Subject Area Science

ED 3604 Evaluation of Student Grade Level Grade 7

Learning Topic Unit A: Interactions and
Unit Assessment Plan Ecosystems
Cassidy Shostak Length of Unit 2 months (approx. 35 school
(days) days)

Stage 1 Student Learning

General Learning Outcomes:
1. Investigate and describe relationships between humans and their environments,
and identify related issues and scientific questions.
2. Trace and interpret the flow of energy and materials within an ecosystem.
3. Monitor a local environment, and assess the impacts of environment, and assess
the impacts of environmental factors on the growth, health and reproduction of
organisms in that environment.
4. Describe the relationships among knowledge, decisions and actions in maintaining
life-supporting environments.
Skills Outcomes
Ask questions about the relationships between and among observable variables,
and plan investigations to address those questions.
Conduct investigations into the relationships between and among observations,
and gather and record qualitative and quantitative data.
Analyze qualitative and quantitative data, and develop and assess possible
explanations
Work collaboratively on problems; and use appropriate language and formats to
communicate ideas, procedures and results.
Enduring Understandings: Essential Questions:
Students will understand that How do ecosystems maintain
That ecosystems remained balance by natural processes?
balanced by natural processes; How does human activities affect
however, this maintained balanced ecosystems and the environment?
is affected by human actions. What monitoring and research
Human actions may have positive methods can we use to observe
and negative affects on the changes in the ecosystem?
environment. What can human make personal
Using a variety of monitoring and and public decisions to further help
researching skills can solve preserve and enhance the
environmental issues and help environment?
make responsible decisions.
Specific Outcomes: Skills Outcomes:
Students will Students will
(1.2) Describe examples of interactions Identify questions to investigate
and interdependency within an arising from practical problems and
ecosystems issues
(1.3) Identify examples of human State a prediction and a hypothesis
impacts on ecosystems, and based on background information or
investigate and analyze the link an observed pattern of events
between these impacts and the human Select appropriate methods and tools
wants and needs that give rise to them for collecting data and information

EDUC 3604 Unit Assessment Plan Template

 Subject Area Science
ED 3604 Evaluation of Student Grade Level Grade 7
Learning Topic Unit A: Interactions and
Unit Assessment Plan Ecosystems
Cassidy Shostak Length of Unit 2 months (approx. 35 school
(days) days)

(1.4) Analyze personal and public Research relevant information to a

decisions that involve consideration of given problem or issue
environmental impacts, and identify Select and integrate information from
needs for scientific knowledge that can various print and electronic sources or
inform these decisions from several parts of the same source
(2.1) Analyze an ecosystem to identify Identify strengths and weaknesses of
biotic and abiotic components, and different methods of collecting and
describe interactions among these displaying data
components Compile and display data, by hand or
(2.2) Analyze ecosystems to identify computer, in a variety of formats,
procedures, consumers and including diagrams, flow charts,
decomposers; and describe how tables, bar graphs and line graphs
energy is supplied to and flows through Communicate questions, ideas,
a food web by: intentions plans, and results, using
o (2.2.1) Describing and giving lists, notes in point form, sentences,
examples of energy and nutrient data tables, graphs, drawings, oral
storage in plants and animals language and other means
o (2.2.2) Describing how matter is Evaluate individual and group
recycled in an ecosystem through processes used in planning, problem
interaction among plants, animals, solving, decision making and
fungi, bacteria and other completing a task
microorganisms Defend a given position on an issue,
o (2.2.3) Interpreting food webs, and based on their findings.
predicting the effects od changes to
any part of a web
(2.3) Describe the process of cycling
carbon and water through an
ecosystem
(2.4) Identify mechanisms by which
pollutants enter and move through the
environment, and can become
concentrated in some organisms
(3.1) Investigate a variety of habitats,
and describe and interpret distribution
patterns of living things found in those
habitats
(3.2) Investigate and interpret
evidence of interaction and change
(4.1) Identify and intended and
unintended consequences of human
activities with local and global
environments

EDUC 3604 Unit Assessment Plan Template

 Subject Area Science
ED 3604 Evaluation of Student Grade Level Grade 7
Learning Topic Unit A: Interactions and
Unit Assessment Plan Ecosystems
Cassidy Shostak Length of Unit 2 months (approx. 35 school
(days) days)

(4.4) Analyze a local environmental

issues or problem based on evidence
from a variety of sources, and identify
possible actions and consequences
Stage 2 Assessment Evidence
Summative Performance Tasks, Projects, and Assignments
Students will be asked to do a final performance task project regarding current
environmental issue and the humans affect on the issue (for example, declining bee
population, plastic island, climate change, etc.). The students will also be asked to
complete two lab assignments for summative assessment during the unit as well.
These lab assignments will both simulate decomposer and environmental issues and
ways to monitor environmental changes.
Summative Quizzes and Tests
Two quizzes and one concept test will be given for summative assessment. One quiz
will be distributed before the concept test and the other before the performance task.
Homework checks will also be worth summative marks to ensure that students are
keeping up with their work and also understanding the material. Homework will not
be marked in participation rather than having the right answer, it will be collected for
formative assessment.
Formative Assessments Student Self-Assessment
Homework will be collected throughout Students will be given a checklist of
the unit to ensure and track students important vocabulary terms and
progress and understanding. Students will concepts for students to view what they
also be given a background knowledge understand and need further clarification
quiz for pre-assessment. Students will be on.
given a formative research assignment to
show their abilities to research a specific
topic. As well, direct student observation,
conversation, and class discussion (with
checklist) will also be used for formative
assessment. I also will be using exit slips
throughout the unit to assess new
concepts, vocabulary terms, and
students questions.

Assessment
Learning Title Pre- Teacher Student Homewo Exit Researc Lab Lab Quiz #1
Assessm Checklis Checklis rk Slips h Assignm Assignm
Outcome
ent t t Assignm ent #1 ent #2
s Carousel ent
Activity
Type F F F/Self F/S F F S S S/F
(Formative/ -
Summative)
asses
s
EDUC 3604 Unit Assessment Plan Template
 Subject Area Science
ED 3604 Evaluation of Student Grade Level Grade 7
Learning Topic Unit A: Interactions and
Unit Assessment Plan Ecosystems
Cassidy Shostak Length of Unit 2 months (approx. 35 school
(days) days)

Weighting / / / 5% / / 15% 15% 10%

(1.2) Describe examples of
interactions and
interdependency within an
ecosystems
(1.3) Identify examples of
human impacts on
ecosystems, and
investigate and analyze
the link between these
impacts and the human
wants and needs that give
rise to them
(1.4) Analyze personal and
public decisions that
involve consideration of
environmental impacts,
and identify needs for
scientific knowledge that
can inform these decisions
(2.1) Analyze an
ecosystem to identify
biotic and abiotic
components, and describe
interactions among these
components
(2.2) Analyze ecosystems
to identify procedures,
consumers and
decomposers; and
describe how energy is
supplied to and flows
through a food web by:
(2.2.1, 2.2.2, 2.23)
(2.3) Describe the process
of cycling carbon and
water through an
ecosystem
(2.4) Identify mechanisms
by which pollutants enter
and move through the
environment, and can
become concentrated in
some organisms
(3.1) Investigate a variety
of habitats, and describe
and interpret distribution
patterns of living things
found in those habitats
(3.2) Investigate and
interpret evidence of
interaction and change
EDUC 3604 Unit Assessment Plan Template
 Subject Area Science
ED 3604 Evaluation of Student Grade Level Grade 7
Learning Topic Unit A: Interactions and
Unit Assessment Plan Ecosystems
Cassidy Shostak Length of Unit 2 months (approx. 35 school
(days) days)

(4.1) Identify and intended

and unintended
consequences of human
activities with local and
global environments
(4.4) Analyze a local
environmental issues or
problem based on
evidence from a variety of
sources, and identify
possible actions and
consequences
Identify questions to
investigate arising from
practical problems and
issues
State a prediction and a
hypothesis based on
background information or
an observed pattern of
events
Select appropriate
methods and tools for
collecting data and
information
Research relevant
information to a given
problem or issue
Select and integrate
information from various
print and electronic
sources or from several
parts of the same source
Identify strengths and
weaknesses of different
methods of collecting and
displaying data
Communicate questions,
ideas, intentions plans,
and results, using lists,
notes in point form,
sentences, data tables,
graphs, drawings, oral
language and other means
Defend a given position on
an issue, based on their
findings.

EDUC 3604 Unit Assessment Plan Template

 Subject Area Science
ED 3604 Evaluation of Student Grade Level Grade 7
Learning Topic Unit A: Interactions and
Unit Assessment Plan Ecosystems
Cassidy Shostak Length of Unit 2 months (approx. 35 school
(days) days)

Communicate questions,
ideas, intentions plans,
and results, using lists,
notes in point form,
sentences, data tables,
graphs, drawings, oral
language and other means

Assessment Tool Overview

Assessm
Assessm Assessm
Assessment ent AS
Assessment Tool Description ent FOR
Learnin
ent OF
Tool Title Learning Learning
g
Students will be given a checklist of
key concepts, definitions, and tasks
that will be introduced and taught
throughout the unit. The checklist
gives students the opportunity to
self-assess their own understanding
and learning throughout the unit.
Student
This is intended for students to be
Process
able to take responsibility of their
Checklist
learning. The checklist will be used if
there is an item that the student is
struggling with they can then review
the item or ask a peer and/or
teacher. This also shows students
what is expected of them
throughout the unit.
Homework questions, news articles,
research prompts will be assigned
Homework throughout the unit. Homework will
be checked for formative
assessment and completion.
Pre- For pre-assessment chart papers
assessment containing statements in regard to
Carousel the unit are posted around the
Activity classroom Groups of students
brainstorm at one station and then
rotate to the next position where
they add additional comments or
questions. When the carousel
stops the original team prepares a
summary and then presents the
large groups findings. The results of

EDUC 3604 Unit Assessment Plan Template

 Subject Area Science
ED 3604 Evaluation of Student Grade Level Grade 7
Learning Topic Unit A: Interactions and
Unit Assessment Plan Ecosystems
Cassidy Shostak Length of Unit 2 months (approx. 35 school
(days) days)

Assessment Tool Overview

Assessm
Assessm Assessm
Assessment ent AS
Assessment Tool Description ent FOR ent OF
Tool Title Learning
Learnin
Learning
g
the activities will be used to help
gauge the understanding of the
students and the concepts that may
be more unfamiliar.
The teacher will use a checklist to
help track and monitor observations
of students understanding though
conversations, discussions, and work
Teacher
of important concepts and key ideas
Checklist
from the unit for formative
assessment. This will help drive
instruction to develop activities to
enhance students understandings.
Students will be participating in a
variety of exits slips (physical exit
slips, online polls, forums, questions,
Exit Slips etc.) throughout the unit assessing
students understanding on key
concepts taught for formative
assessment.
Students will be assigned a guided
research assignment in regard to an
environmental problem that they
would have to use different
Research
resources to complete. Students will
Assignment
be asked to use the Internet,
provided environmental books, and
other resources like journal articles
and magazines.
This lab activity will be designed to
Lab simulate how matter is recycled in
Assignment an ecosystem and then draw out
#1 how they interpret the food web
with a valid explanation.

EDUC 3604 Unit Assessment Plan Template

 Subject Area Science
ED 3604 Evaluation of Student Grade Level Grade 7
Learning Topic Unit A: Interactions and
Unit Assessment Plan Ecosystems
Cassidy Shostak Length of Unit 2 months (approx. 35 school
(days) days)

Assessment Tool Overview

Assessm
Assessm Assessm
Assessment ent AS
Assessment Tool Description ent FOR ent OF
Tool Title Learning
Learnin
Learning
g
This lab and worksheet is designed
to simulate oil spills in a natural
body of water. The student will make
predictions about how this oil will
Lab
affect the marine life and the best
Assignment
way to clean up the oil spill.
#2
Students will then try and clean up
the oil spill. Students will then
answer the prompts on the
worksheet.
This will be a short quiz to
summatively assess students
knowledge on interaction and
interdependency in an ecosystem
and the biotic and abiotic
components in an ecosystem. This
Quiz #1
quiz will consist of multiple choice,
fill-in-the-blanks, matching, and
short answer. This quiz will then be
graded to determine 10% of the
students unit grade and guide
further instruction.
This is will be short quiz to
summatively assess student
understanding of environmental
issue discussed and researched in
class as class case studies. The quiz
questions will consist of items that
assess the students knowledge on
the environmental issue, humans,
Quiz #2
impact on the environment, and
potential actions that can be taken.
The quiz will consist of multiple
choice, fill-in-the-blanks, matching,
and short answer. This quiz will then
be graded to determine 10% of the
students unit grade and guide
further instruction.

EDUC 3604 Unit Assessment Plan Template

 Subject Area Science
ED 3604 Evaluation of Student Grade Level Grade 7
Learning Topic Unit A: Interactions and
Unit Assessment Plan Ecosystems
Cassidy Shostak Length of Unit 2 months (approx. 35 school
(days) days)

Assessment Tool Overview

Assessm
Assessm Assessm
Assessment ent AS
Assessment Tool Description ent FOR ent OF
Tool Title Learning
Learnin
Learning
g
This will be a test to summatively
assess students on the
approximately the first half of the
unit. This test will be assessing SLO
1.2, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, and 3.1. The
Concept Test test will consist of multiple choice,
fill-in-the-blanks, matching, short
answers, and a long answer
component. This test will be graded
to determine 15% of the students
unit grade.
The final performance task will be
introduced at the beginning of the
concept of environmental issues in
this unit. Students will be asked to
work in pairs or in small groups and
they must choose and research an
environmental issue. The students
Final
will research the environmental
Performance
issues, humans impact on the issue,
Task Project
and possible public decisions to
better this issue from a variety of
sources. Students will then present
their information in a way most
suited to them. Possible ideas
include: poster, flyer, brochure,
presentation, movie, podcast, etc.

RATIONALE

EDUC 3604 Unit Assessment Plan Template

 Subject Area Science
ED 3604 Evaluation of Student Grade Level Grade 7
Learning Topic Unit A: Interactions and
Unit Assessment Plan Ecosystems
Cassidy Shostak Length of Unit 2 months (approx. 35 school
(days) days)

My Unit Assessment Plan (UAP) is purposely designed to use a balance

approach to consider learning opportunities and different forms of assessment. The

unit is designed to challenge students thinking about interactions in ecosystems and

humans affect on the environment. The chosen assessment tools are used to directly

assess intended focusing questioning and learning outcomes of the unit. By using an

assortment of formative and summative assessment both can help gauge students

understanding which may give teacher evidence on how to support further student

learning and additionally give students opportunities to present their knowledge. By

using different forms of assessment will give fair and accurate confirmation of

student learning when also considering the continuum of student learning through

formative assessment.

The usage of pre-assessment is intended to drive instructional choices

regarding the students foundational knowledge and the pre-existing understanding

on the topic. This will help the teacher gauge where they can start in their unit

review and teaching. I have aimed for a range of formative assessments will also be

used throughout the unit to monitor students understanding of key concepts. By

using the concept of triangulation, collecting many different forms of evidence to

guide instruction and ensure increased reliability and validity of our classroom

assessment. This assessment for learning helps teachers make motivated decisions

to guide teaching and instruction. When considering as learning students will use a

checklist to give them responsibility for their education and learning. Various other

assignments and activities are also used for students to balance as learning to help

EDUC 3604 Unit Assessment Plan Template

 Subject Area Science
ED 3604 Evaluation of Student Grade Level Grade 7
Learning Topic Unit A: Interactions and
Unit Assessment Plan Ecosystems
Cassidy Shostak Length of Unit 2 months (approx. 35 school
(days) days)

them be conscious of their learning and understanding. These assessment decisions

were to ensure there is sufficient amount of evidence from the students and for the

students to increase student confidence and support learning. Summatively

assessing of learning is also essential and needs to be relevant and meaningful for

the students. A balance between projects, assignments, and tests I believe, will give

a variety of evidence of student learning and more opportunities for students to show

their understandings. The quizzes and assignments are directly related to the

intended learning outcomes to show reasonable and accurate evidence to show

student understanding. The concept test is directly connected to foundational

knowledge of the unit assessing interactions seen in the ecosystem; inter-

dependency, movement of nutrients, pollutants, carbon, and food webs. The final

performance task is parallel to the outcome of the Program of Studies in regard to

environmental issues. The performance task focuses on the overarching question to

connect the concept to the students.

EDUC 3604 Unit Assessment Plan Template