UNPACKING THE LEARNING GOALS: benchmarks

SCI.V.4.E.4- Explain how shadows are made. In order to assess understanding of this benchmark, I would like students to be able to answer questions relating to shadows, such as what is necessary for a shadow to form, how the shadow forms(light, reflections, etc.) and other related questions. To assess meaningful understanding, they should be able to explain what causes day and night on earth, explaining that the relation between the earth, sun, and earth's orbit is basically one big shadow. I would additionally like my students to be able to come up with and use their own real world examples of shadows, and be able to explain how & why the shadows are formed, and how they move.

SCI.II.1.E.1- Develop an awareness of the need for evidence in making decisions scientifically. To assess understanding, a student would be able to perform scientific tasks (such as measuring) and record data accurately as well as make observations and generate related questions. They would also be able to generate conclusions with support and reasoning to justify those conclusions. Students would also be able to explain why evidence is important and necessary and give examples of real world cases (i.e. law). If students were using this knowledge to accomplish the task of this benchmark, they would be able to use their senses and observations to explore, explain and back up their hypotheses in a lab or experiment and justify their conclusion.