Assessment
A Language Link: A Worm’s Journal
Imagine that you are an earthworm. You have been placed
in a "worm recycling center" by a student.
- Use
words and pictures to describe what you see as you travel
through the recycling center on the first day.
- Use
words and picture to describe how things have changed
after two weeks.
- Use
words and picture to describe how things have changed
after three weeks.
- Use
words and picture to describe how things have changed
after four weeks.
- Use
words and picture to describe what it might be like
after a whole year.
Your
finished product will be an earthworm’s journal. As you
record your observations and create your journal, remember
to:
- Tell
what changes you observe and what stays the same.
- Be
very detailed about what you observe.
- Tell
the whole story. What happens to the organic or inorganic
material in your "home"? Is it disappearing?
If so, where is it going?
- Explain
what role the earthworm is playing in the wildlife community
and how it helps the community.
Scoring
Rubric (Out of 6 points)
- Include
a detailed description or drawing of the soil, the worms,
and the amount of organic or inorganic material present
in the ecosystem (1 point)
- Demonstrate
how some things stay unchanged over time (inorganics)
or how some things change over time (organics and soil)
(1 point)
- Communicate
some connection between the earthworms, the soil, and
organic material, if an "organic recycling center"
is used for the earthworm journal (1 point)
- Communicate
the lack of a connection between earthworms and inorganic
material, if an "inorganic recycling center"
is used for the earthworm journal (1 point)
- Predict
a believable one-year outcome (1 point)
- Explain
that worms are decomposers and that they help the plants
in their community by breaking down organic material
and replenishing nutrients in the soil (1 point)
- Total:
6 points
Top
Cross-Curricular Extensions
Art Extension
Have students create posters that show why decomposers
are important to communities.
Social
Studies
Have students research what happens to wastes in their
area. Have them start a composting project in the school
to take advantage of decomposers and to reduce the amount
of wastes going to local landfills.
