Links to Student Work
Student Work 1      

ELA

Performance Task

K -5 Final

(Content Area)

 

(Grade Level-Task Number)

 

Standard(s):

E1a.1-Knowledge of Letters and Their Sounds:

By the end of the year, we expect kindergarten students to:

·      recognize and say the common sounds of most letters and write a letter that goes with a spoken sound.

·      use their knowledge of sounds and letters to write phonetically, representing consonant sounds with single letters in the correct sequence.

E1a-3  Reading Words:

By the end of the year, we expect kindergarten students to:

·        make sense of and talk about the text.

E2b.3-Getting Things Done:  Functional Writing

By the end of the year, we expect kindergarten students to:

·        tell someone what to do (for example, give directions, send messages).

·        name or label objects and places.

 

The Task:

The teacher informs the students that a very special announcement was delivered to the classroom while the students were away.  In a big book style written announcement (to be read by the class) is the news that their mascot/classroom pet is celebrating her/his birthday. (The announcement can be altered to fit the celebration of loosing a tooth, etc. according to the needs of the community of learners.)

 

The teacher facilitates a brainstorming session about what the class might do to celebrate the mascot’s/pet’s birthday. The teacher would then chart the students' responses (guiding to the outcome of a birthday party for the mascot given by the class).  After progressing through the essential elements of a birthday party, the key items emerging would be invitations and birthday cards.

 

The whole class composes an invitation using chart paper and/or a projection device. Individual copies of the invitation are given to students to illustrate.  If a computer is used, a parent volunteer may do the typing.  Each student will read their invitation to a partner in their class or another class.

 

 Ways to collect evidence that each child can read the invitation:

-Author’s chair

-One on one with the teacher

-Read to the principal

-Read to the school nurse

-Read to the school counselor/school psychologist

-Read to the base veterinarian

-Read to another class

-Read to a kindergartner in another classroom

A writing center is set up so that students have the opportunity to create a birthday card for the class pet/mascot. Over time, each student will create his or her own birthday card for the class pet/mascot. This can be used to decorate an area of the room just for the pet/mascot.

 

Materials Needed:

A big book style written announcement (created by the teacher)

Infocus Machine or TVator (an inexpensive device that allows the computer’s CPUto be connected to a TV as a monitor so everyone can see. It is like an Infocus but cheaper.)

Computer

Birthday Card Writing Center

(This center can be set up with paper, crayons, scissors, etc. or students can create

these on the computer or do a combination of both. Students need to have all

options provided. If created on the computer, these invitations can be emailed to

appropriate recipients.)

 

 

Circumstances of Performance

The student work is produced under the following conditions:

X

alone

X

in a group

 

 

 

 

X

in class

 

as homework

 

 

 

 

X

with teacher feedback

 

with peer feedback

 

 

 

 

 

timed

X

extended project

 

 

 

 

 

no opportunity for revision

X

opportunity for revision

 

Criteria for Success: 

  • Reads card or invitation to another person?
  • The birthday card contains some text written phonetically
  • The birthday card conveys a message/direction through text and/or illustrations

 

Related Standard(s):

 

E2a.  Habits and Processes:

By the end of the year, we expect kindergarten students to:

·         write daily.

·         generate content and topics for writing.

·         write without resistance when given the time, place and materials.

·         use whatever means are at hand to communicate and make meaning:  drawings, letter strings, scribbles, letter approximations and other graphic representations, as well as gestures, intonations and role-played voices.

·         make an effort to reread their own writing and listen to that of others, showing attentiveness to meaning.