things according
to easily observable features,
e.g. uses a dichotomous key to
classify animals. Makes a
conceptual classification error,
labelling a squid as a fish,
instead of a mollusc. Also
makes a simpler error, labelling
a scorpion as a fish.
For copyright reasons, original images used in the activity cannot be reproduced in the online
version of this document, and have been replaced by the School Curriculum and Standards
Authority with comparable images.
2014/19692
Science: Year 3 Grade C Work Sample
4
Groups living things according
to easily observable features,
but with a number of errors,
e.g. uses some correct animal
groups, such as ‘fish’, ‘insects’
and ‘birds’; however, sits these
three categories alongside a
final category of ‘living’ rather
than within it. Includes a
banana and a dragonfly in this
group. (Shows aspects of a D
standard.)
For copyright reasons, original images used in the activity cannot be reproduced in the online
version of this document, and have been replaced by the School Curriculum and Standards
Authority with comparable images.
Completes a table, identifying
characteristics of particular
living things, with two errors.
2014/19692
Science: Year 3 Grade C Work Sample
5
Image acknowledgements
[Free clipart of squid]. (n.d.). Retrieved August, 2014, from
www.clipartpal.com/clipart_pd/animal/squid/squid_10265.html
Pearson Scott Foresman. (2009). Lizard (PSF) [Image]. Retrieved from
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Monitor_Lizard_(PSF).png
Bureau of Entomology. (1930). [Image of Australian cockroach]. In R.E. Snodgrass, Insects: Their ways and
means of living (Smithsonian Scientific Series; vol. 5). New York: Smithsonian Institution, fig. 49, p. 78.
Retrieved August, 2014, from http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Barata-australiana.JPG
Pearson Scott Foresman. (2008). Bee – queen (PSF) [Image]. Retrieved from
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bee_-_queen_(PSF).png
Pearson Scott Foresman. (2008). Stingray (PSF) [Image]. Retrieved from
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Stingray_(PSF).png
Pearson Scott Foresman. (2007). Alligator (PSF) [Image]. Retrieved from
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Alligator_(PSF).jpg
Pearson Scott Foresman. (2009). Tiger 3 [Image]. Retrieved from
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tiger_3_(PSF).png
Mühel, G. (1890). Ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta). In A. Brehm, Brehms Tierleben. Leipzig: Bibliographisches
Institut, p. 284. Retrieved August, 2014, from http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lemur_catta__Brehms.png
Pearson Scott Foresman. (2008). Black bear (PSF) [Image]. Retrieved from
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Black_bear_(PSF).png
Pearson Scott Foresman. (2009). Dragonfly (PSF) [Image]. Retrieved from
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dragonfly_(PSF).png
Pearson Scott Foresman. (2007). Swordfish (PSF) [Image]. Retrieved from
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Swordfish_(PSF).png
Pearson Scott Foresman. (2009). Wolf (PSF) [Image]. Retrieved from
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wolf_(PSF).png
2014/19692
Science: Year 3 Grade C Work Sample
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