Research Assessment Task for Stage 4: Year 7 … harsh conditions of the high altitudes, force polar bears to adapt to the their environment. Many of the adaptations seen in polar

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Student’s Name: ____________________________________

Teacher’s Name: ____________________________________

Research Assessment Task for Stage 4: Year 7

Subject: Science

Assessment Task No. 2 Due Date: Research Journal check

Final Product

____________ Week 6

____________ Week 8

THIS ASSESSMENT TASK CAN BE FOUND ON THE COLLEGE WEBSITE UNDER THE

LEARNING AND TEACHING TAB

Submission Instructions

Submit this task by submitting:

o this booklet

o a one page printed handout of your PowerPoint presentation

o a USB drive with your electronic version of your PowerPoint to class on the day it is due.

The file name for your PowerPoint must include your name. e.g. “jsmithscience.ppt”

You will need to sign a class list during your lesson on the due date.

This cover sheet must be attached to the task.

Penalty for late submission of an assessment task

o Assessments submitted after the lesson on the due date will immediately receive a Thursday

Workshop (2 hours) during which time the task will be completed and submitted, pending a

note from parents explaining the absence.

PLEASE NOTE: THIS TASK WILL NOT BE ASSESSED BY YOUR TEACHER UNLESS YOU

HAVE ASSESSED YOUR PERFORMANCE BY HIGHLIGHTING OR TICKING THE

APPROPRIATE BOXES ON THE ATTACHED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Student Confirmation

By handing the task in for assessment, I agree that:

1. I did this work;

2. I know that this work may be checked to make sure that it is my work;

3. I can use things that other people have written and said but I must tell the reader/viewer when I do this;

4. If I don’t do the work myself and use other people’s work and pretend that this is mine this is called

plagiarism and I will have to redo the task.

5. I have a copy of this assessment if the original is lost or stolen.

Student’s signature: ______________________________________ Date: ______________

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TASK DETAILS

1. Description of the Task

You have been asked by the Education Officer at Taronga Zoo to conduct some research

into how animals have features which help them to survive. Once this research has been

completed you must produce a PowerPoint Presentation suitable to show a Year 7 class.

The main purpose of your PowerPoint Presentation is to inform Year 7 students about how

structural features help animals to survive in their environment.

Your PowerPoint Presentation must have no more than 6 slides and as this is to be used in a

classroom, the font used must be no smaller than 18 point.

Your presentation must include:

a named Australian vertebrate, including its common name and binomial name;

a labelled picture of your chosen vertebrate showing its structural features;

a description of the structural features which help your vertebrate survive;

a description of the environment in which your vertebrate lives;

an explanation of how the structural features of your vertebrate enable it to survive in

this environment.

Refer to the “Presentation Tips Year 7” file in your classwork folder located on the

network to guide you in your presentation and the example PowerPoint of the Polar Bear.

G:\2014\Classwork\Science\Science Research\Presentation Tips Year 7.pps

G:\2014\Classwork\Science\Science Research\Polar Bear.pps

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RE

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Collecting and selecting information for a particular purpose is called RESEARCH.

This is a RESEARCH task. You have four weeks to complete this task.

You should spend the first two weeks looking for information and selecting the best

information on your topic (researching) and the last two weeks completing your

PowerPoint Presentation.

A good starting point is to go to these websites:

Atlas of Living Australia at http://www.ala.org.au/australias-species/ or

Taronga Conservation Society Australia http://taronga.org.au/animals/search

After two weeks your teacher will check on your progress.

If you need help you can ask your teacher or any of our Library staff.

Please show your parents what you have to do.

Your collection and selection of information (or research) is to be recorded in this

Research Journal.

This is how you record your research:

Each time that you collect a piece of information you need to write down the date on the

sheet in the space provided.

This will show how well you have used your time in completing your assessment task.

DE

FIN

ING

STEP 1 Write down the key terms (words, phrases) that you use to help find your

information.

My chosen Australian vertebrate is _____________________________ Other words connected to my topic are:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

http://www.ala.org.au/australias-species/

http://taronga.org.au/animals/search

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TH

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Look at the example of the Polar Bear Research Journal on the following page.

This shows you how to complete your Research Journal.

Select information for use in your assessment task.

Glue this information into the page/s provided in your journal

Write down the date that you found the information in the space provided.

Write down where the information came from (the source of the information).

Remember to use the website or the name of the book/magazine that you used.

Tick the box indicating the reason you have selected this information.

Highlight the sentences with important information so that it can be easily

identified, as shown in the Polar Bear example on the next page.

Re-write the information you have highlighted in the space provided so that it is

in your own words and can be used to complete the task. Consider this a draft

copy of your answer.

PLEASE NOTE:

Only material which you have included in your Research Journal can be used in

your PowerPoint Presentation.

Information that is used in your PowerPoint that is not recorded in your

Research Journal will be disregarded.

Step 3 Complete the Reference list table naming the sources used.

Step 4

Complete your PowerPoint Presentation. Refer to the examples in the Classwork folder on the

school network.

Step 5

Self assess your performance.

Step 6

Get your parents to sign your work.

Step 7

Tick off the checklist at the end of this document

Step 8

On the due date hand in the THREE parts of your Task: (Research Journal, one page printout of

your PowerPoint, USB)

STEP 2

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This Page is an example of how to complete the Research Journal

MAKE SURE THE TABLE IS COMPLETED AND RESOURCES ARE GLUED IN THIS BOOKLET

Date: 9/8/2014

Source Polar Bear, Adaptations http://bioweb.uwlax.edu/bio203/s2007/kolinski_alis/adaptation.htm

Highlight useful information

I have selected this information because:

this was the information I could understand the information is from somewhere that I trust

there are pictures that I can use. Other: it describes some of the Polar Bear’s adaptations and how these help it to survive.

most of this information is useful for my task.

the information has been published recently

The harsh conditions of the high altitudes, force polar bears to adapt to the their environment. Many of the adaptations seen in polar bears help to regulate body temperature, make hunting easier, and increase the efficiency of movement both in and out of the water. The polar bear's thick curved claws are important during times of feeding. They are frequently used to tear away the flesh of preyed upon organisms and to navigate through the carcasses of dead animals. The polar bear's distinct swimming abilities probably source from their joined toes (webbed feet). Their toes are joined by swimming membranes which allow for greater success in the water (Macdonald, 500). Another important characteristic of the polar bear is its water repellant fur coat (Kurt, 500). This feature allows for more efficient and less exhausting swimming. Although a seal can easily out swim a polar bear, seals are easily tricked by polar bears because their depth perception is rather poor. For example, Adrian Forsyth a researcher from Mammals of North America explains, "One polar bear was seen pretending to be an ice chuck while he stalked an adult ringed seal in open water. First observed about 230 feet from a seal resting on ice, the bear began swimming strongly toward it. Whenever the seal went underwater, the bear immediately stopped swimming and floated motionless; when the seal surfaced, the bear resumed its swim, gradually closing the distance between them. Finally, the seal surfaced right beside the bear, apparently mistaking it for floating ice. The bear killed it with a sudden lunge and a single bite." The polar bear's heavy coat is a very important adaptation used in body temperature regulation. The colour of polar bear's fur changes annually; during the winter, after the summer moult, polar bear's fur appears pure white, whereas, during the summer its fur seems to have a yellow tint to it. The moulting process allows polar bears to shed their winter coat and aids in keeping them cool during the warmer summer months. The polar bear's pure white coat creates a camouflage effect and serves as an important mechanism during hunting. In addition, the polar bear's fur coat acts as a heater or solar collector as the hollow hairs trap in warm insulating air from the sun (Forsyth, 190). Interestingly, the skin underneath the polar bear's coat is black (Geist and Kleiman, 304). Because dark colours absorb heat, this adaptation provides additional warmth when the sun is shining. Polar bears are able to obtain extra warmth from their diet; the high fat content that polar bears consume during meal time serves as insulation during the cold winter months. Diets high in fat are an essential part of polar bears survival. Without the extra fat from their diet, they would not be able to fast and function without food for long periods of time. The fatty meat that polar bears consume gives them extra food when the food supply is low or weather conditions are harsh. With the exception of the polar bear's black nose and foot pads, it is entirely covered with fur. Being fully clothed provides the polar bear with additional warmth during the winter. As mentioned before, polar bears have mammary glands which produce milk for their newborn cubs. The milk secreted by the mammary glands contains nearly 31 percent fat (Macdonald, 92). The high fat concentrated milk helps regulate the baby cub's body temperature and ensures rapid growth and development. In addition to the adaptations used in temperature regulation, the polar bear also has a keen sense of smell and very good eyes sight; both very important features when hunting in the arctic habitat. Often times, polar bears use their vivid sense of smell to locate their next victim. The polar bear appears to be slightly bow-legged and pigeon-toed. These adaptations allow the polar bear to travel at high speeds and stop abruptly without slipping on the slippery ice. The soles of the feet are haired and give the polar bear more traction when running and making sudden movements on the ice.

Highlight any useful information

This source is from an .edu site and is

therefore credible

http://bioweb.uwlax.edu/bio203/s2007/kolinski_alis/adaptation.htm

http://bioweb.uwlax.edu/bio203/s2007/kolinski_alis/nutrition.htm

http://bioweb.uwlax.edu/bio203/s2007/kolinski_alis/classification.htm

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Use the space below to re-write the information you have highlighted on the previous page so

that it is your own words and can be used to complete the task.

This is an example using the information collected on the Polar Bear The features which Polar bears have which help them to survive:

strong curved claws to help them tear up their food

webbed feet to help them swim easily, so that they don’t get too tired when they are swimming

a water resistant coat so that they can swim and not get wet

a thick coat helps them to stay warm, as it is very cold where they live. This coat covers all of their body except their nose and the pads on their feet.

a white coat which helps them to blend in with the environment

black skin under their coat and hollow hairs to absorb heat and keep them warm

a good sense of smell and good eyesight to help them find their food

hair on the soles of their feet to help them grip the ice when they are running or need to move quickly on the ice.

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Step 2: The Research Journal

Date: Source




there are pictures that I can use. Other:



PASTE A COPY

OF YOUR

INFORMATION HERE

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Use the space below to re-write the information you have highlighted on the

previous page so that it is your own words and can be used to complete the task.

Write notes to be used

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Date: Source







PASTE A COPY

OF YOUR

INFORMATION HERE

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Date: Source







PASTE A COPY

OF YOUR

INFORMATION HERE

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Date: Source







PASTE A COPY

OF YOUR

INFORMATION HERE

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Step 3 Complete the table and provide a detailed reference list naming the sources used.

If you want more information or help, see your teacher or a

librarian or refer to the material provided in class.

RE

FE

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Author Date

of Publication

(if available)

Title of work Location of Publisher: Publisher

Step 4

Complete your PowerPoint Presentation

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Step 5 Assess your performance in completing the research for this task by highlighting the appropriate areas on your assessment criteria.

SE

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Through the completion of this assessment task, you have demonstrated the ability to

E D C B A

ELEMENTARY

ACHIEVEMENT

BASIC

ACHIEVEMENT

SOUND

ACHIEVEMENT

HIGH

ACHIEVEMENT

EXCELLENT

ACHIEVEMENT name a selected vertebrate and

identify some of its structural

features with assistance

name a selected vertebrate and

identify some of its structural

features

outline which structural features of

a named vertebrate help it to

survive

describe how some structural

features of a named vertebrate

enable it to survive

describe the environment of a

named vertebrate and explain how

its structural features enable it to

survive in this particular

environment

produce a PowerPoint presentation

that includes 6 slides to

communicate some information

with assistance


that includes 6 slides some of which

are clear, a picture and at least one

other PowerPoint technique to

communicate some information


that includes 6 clear slides which

use some of the following: varied

colour, layout, font size and

pictures to communicate relevant

information


that includes 6 logically sequenced,

clear slides which use most of the

following: varied colour, layout,

font size and pictures to effectively

communicate all relevant

information


that includes 6 logically sequenced,

clear slides which use varied

colour, layout, font size and

pictures to effectively communicate

all relevant information and its

importance

► record a source of information ► locate two sources of

information and select some of

this material for use in

completing the task.

► locate three sources of

information, record the research

undertaken using dated entries

and select some of this material

for use in completing the task.

► locate three credible sources of

information, record the research

undertaken using dated entries,

select some of this material for

use in completing the task and

complete an evaluation of the

process.

► locate more than three

credible sources of information,

record the research undertaken

using dated entries, select some of

this material for use in

completing the task and complete

a detailed evaluation of the

process.

Locate some information with

assistance

Locate some information relevant

to the topic, record some of the

sources of this information and

provide copies in your Research

Journal.

Locate some information relevant

to the topic, one from a credible

source, and provide copies in your

Research Journal.

Locate relevant information from

some credible sources, and

provide copies in your Research

Journal.

Locate relevant information from

a variety of credible sources

record the sources of this

information and provide copies in

your Research Journal.

Select some information for use

in the task and clearly indicate this

selection by underlining or

highlighting it.

Select some appropriate

information for use in the task and

clearly indicate this selection by

underlining or highlighting it.

Select the most appropriate

material for use in completing the

task and clearly indicate this

selection by underlining or

highlighting it. Make a comment

on the reasons some of this

material has been selected.

Select the most appropriate

material for the purposes of

completing the task and clearly

indicate this selection by

underlining or highlighting it.

Comment on the reasons this

material has been selected.

Provide a reference list showing

more than one source.

Provide a reference list showing

most sources.

Provide a reference list clearly

showing most sources as indicated

in the attached material.

Provide a detailed reference list

clearly showing all sources as

indicated in the attached material

in the correct format.

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Step 6 P

AR

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T

CO

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I confirm that I have seen my child’s completed research task and journal:

……………………………………………………….. ……………………………..

Parent/Guardian’s signature Date

Step 7

CH

EC

KL

IST

I have Yes/No written my name and my teacher’s name on the front cover and signed the student

confirmation

read the ‘Research Task Instructions’

completed the ‘Key words Search Terms’ record (Step 1)

made regular, dated entries

included all notes, web sites, images, etc collected during my research

dated when the information was collected and its source

highlighted material selected to use in my task

ticked the boxes giving the reasons for the use of each of these chosen pieces of

material?

completed a detailed reference list naming the sources used?

self-assessed my performance in this task on the ‘Assessment Criteria’ sheet?

shown my finished task and journal to my parents and they have signed above?

attached a one page printed handout of my completed PowerPoint Presentation task

to this journal?

saved an electronic copy of my PowerPoint on a USB drive with my name in the file

name?

If you have answered ‘yes’ to each of these questions then you are

ready to submit your task.

Documents

Research Assessment Task for Stage 4: Year 7 … harsh conditions of the high altitudes, force polar bears to adapt to the their environment. Many of the adaptations seen in polar