For final assessment the following rubric assesses what you learned about the prairie. Other rubrics assess other research skills.

Describe a prairie.

Detailed description using scientific terms such as forbs, grasses

General description using terms such as specific plants

Missing part or all of definition

Identify prairie plants.

10 or more plants

5 to 9 plants

Less than 5 or none

Identify animals found in the prairie.

10 or more animals

5 to 9 animals

Less than 5 or none

Know where prairies are located.

Detailed description for specific prairies

General description of states or regions where prairies may be found

Poor description of countries or no information

Explain the importance of prairies.

Detailed description

General description

Poor or missing description

Describe the seasonal changes of a prairie.

Detailed description of all seasons

General description of all seasons

One or more seasons missing

Explain prairie reconstruction and maintainance.

Detailed explanation

General explanation

Poor or missing explanation

Describe a quadrat study.

Detailed explanation including percentage and square units

General explanation

Poor or missing explanation

Estimate, calculate and compare percentages.

90% accuracy or better

70% to 89% accuracy or better

Less than 70% accuracy or could not perform the task

Construct charts and graphs using data.

Correctly used a spreadsheet

Correctly made by hand

Graphs or charts are incomplete or missing.

TOTAL SCORE