Assessment Plan
Throughout this learning experience, students are evaluated using informal assessments (oral question and answer, exit visas). The final objective (determining the area of a triangle and developing a formula) is assessed formally through the students' written response on the Area Assessment Questions worksheet. The instruction is heavily guided by the teacher and each component of the mini-unit is scaffolded to prepare the students for each successive skill, however the assessment is completed independently. The classroom environment, while highly structured, allows for hands-on learning and discussion among peers; the result is an absence of threat and a sense of teamwork within the classroom.
The Procedures section lists many examples of the teacher modeling directions to keep the students on task and includes a description of the exit visas. Students do not receive a model of the written assessment. The exemplar exists to aid the teacher in scoring student work. The directions in the Area Assessment correlate directly to the attributes described in the Area Rubric. After the teacher scores the student work, the teacher conferences with each student, at which point the link between assessment and rubric is made. Students see and identify strengths and needs in their thinking and written work.
Area Assessment Questions
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Directions:
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Check when completed
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1. On your grid paper, draw a rectangle with a length of 11 unitsand a width of 8 units.
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1. _______________
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2. Then, draw a diagonal line across your rectangle, so it is divided
into two equal triangles (use a ruler to help draw the line neatly).
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2. _______________
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3. What is the area of the rectangle? (i.e. How many square units
does the rectangle cover?) Show all work on your grid paper.
Explain, using words and/or numbers how you answered the question.
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3. _______________
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4. What is the area of one of the triangles? (i.e. How many square units
does the triangle cover?) Show all work on your grid paper.
Explain, using words and/or numbers how you answered the question.
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4. _______________
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Exemplar Verbal Responses (typed for ease of reading):
"There are 11 rows of squares with 8 squares in each row. So the rectangle covers 88 squares on the grid. I counted all of them to check my math."
"It's hard to count how many squares the triangle covers because they're not all whole squares. I counted 37 whole squares with some partial squares left over. Since the two equal triangles cover the same space as the rectangle, one triangle must cover half the space the rectangle does. 44 square units is close to 37, so I think my answer is right."
Area Rubric
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4
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3
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2
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1
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Visual Accuracy
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draws a rectangle that matches the specified measurements AND labels the length and width on the diagram
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draws a rectangle that matches the specified measurements
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draws a rectangle where its length OR width is inconsistent with the specified measurements
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draws a rectangle where its length AND width are inconsistent with the specified measurements
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Mathematical Accuracy
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correctly identifies the areas for both
shapes shown, including an accurate label
("square units")
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finds the correct areas
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correctly identifies the area for one shape shown
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unable to correctly identify the area for any shape shown
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Written Communication
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provides an explanation (using numbers or words) of how he/she found the areas in a way that the reader immediately understands
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provides an explanation (using numbers or words) of how he/she found the areas in a way that the reader understands after rereading
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provides an explanation that, due to sloppy writing or unclear language, is confusing to the reader
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provides an explanation that
fails to show the student's basic understanding of how to find area
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Blank Grid Paper (for copying)
Complex Shapes for use in Extension
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