Northbridge International School - Cambodia

Assessment Task Sheet

Name: Resistance of wire investigation
Due date: Oct. 14, 2014
Subject & Grade: Grade 9 Science
Unit Question: What are our energy needs?
AOI: Health and Safety
Approaches To Learning Skills Used: Thinking, Social, Communication



Your Task: To reduce resistance can dramatically reduce the amount of wasted energy (heat).
This is particularly important when transferring electricity from a power station across the
long distances to a population centre (town or city).

With this in mind investigate one factor which affects the resistance of a wire.

Details & Conditions:
Lesson 1 Plan your investigation
Lesson 2 Carry out your investigation and collect data
Lesson 3 Analyse your data using a graph
Lesson 4 Draw conclusions from your findings and evaluate the investigation


You will be assessed on the following MYP criteria:
Criterion D: Scientific Enquiry
Criterion E: Processing Data
Criterion F: Attitudes in Science


Northbridge International School - Cambodia
Criterion D Scientific Enquiry
Student Teacher Published Descriptors

5 6

5 6
The student:
states a clear focused problem or research question, formulates a testable
hypothesis and explains the hypothesis using scientific reasoning
selects appropriate materials and equipment and writes a clear, logical method,
mentioning all of the relevant variables involved and how to control and
manipulate them, and describing how the data will be collected and processed
comments on the validity of the hypothesis based on the outcome of the
investigation
evaluates the method, commenting on its reliability and validity
suggests realistic improvements to the method and makes suggestions for further
inquiry when relevant

3 4

3 4
The student:
states a focused problem or research question and makes a hypothesis but does
not explain it using scientific reasoning
selects appropriate materials and equipment and writes a mostly complete
method, mentioning some of the variables involved and how to manipulate them
comments on the validity of the hypothesis based on the outcome of the
investigation
partially evaluates the method
suggests some improvements to the method or makes suggestions for further
inquiry when relevant

1 2

1 2
The student:
attempts to state a focused problem or research question
Attempts but does not complete the method
attempts to evaluate the method and respond to the focused problem or research
question
Task-specific indicators:

Gives a clear AIM and provides a HYPOTHESIS with a clear scientific explanation
Produces a DIAGRAM with a clear numbered METHOD including how to control, change and measure all the VARIABLES
CONCLUSION evaluates the HYPOTHESIS
EVALUATION refers to reliability of measurements made and validity of method
States sensible improvements to the method AND suitable further inquiry ideas
Student prediction:




Teacher comments:




Student reflections:





Northbridge International School - Cambodia
Criterion E Data Processing
Teacher Published
Descriptors
Published Descriptors

5 6

5 6
The student:
collects sufficient relevant data and records it in a suitable format
organizes, transforms and presents data in numerical and/or visual forms logically
and correctly
describes a trend, pattern or relationship in the data and comments on the
reliability of the data
draws a clear conclusion based on the correct interpretation of the data and
explains it using scientific reasoning

3 4

3 4
The student:
collects sufficient relevant data and records it in a suitable format
organizes, transforms and presents data in numerical and/or visual forms, with a
few errors or omissions.
states a trend, pattern or relationship shown in the data
draws a conclusion consistent with the interpretation of the data

1 2

1 2
The student:
collects some data and attempts to record it in a suitable format
organizes and presents data using simple numerical or visual forms
attempts to identify a trend, pattern or relationship in the data
attempt to draw a conclusion but this is not consistent with the interpretation of
the data
Task-specific indicators:
Collects required data and places it in a clearly headed RAW DATA TABLE
Calculates averages and makes further required calculations (without errors and clearly showing workings) and places solutions
into a clearly headed PROCESSED DATA TABLE and a well labelled GRAPH
Describes trends (relating them to a line of best-fit if suitable) from the GRAPH and identifies anomalies and comments on
reliability
States a clear CONCLUSION and provides a scientific explanation
Student prediction:




Teacher comments:




Student reflections:





Northbridge International School - Cambodia
Criterion F Attitudes in Science
Student Teacher Published Descriptors

5 6

5 6
The student:
requires no guidance to work safely and uses material and equipment competently
works responsibly with regards to the living and non-living environment.
when working as part of a group, the student cooperates with others


3 4


3 4
The student:
requires little guidance to work safely and little assistance when using material
and equipment
works responsibly with regards to the living and non-living environment
when working as part of a group the student cooperates with others on most
occasions

1 2

1 2
The student:
requires some guidance to work safely and some assistance when using material
and equipment
requires some guidance to work responsibly with regards to the living and non-living
environment
when working as part of a group, the student needs frequent reminders to
cooperate with others
Task-specific
The student acts independently and competently
The students work space does not impact others
The student works successfully with others by putting in equal effort and consideration
Student predictions:



Teacher comments:



Student Reflections:




Northbridge International School - Cambodia
Expected timeline Lesson 1 Plan Your Experiment
- Identify factors which affect a collision
- Choose one as your IV
- Choose your DV
- Choose your Controlled Variables
- Write your hypothesis. Explain and justify your hypothesis (Additional HW
Task)
- Make a list of materials
- Draw a diagram/photo of what you will do
- Write a procedure which describes:
1. how to take the measurements for the IV
2. how to take the measurements for the DV
3. how to control the controlled variables

- Make a Raw Data Table where you will record your data for each trial. Be sure
to include the IV and repeated trails of the DV.
Make sure all the columns have clear headings and include the relevant units.

Lesson 2 Data Collection
- Follow your procedure but modify it if necessary.
- Record your data in your table.
-Collect observations which may later help your evaluation

Note - You may ask for assistance but criterion F states that to achieve a level
5/6 the student requires no guidance and can use equipment competently

Lesson 3 Data Analysis
- Do any further calculations with your data (for instance taking averages)
- If required make a Processed Data Table
- Make a graph with your IV on the x-axis and your DV on the y-axis.
- Identify any trends from the graph
- Does the gradient of the graph tell you anything important?
- Can you write the equation for the line? Is this equation useful?
- Can you make any other relevant graphs or calculations?
- Comment on the reliability of the data collected

Lesson 4 Conclusion and Evaluation
CONCLUSION
- What does your IV-DV graph tell you? -
- Explain your results in detail. Include scientific theories, laws, equations,
concepts and other relevant information.
- Restate your hypothesis
- Does your data/graph support your hypothesis? Show with DATA.

EVALUATION
- Evaluate your results. Are they valid? (Do you think your results are reliable
and why?)
- Is your data Reliable? PRECISE? (Are your repeated measurements similar?
How can you show this?)
- Evaluate your procedure. Is it valid? Does it have limitations? How can it be
improved? (Was your procedure good enough to produce results that you can
trust? Why/why not?)
- What errors occurred? How did they affect your experiment? How can the
experiment be improved to reduce or eliminate each error?
- Based on your experience in this experiment, what experiment would you do
next? or how would you expand this experiment?