Plate Tectonics Project Timeline and Grading Rubric
Selection of Project Choice _________________________
Final Project Due _____________________, there will be a ten point deduction for every day it
is late. No projects will be accepted after ____________________.
You may choose one of the project options listed or you may come up with your own project. If
you decide to come up with your own project it must be approved by prior to starting. The
Checklist on the previous page will be used to check your project for accuracy of information.
You will also be assessed on the creativeness, neatness, and productivity during class time. You
will be deducted points if you do not use class time wisely. This will be an individual project;
therefore no two projects should be identical. If two projects closely resemble each other than
points will be deducted.
Parents,
I am sending this letter home so you area aware of the project we will be working on class. The
students will have several days to work in the library to gather information, they will have days
in the classroom to work on rough drafts or layouts, and then they will have a long weekend to
finish the project at home as well. Their progress will be monitored throughout and points will
be taken at various times to ensure they are working toward the final project. The students
have received a detailed list of requirements for the project, as well as, the options they can
pick from. They have also received the rubric that will be used for grading. Please sign and
have your student return this paper as evidence you are aware of the project and the
requirements.
_______________________________
______________________________
Student Name
Parent Signature
Plate Tectonics Project Rubric
Requirement
Continental Drift
________
Seafloor
Spreading
_______
Plate Tectonics
_________
25 points
20-15 points
14-10 points
10-0 points
Provides a clear
Provides a brief
Mentions
Provides no
and focused
explanation of
continental drift
explanation of
explanation of
continental drift
but fails to
continental drift,
continental drift. and some of the
provide an
the scientists
Identifies the
evidence used to
explanation of
responsible or
scientist
support this
the theory or
any of the
responsible for
theory, but fails
any of the
evidence used to
this theory and
to go into any
evidence used to
support it.
accurately
detail.
support it.
explains at least
three pieces of
evidence used for
continental drift.
Provides a clear
Provides a brief
Mentions
Provides no
and focused
explanation of
seafloor
mention of
explanation of
sea floor
spreading and
seafloor
sea floor
spreading, and
who is credited
spreading, the
spreading,
the scientist
with its
person
discussed the
responsible for
discovery, but
responsible for
scientist
its discovery.
fails to provide
its discovery or
responsible for
Attempts to
any explanation. how it supports
discovering it.
explain how sea
the theory of
Clearly explains
floor spreading
continental drift.
how sea floor
allowed
spreading helped
scientists to
scientists explain
explain
continental drift. continental drift
Explains the
Provides a brief
Identifies the
Provides no
theory of plate
explanation of
three types of
explanation of
tectonics
plate tectonics,
plate
plate tectonics
correctly.
explains the
boundaries, but
or they types of
Explains all 3
three plate
does not discuss
plates and
plate boundaries
boundaries but
the geographic
landforms that
and the relative
does not go into
landforms or
exist.
motions of the
great detail.
natural disasters.
plate at those
Does not explain
boundaries
the theory of
Organization of
Project
Class
Productivity
__________
Accuracy and
Completeness
Identifies the
geographical
features and
natural disasters
found at each
type of boundary
10 points
plate tectonics.
6-9 points
Used all class
time well.
Worked well with
others and
NEVER needed
redirection.
All portions of
the project were
completed.
Used most of
class time well.
Worked well and
needed
redirection 1-2
times.
One portion of
the project was
incomplete.
_________
Overall Design
and Effort
________
Final project is
One-two errors.
neat, colorful,
consistent
format,
paraphrased and
properly cited.
Spelling/grammar
correct.
Total Points _______________/ 105
5 points
0 points
Distracted
others. Did not
use class time
productively.
Wasted class
time. Was
unable to focus
on class
expectations
Two – three
portions of the
project were
incomplete.
Sections are not
relevant to
project and/or
major chunks are
missing.
Very little effort
for final product.
Five or more
errors.