The Future is Wild Grading Rubric – Student # ______
Topic / Exceeds Expectations / Meets Expectations / Needs Improvement / UnacceptableBackground Information / The new species has a creative name related to the organism’s origins or characteristics. The original species name, the time period, and the environment assigned are described.
4 / The new species has a creative name. The original species name, the time period, and the environment assigned are listed.
3 / The new species has been given a name that is very similar to the original or unrelated to the organism. One of the original species name, the time period, or the environment assigned is not listed.
2 / The new species name is the same as the original or absent. The original species name, environments assigned, or time period are incomplete or absent.
0 - 1
Visualization of Environment
Visualization of New Species
Counts twice / The pictures of the environment/new species is colored and has been generated by the student showing a high degree of detail aligned with the description provided.
4 / The pictures of the environment/new species is in color and demonstrates an accurate representation based on the description provided.
3 / The pictures accurately represents most of the described environment/new species but some inconsistencies are present.
2 / The pictures are not representative of the described environment/new species, lacks sufficient detail, or is absent.
0 - 1
Adaptations / Three adaptations are described accurately and thoroughly. Detailed explanation of how the adaptation increases the organism’s fitness as well as why the adaptation was necessary is included.
6 / Three adaptations are described accurately. Adequate explanation of how the adaptation increases the organism’s fitness as well as why the adaptation was necessary is included.
4-5 / Three adaptations are described. A partial explanation of how the adaptation increases the organism’s fitness is included.
2-3 / Less than three adaptations are described. Explanation of how the adaptation increases the organism’s fitness is incomplete of missing.
0-1
Diet / A food chain including pictures of the new species and other organisms in the environment. The chain begins with a producer, ends with a top-level consumer, identifies each organism as an autotroph/ heterotroph and a producer/ consumer. More than 4 organisms are present.
5 / A food chain including the new species is shown. The chain begins with a producer, ends with a top-level consumer, identifies each organism as an autotroph/heterotroph and a producer/ consumer. Only 4 organisms present. Missing picture(s)
4 / A food chain including the new species is shown. The chain begins with a producer, ends with a top-level consumer. Organisms are not labeled.Four organisms are present.
2-3 / A food chain including the new species is shown. Organisms are not in the correct positions within the food chain and/or all trophic levels haven’t been represented. Less than 4 organisms.
0-1
Homologous Structure or Vestigial Organ / A well thought out and thorough explanation relates structures in the ancestor species to new species.
4 / A well thought out explanation relates structures in the ancestor species to new species.
3 / An explanation relates structures in the ancestor species to new species but detail is lacking.
2 / A relationship between structures in the ancestor species and the new species in unclear or absent
0-1
Explanation of Variation / The explanation for variation is based on scientific principles and all parts of the topic are thoroughly explained
4 / The explanation for variation is based on scientific principles and knowledge of the related content is evident
3 / The explanation for variation provides evidence of some knowledge of the related content
2 / The explanation for variation inaccurate or missing demonstrating a lack of knowledge of the related content
0-1
Quality of Presentation / The presentation is appealing to the eye, professional in appearance, and the lay-out is well organized
4 / The presentation is appealing to the eye, neatly completed, and the lay-out is fairly easy to follow
3 / The presentation is neatly completed and the lay-out includes required components
2 / The presentation is messy, lacks detail, and is difficult to follow.
0-1
TOTAL (35 points)
The Future is Wild Grading Rubric – Student # ______
Topic / Exceeds Expectations / Meets Expectations / Needs Improvement / UnacceptableBackground Information / The new species has a creative name related to the organism’s origins or characteristics. The original species name, the time period, and the environment assigned are described.
4 / The new species has a creative name. The original species name, the time period, and the environment assigned are listed.
3 / The new species has been given a name that is very similar to the original or unrelated to the organism. One of the original species name, the time period, or the environment assigned is not listed.
2 / The new species name is the same as the original or absent. The original species name, environments assigned, or time period are incomplete or absent.
0 - 1
Visualization of Environment
Visualization of New Species
Counts twice / The pictures of the environment/new species is colored and has been generated by the student showing a high degree of detail aligned with the description provided.
4 / The pictures of the environment/new species is in color and demonstrates an accurate representation based on the description provided.
3 / The pictures accurately represents most of the described environment/new species but some inconsistencies are present.
2 / The pictures are not representative of the described environment/new species, lacks sufficient detail, or is absent.
0 - 1
Adaptations / Three adaptations are described accurately and thoroughly. Detailed explanation of how the adaptation increases the organism’s fitness as well as why the adaptation was necessary is included.
6 / Three adaptations are described accurately. Adequate explanation of how the adaptation increases the organism’s fitness as well as why the adaptation was necessary is included.
4-5 / Three adaptations are described. A partial explanation of how the adaptation increases the organism’s fitness is included.
2-3 / Less than three adaptations are described. Explanation of how the adaptation increases the organism’s fitness is incomplete of missing.
0-1
Diet / A food chain including pictures of the new species and other organisms in the environment. The chain begins with a producer, ends with a top-level consumer, identifies each organism as an autotroph/ heterotroph and a producer/ consumer. More than 4 organisms are present.
5 / A food chain including the new species is shown. The chain begins with a producer, ends with a top-level consumer, identifies each organism as an autotroph/heterotroph and a producer/ consumer. Only 4 organisms present. Missing picture(s)
4 / A food chain including the new species is shown. The chain begins with a producer, ends with a top-level consumer. Organisms are not labeled.Four organisms are present.
2-3 / A food chain including the new species is shown. Organisms are not in the correct positions within the food chain and/or all trophic levels haven’t been represented. Less than 4 organisms.
0-1
Homologous Structure or Vestigial Organ / A well thought out and thorough explanation relates structures in the ancestor species to new species.
4 / A well thought out explanation relates structures in the ancestor species to new species.
3 / An explanation relates structures in the ancestor species to new species but detail is lacking.
2 / A relationship between structures in the ancestor species and the new species in unclear or absent
0-1
Explanation of Variation / The explanation for variation is based on scientific principles and all parts of the topic are thoroughly explained
4 / The explanation for variation is based on scientific principles and knowledge of the related content is evident
3 / The explanation for variation provides evidence of some knowledge of the related content
2 / The explanation for variation inaccurate or missing demonstrating a lack of knowledge of the related content
0-1
Quality of Presentation / The presentation is appealing to the eye, professional in appearance, and the lay-out is well organized
4 / The presentation is appealing to the eye, neatly completed, and the lay-out is fairly easy to follow
3 / The presentation is neatly completed and the lay-out includes required components
2 / The presentation is messy, lacks detail, and is difficult to follow.
0-1
TOTAL (35 points)