PART IV

PART IV

2000 SCIENCE PERFORMANCE TASK

Following is the Year 2000 performance task. The task serves as a model for teachers and program developers as they design laboratory experiences for students. This and previously released performance tasks, provide a rich bank of open-minded, hands-on, minds-on activities which may be used with middle and high school students in a variety of settings. Effective use of these and similar open-ended tasks involves:

using tasks as part of planned, ongoing instruction to develop conceptual understanding or reinforce particular skills and concepts;

using tasks as part of ongoing assessments, aligned with instructional objectives;

expecting students to work collaboratively;

focusing on alternative approaches to solving each task; and

requiring students to explain their reasoning and present their solutions.

Every year, when the CAPT results are announced, the performance task, including rubrics and annotated student work is sent to each school district.