| Rubric | |||
| Concept: Life cycle | Concept: Trait inheritance | Concept: Trait variation | |
| Level 1 (Novice) | Mention one stage of the corn life cycle OR Mention that seeds make or grow plants. However, no details are provided OR Make only one connection between plant and animal life cycle OR Only mention the words “life cycle” or “passing traits” | Mention the words “trait,” “characteristics,” or “stuff” OR Make one example of plants characteristics resembling the parent OR Only describe that traits of the species are specific (“corn traits are of corn”) OR Describe that a seed is just a product of a parent plant | Mention the seed looking like the plant they came from (but it is not descriptive) OR Mention one trait from a seed that is specific (examples may include: Pumpkin=Pumpkin and Corn=Corn) OR List one trait that is shared with other plants/animals (grow, making food, start a new life cycle) |
| Level 2 (Intermediate) | Mention two stages of the life cycle of corn OR Make two or more connections between plant and animal life cycles OR Describe seed/germination as first stage of growth. Some details are provided (e.g., different seeds grow into different plants) | Make clear connections between parent plants and a seed/new plant (e.g., mention parent or adult and include making seeds) OR Mention “passing” traits from parents, or that offspring comes from “somewhere” OR Mention parents and offspring resemble each other | List 2 or 3 characteristics or the specific traits OR Mention two ways a seed might be unique OR Describe traits of a plant (but doesn't connect to seeds traits) |
| Level 3 (Advanced) | Mention three stages of the life cycle AND Make three or more connections between plant and animal life cycles OR Describe the role of the seed in reproduction and inheritance | Connect to reproduction and inheritance and include parent/adult plants AND Describe that a seed is “carrier” of traits from a parent plant and/or pass coded info to the next generation OR Mention sexual reproduction or gametes OR Mention plants have male and females structures | List 4 or more characteristics and its traits similarities (different type) AND Describe that traits are “passing of traits from the adult” or “getting traits from an adult” OR Name 3–4 characteristics and specify the differences (it is not listing characteristics only) |
| Rubric | |||
| Concept: Life cycle | Concept: Trait inheritance | Concept: Trait variation | |
| Level 1 (Novice) | Mention one stage of the corn life cycle OR Mention that seeds make or grow plants. However, no details are provided OR Make only one connection between plant and animal life cycle OR Only mention the words “life cycle” or “passing traits” | Mention the words “trait,” “characteristics,” or “stuff” OR Make one example of plants characteristics resembling the parent OR Only describe that traits of the species are specific (“corn traits are of corn”) OR Describe that a seed is just a product of a parent plant | Mention the seed looking like the plant they came from (but it is not descriptive) OR Mention one trait from a seed that is specific (examples may include: Pumpkin=Pumpkin and Corn=Corn) OR List one trait that is shared with other plants/animals (grow, making food, start a new life cycle) |
| Level 2 (Intermediate) | Mention two stages of the life cycle of corn OR Make two or more connections between plant and animal life cycles OR Describe seed/germination as first stage of growth. Some details are provided (e.g., different seeds grow into different plants) | Make clear connections between parent plants and a seed/new plant (e.g., mention parent or adult and include making seeds) OR Mention “passing” traits from parents, or that offspring comes from “somewhere” OR Mention parents and offspring resemble each other | List 2 or 3 characteristics or the specific traits OR Mention two ways a seed might be unique OR Describe traits of a plant (but doesn't connect to seeds traits) |
| Level 3 (Advanced) | Mention three stages of the life cycle AND Make three or more connections between plant and animal life cycles OR Describe the role of the seed in reproduction and inheritance | Connect to reproduction and inheritance and include parent/adult plants AND Describe that a seed is “carrier” of traits from a parent plant and/or pass coded info to the next generation OR Mention sexual reproduction or gametes OR Mention plants have male and females structures | List 4 or more characteristics and its traits similarities (different type) AND Describe that traits are “passing of traits from the adult” or “getting traits from an adult” OR Name 3–4 characteristics and specify the differences (it is not listing characteristics only) |