ASSESSMENT TASK NOTIFICATION
Year 8 Science
Paper Planes Practical Skills Assessment
Year 8
Task 1
Date Due: Term 1, Week 6; In class on ___________________
Task Weighting: 20%
Outcomes Assessed
SC4-4WS identifies questions and problems that can be tested or researched and makes predictions based on
scientific knowledge
SC4-5WS collaboratively and individually produces a plan to investigate questions and problems
SC4-7WS processes and analyses data from a first-hand investigation and secondary sources to identify trends,
patterns and relationships, and draw conclusions
SC4-9WS presents science ideas, findings and information to a given audience using appropriate scientific language,
text types and representations
Task Description and Instructions
Students will use their knowledge of the scientific method, course content and previous practical tasks to design and
complete a practical skills assessment task. The task will involve brainstorming variables, planning and conducting an
experiment, data collection and analysis of experimental results.
Task Organisation
•
•
•
Students will complete this task in class. Students who fail to attend/complete the task will incur a penalty of
10% deduction off their achieved mark for each class day late up to a maximum of 50%. If the task has not
been submitted within two weeks, the task will be awarded a mark of zero.
If you miss the task due to illness/misadventure you must complete the form in the Assessment booklet
and submit to your deputy principal. In cases of illness, a Doctor’s Certificate must be attached.
If you require extra information or advice on any aspect of the task, ask your teacher in person or email them
on the following email addresses: david.freel@det.nsw.edu.au; owen.hastedt@det.nsw.edu.au;
tammy.hancock4@det.nsw.edu.au
Assessment Criteria /Guidelines
The best assignments will:
• Demonstrate your understanding of reliable, valid and accurate experimental design.
• Organise, analyse and explain your first-hand data, using appropriate tables, graphs.
• Identify trends, patterns and relationships and draw evidence-based conclusions.
•
Use scientific language throughout.
Assumed knowledge
•
Working Scientifically skills – questioning, identifying variables, predicting, planning, conducting, collecting
data, data analysis, evaluating an investigation (in terms of validity and reliability)
Please refer to the School Assessment Policy for information regarding i) the task schedule ii) malpractice
iii) illness/misadventure guidelines.
ASSESSMENT TASK NOTIFICATION
Marking Rubric
Stage 4 Area for
Assessment
Questioning and
predicting
(20%)
Research Question
Hypothesis
Planning and
conducting
investigations
(50%)
Variables
Planning
Conducting
(Collaborative practices
& active participation)
Data collection
Processing and
analysing data and
information
(20%)
Processing data
Analysing data &
Drawing
Conclusions
Communicating
(10%)
Communication of
ideas (as above)
A (Outstanding)
B (High)
C (Sound)
identifies and proposes valid
scientific hypotheses, asks
questions and makes evidence
based predictions
Asks a valid research question that
guides investigation. Applies
appropriate scientific terminology
and formatting.
5
Question is developed into a clear
and concise hypothesis that clearly
relates independent and dependent
variables and offers an explanation
identifies and proposes
coherent hypotheses, asks
questions and makes logical
predictions
Asks valid research question
that guides investigation.
Applies appropriate
formatting.
4
Hypothesis is formulated from
question and clearly relates
independent and dependent
variables and offers an
explanation.
4
identifies and proposes
related hypotheses, asks
questions and make
predictions
Asks a valid question that
guides investigation.
5
creates, plans and organises
appropriate, risk-assessed, safe,
and ethical first-hand scientific
investigations both individually and
collaboratively
Identifies and manages the
independent, dependent and all
possible control variables.
5
Experimental design provides a
valid plan to investigate the
research question, test predictions
and collect reliable data. Includes
enough detail for the experiment to
be reproduced. Experimental setup and measurement techniques
are described.
10
9
Demonstrates leadership while
working collaboratively with group
to complete task.
5
Data table properly constructed. 5+
trials conducted, appropriate data
collected and recorded (including
units), averages calculated. All
measurements accurate and
precise.
plans and organises
appropriate, risk-assessed,
safe, and ethical first-hand
scientific investigations
D (Basic)
E (Limited)
asks questions and
makes some
predictions
asks questions and
attempts prediction
With guidance, asks a
question for testing.
Inquiry question is
provided.
3
Hypothesis clearly relates
independent and
dependent variables.
2
With guidance,
formulates hypothesis.
1
Hypothesis is given.
3
2
plans and performs safe,
ethical first-hand scientific
investigations
performs safe, ethical
first-hand scientific
investigations
Identifies the independent,
dependent and at least 3
control variables.
3
Experimental design
provides a valid step-bystep plan to investigate the
research question, test
predictions and collect data.
Experiment could be
reproduced but may require
a few explanations.
6
5
Works with group members
to complete task.
Identifies some
variables relevant to
the investigation.
2
Experimental design
provides a step-by-step
plan to investigate the
research question, test
predictions and collect
data. Experiment
requires explanations
to reproduce.
4
3
Works independently
to complete task.
1
performs safe,
ethical first-hand
scientific
investigations with
guidance
With guidance,
identifies some
relevant variables.
1
With guidance,
produces a plan for
investigation.
3
Data table constructed. 3+
trials conducted,
appropriate data collected
and recorded, averages
calculated. Measurements
are mostly accurate.
5
Identifies and manages the
independent, dependent at
least 5 control variables.
4
Experimental design provides
a valid plan to investigate the
research question, test
predictions and collect reliable
data. Experiment could be
reproduced with only a few
questions. Measurement
techniques described.
8
7
Actively engages with group
members to collaboratively
complete task.
4
Data table well-constructed.
3+ trials conducted,
appropriate data collected and
recorded (including units),
averages calculated. All
measurements accurate and
precise.
4
3
2
Data table constructed
with guidance. Trial(s)
conducted, some data
collected and
recorded.
Measurements may
not be accurate.
2
uses critical thinking skills to
evaluate trends, patterns and
relationships to draw evidencebased scientific conclusions
uses critical thinking skills to
explain trends, patterns and
relationships to draw scientific
conclusions
explains trends, patterns
and relationships to draw
scientific conclusions
describes trends,
patterns and draws
some conclusions
Constructs an appropriate graph of
data (averages) collected. Graph
includes all elements (SALUTE –
scale, axes, labels, units, title,
evenly spaced numbers) and key, if
necessary. Data accurately plotted.
5
Uses critical thinking skills to
evaluate trends, patterns and
relationships in data to draw
insightful evidence-based scientific
conclusions.
5
communicates comprehensive
understanding of scientific ideas,
and related evidence for a
particular purpose and audience
using scientific units, language
conventions and text types.
Constructs an appropriate
graph of data (averages)
collected. Graph includes most
elements (SALUTE). Data
accurately plotted.
Constructs an appropriate
graph of data collected.
Graph includes most
elements (SALUTE). Most
data accurately plotted.
4
Uses critical thinking skills to
explain trends, patterns and
relationships in data to draw
scientific conclusions.
3
Provides sound explanation
of trends, patterns and
relationships to draw
scientific conclusions.
With some guidance,
constructs a graph of
data collected,
including SALUTE
elements. Most data
accurately plotted.
2
Describes trends,
patterns and draws
some conclusions.
4
3
communicates well-developed
understanding of scientific
ideas to an audience using
scientific units and language
conventions.
5
4
2
1
With guidance,
works to complete
task.
1
Data table provided.
With guidance,
collects data and
completes
calculations.
1
recounts conclusions
Graph setup,
including SALUTE
elements, provided.
Data plotted on
graph may not be
accurate.
1
Limited description
of data. May draw a
conclusion from
data.
2
1
communicates sound
understanding of scientific
ideas to an audience.
communicates basic
scientific
understanding to an
audience.
with guidance,
communicates
elementary scientific
information to an
audience.
3
2
1
Please refer to the School Assessment Policy for information regarding i) the task schedule ii) malpractice
iii) illness/misadventure guidelines.