Performance Assessment 

(teacher directions)
Objective: Create your own environment connecting all 4 of the spheres (atmosphere, geosphere,
hydrosphere/cryosphere, biosphere).

Standards:
ESS1.C: The History of Planet Earth

ESS2.A: Earth Materials and Systems 

 ESS2.E: Biogeology 

ESS2.B: Plate Tectonics and Large-Scale System Interactions

Description: Students will utilize the knowledge learned from the week and design a 3D model
representing various interactions between the 4 spheres of Earth. The students will work in class to
complete this assignment and will work individually unless otherwise discussed with the teacher. Given
the materials provided by the teacher, the students will take what they learned from class and visually and
orally demonstrate their understanding.

Teacher Role: 
 The teacher will need the instructions/directions on the handout to the class and explain what
he /she did to create the example.
 The teacher will need to present the rubric to the class and review the components for each level
of scoring.
 The teacher will need to present an example of their final product to the student to show them
what is expected of them.
 The teacher will answer necessary questions, provide materials, provide a class period of work
time, and be available for one-on-one time as needed.
 The teacher will then grade the 3D models based on the rubric as the students present.

Student Directions: 
 Think back to each of the spheres we learned about and use that information to create your own
environment that includes all 4 of the spheres.
 You will be creating a 3D model of an environment demonstrating all the spheres we talked
about.
 When creating your environment think of what is around you and what you would see.
 You should be creating an environment that involves what we already have learned. If we have
not talked about something and you have another idea please ask the teacher first.
 Before you create your environment, first think of the 4 spheres we learned about.
 Next, think about the components that you could see in each one.
 Then, make a connection between the spheres and how they interact.
 Before you begin, make a list of the materials that you could use.
 Finally, gather your materials and begin to construct a 3D model.
 At the conclusion of class, we will be sharing our projects with one another.

Resources to provide:
 Shoebox
 Glue sticks
 Scissors
 Construction paper
  Cardboard
 Clay
 Sand
 Tissue Paper
 Dirt
 Cotton Balls
 Rocks
 Moss
 Plastic animals/trees
 Markers, Crayons, Colored pencils

Scoring procedure: See the attached rubric

Create your own environment!

Directions:
 Think back to each of the spheres we learned about and use that information to create your own
environment that includes all 4 of the spheres.
 You will be creating a 3D model of an environment demonstrating all the spheres we talked
about.
 When creating your environment think of what is around you and what you would see.
 You should be creating an environment that involves what we already have learned. If we have
not talked about something and you have another idea please ask the teacher first.
 Before you create your environment, first think of the 4 spheres we learned about.
 Next, think about the components that you could see in each one.
 Then, make a connection between the spheres and how they interact.
 Before you begin, make a list of the materials that you could use.
 Finally, gather your materials and begin to construct a 3D model.
 At the conclusion of class, we will be sharing our projects with one another.

Rubric: (teacher will discuss)

Making 3D Environment Rubric

Content The student The student The student The student includes 0-1
includes all 4 includes 3 earth includes 2 earth earth systems in their
earth systems in systems in their systems in their project,  demonstrating
their project, project, project, no understanding of the
demonstrating a demonstrating demonstrating earth systems and their
complete somewhat of an little relation to one another.
 understanding of understanding of understanding of
the earth systems the earth systems the earth systems
and their relation and their relation and their relation
to one another. to one another. to one another.

Use of The student The student The student The student utilizes 0-1 
Materials utilizes 5 or more utilizes 4 different utilizes 2-3 materials in their model
different materials materials in their different materials that contain little variety
in their model that model that contain in their model that of textures, shapes, or
contain a variety some variety of contain some sizes, and shows no
of textures, textures, shapes, variety of textures, quality in effort in
shapes, and or sizes, and shapes, or sizes, materials chosen and no
sizes, and that shows some and shows some creativity
shows quality and quality in effort in quality in effort in
effort in materials materials chosen materials chosen
chosen and and some and little creativity 
creativity. creativity 

3D Model The student The student The student The student includes 3-
includes 3- includes 3- includes 3- dimensional
dimensional dimensional dimensional representations of 0-1
representations of representations of representations of earth systems in their
all 4 earth 3 earth systems in 2 earth systems in model.
systems in their their mode.l  their model.
model.

Presentation The student The students The student The student does not
explains all the explain all the struggles to explain/describe how the
parts of the model parts of the model explain the parts spheres are connected
and describes the but do not of the model and and do not describe the
materials used describe the does not describe material used and why.
and why. materials used the materials used
and why. and why.

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