ED 3604 Evaluation of Student

Learning
Unit Assessment Plan

Subject Area
Grade Level
Topic
Length of Unit
(days)

Science
Grade 7
Structures and Forces
27

Stage 1 Desired Results

Established Goals:
STS-K1 Describe and interpret different types of structures encountered in everyday
objects, buildings, plants and animals; and identify materials from which they are
made.
STS-K2 Investigate and analyze forces within structures, and forces applied to them.
STS-K3 Investigate and analyze the properties of materials used in structures
STS-K4 Demonstrate and describe processes used in developing, evaluating and
improving structures that will meet human needs with a margin of safety.
Understandings:
Students will understand that

Structures that exist in nature

and in the human-made world
are designed in particular ways
using particular materials on
purpose.
There are a variety of forces
that act upon structures
There are many things humans
can do to improve the strength
and stability of structures
We design and evaluate
structures in certain ways in
order to improve their safety for
human use

Essential Questions:
1. Why do we use specific materials in specific
shapes to build structures?
2. What are the forces acting upon structures and
what are their effects?
3. What materials and/or shapes make structures
stronger?
4. How can we design structures to make them safer
for human use?

Students will know

Students will be able to do

K1.1 Recognize and classify

structural forms and materials used in
construction
K1.2 Interpret examples of variation
in the design of structures that share
a common function, and evaluate the
effectiveness of the designs
K1.3 Describe and compare example
structures developed by different
cultures and at different times; and
interpret differences in functions,
materials, and aesthetics

Students will be able to do

S1.1 Identify practical problems
S1.2 Propose alternative solutions to a
practical problem, select one, and develop a
plan
S1.3 Select appropriate methods and tools
for collecting data to solve problems
S1.4 Formulate operational definitions of
major variables and other aspects of their
investigations
Students will be able to do
S1.1 Identify practical problems

EDUC 3604 Unit Assessment Plan Template

ED 3604 Evaluation of Student

Learning
Unit Assessment Plan

Subject Area
Grade Level
Topic
Length of Unit
(days)

Science
Grade 7
Structures and Forces
27

K1.4 Describe and interpret natural

S1.2 Propose alternative solutions to a
structures, including the structures of practical problem, select one, and develop a
living things and structures created by plan
animals
S1.3 Select appropriate methods and tools
K1.5 Identify points of failure and
for collecting data to solve problems
modes of failure in natural and built
S1.4 Formulate operational definitions of
structures
major variables and other aspects of their
K2.1 Recognize and use units of
investigations
force and mass, and identify and
S2.1 Research information relevant to a
measure forces and loads
given problem
K2.2 Identify examples of frictional
S2.2 Organize data, using a format that is
forces and their use in structures
appropriate to the task or experiment
K2.3 Identify tension, compression,
S2.3 Carry out procedures, controlling the
shearing and bending forces within a
major variables
structure; and describe how these
S2.4 Use tools and apparatus safely
forces can cause the structure to fail
S3.1 Compile and display data, by hand or
K2.4 Analyze a design and identify
computer, in a variety of formats, including
properties of materials that are
diagrams, flow charts, tables, bar graphs, line
important to individual parts of the
graphs, and scatterplots
structure
S3.2 Identify and evaluate potential
K2.5 Infer how the stability of a
applications of findings
model structure will be affected by
S3.3 Test the design of constructed device
changes in the distribution of mass
or system
within the structure and by changes in S3.4 Evaluate designs and prototypes in
the design of its foundation
terms of function, reliability, safety,
K3.1 Devise and use methods of
efficiency, use of materials and impact on the
testing the strength and flexibility of
environment
materials used in a structure
S3.5 Identify and correct practical problems
K3.2 Identify points in a structure
in the way a prototype or constructed device
where flexible or fixed joints are
functions
required, and evaluate the
S4.1 Communicate questions, ideas,
appropriateness of different types of
intentions, plans, and results, using lists,
joints for the particular application
notes in point form, sentences, data tables,
K3.3 Compare structural properties
graphs, drawings, oral language and other
of different materials, including
means
natural materials and synthetics
S4.2 Work cooperatively with team
K3.4 Investigate and describe the
members to develop and carry out a plan,
role of different materials found in
and troubleshoot problems as they arise
plant and animal structures
K4.1 Demonstrate and describe
methods to increase the strength of
materials through changes in design
K4.2 Identify environmental factors
that may affect the stability and
safety of a structure, and describe
EDUC 3604 Unit Assessment Plan Template

ED 3604 Evaluation of Student

Learning
Unit Assessment Plan

Subject Area
Grade Level
Topic
Length of Unit
(days)

how these factors are taken into

account
K4.3 Analyze and evaluate a
technological design or process on the
basis of identified criteria, such as
costs, benefits, safety and potential
impact on the environment

EDUC 3604 Unit Assessment Plan Template

Science
Grade 7
Structures and Forces
27

Subject Area
Grade Level
Topic
Length of Unit
(days)

ED 3604 Evaluation of Student

Learning
Unit Assessment Plan

Science
Grade 7
Structures and Forces
27

Assessments
Title

Learning
Outcomes

Unit PreAssessment

Daily PreAssessme
nt

Daily
PostAssessme
nt

Type
(Formative/Sum
mative)

Weighting

Topic 1 - Structures in Human

and Natural Environments
K1.1, K1.2, K1.3, K1.4,
Topic 2 External and
Internal Forces
K1.5, K2.1, K2.2, K2.3, K3.1,
K3.3, K4.1
Topic 3 Structural Strength
and Stability
K3.2, K3.3, K3.4, K4.1, K4.2,
K4.3
Topic 4 Structural Design
and Evaluation
K1.3, K2.4, K3.3, K4.1, K4.2,
K4.3

Summary
Sheets

Labs

Unit Quiz

Final
Project

For Units
1,2,3
Summativ
e

5 labs
Formative

Summativ
e

Summativ
e

0%

30%

35%

Formative

Formative

Formative

0%

0%

0%

3 x 10% =
30%

ED 3604 Evaluation of Student

Learning
Unit Assessment Plan

Subject Area
Grade Level
Topic
Length of Unit
(days)

Science
Grade 7
Structures and Forces
27

ED 3604 Evaluation of Student

Learning
Unit Assessment Plan

Subject Area
Grade Level
Topic
Length of Unit
(days)

Science
Grade 7
Structures and Forces
27

Assessment Tool Overview

Assessment
Tool
Unit Test

Summary
Sheets

Project

Labs

Daily preassessment

Daily PostAssessment

Brief Description
I will give the students a Unit Test at
the end of Topic 2 (covering the first 2
topics). My T.A.s are in the habit of
giving very few quizzes. This will be
the only summative one.
Students will come up with summary
sheets or study guides prior to their
topic quizzes. We will work on these in
small groups but each student will be
responsible for completing their own.
There will be one final project to
culminate the last two topics. This will
be the creation of a new and
innovative chair or desk. Students will
create these from the information that
they have learned from this unit (what
materials to use, environmental
considerations, strength, flexibility,
ability to withstand force, etc.)
Students will be given a rubric from
which to base their project around.
Students will complete 5 labs
throughout this Unit. Students will be
responsible for writing up a reflection
for formative assessment.
Every day we will explore what we are
going to learn that day through
discussion or written questions. This
will guide my daily instruction based
on what the students already know.
The daily pre-assessment is also a
good time to reflect on what we had
learned the day before too.
Every day we will do a quick exit slip
(either written or kinesthetically
(thumbs up, etc.) to see if the
students were able to grasp the
material that we covered that day in
class. If not, it is a good place to start

Assessme
nt FOR
Learning

Assessme
nt AS
Learning

Assessme
nt OF
Learning

ED 3604 Evaluation of Student

Learning
Unit Assessment Plan

Subject Area
Grade Level
Topic
Length of Unit
(days)

Science
Grade 7
Structures and Forces
27

the following day.

Topic Outline Unit D: Structures and Forces

The order of the topics was taken from Science Focus 7
Topic One: External and Internal Forces (K2.1, K2.2, K2.3, K2.4, K2.5)
Measuring Forces
Direction and Location
Newtons
External Forces
Centre of Gravity
Symmetry
Load
Bridge Lab
Internal Forces
Compression
Tension
Sheer
Complimentary Forces
Designing Structures to Resist Forces and Maintain Stability
Strong structural shapes
Structural Components
Structural stress, fatigue, failure
Tallest Tower
Building for stability
Topic Two: Structural strength and stability (K3.1, K3.2, K3.3, K3.4)
Materials and their properties

ED 3604 Evaluation of Student

Learning
Unit Assessment Plan

Subject Area
Grade Level
Topic
Length of Unit
(days)

Science
Grade 7
Structures and Forces
27

Deformation and Flexibility

Material strength and stability
Joining Structural Components
Joints that rely on Friction
Joints that rely on Bonding
Designing joints to last
Properties of Materials in Plant and Animal Structures
Materials in human structure
Materials in plants
Career possibilities

Topic Three: Structures are designed, evaluated and improved in order to meet human needs (K4.1, K4.2, K4.3)
Building safe structures
Margin of safety
Accounting of Environmental factors
Terrain risk
Earthquakes
Wind
Rain
Strengthening Materials to Improve Function and Safety
Altering material for strength
Corrugation
Lamination
Strengthening Component Arrangements
New Materials
Career Profile
Evaluating Designs from and Overall Perspectives
Case study in improving designs
Case study in preserve or replace