Performance Assessment This Grade 7 social studies unit deals with the migratory patterns of the first Native

Americans to North America. The unit continues to explore how the geography and climate of the land influenced the cultures, housing and food of the diverse Native Americans that settled in North America. A learning target for this unit asks students to make connections between how the geography and climates influenced the settlements of the Native Americans. This performance assessment would be used as an alternate assessment for the multiple-choice item format developed in week 5. This performance assessment would be used after the students had taken the matching assessment. Results from the matching format would be used to make sure students can correctly identify the Native American group with its location and help in selecting student groups for the performance assessment. I have chosen to use a group project format to evaluate whether students can work together cooperatively and appropriately to create a high-quality product (Nitko, 2011). This format will allow me to concentrate of a subject matter learning target as well as encourage socialization and cooperative skills with my special needs population. I have also chosen to give my students a variety of final product options to meet the needs of their learning styles. Performance Assessment: Prior to distributing / discussing performance task: students will randomly select a plane ticket with a Native American group on it from a basket. Students will find their similarly carded team members. This ticket will allow you and your team members to travel back in time to live with your Native American tribe for a week. Your objective is to learn as much as you can about the culture and report back to your classmates with your findings upon your return. Possible presentation formats include: a 2 page typed or handwritten journal a 10-15 minute class lesson on your group a bulletin board a poster a power point Your end product must include the following about your group and detail how geography and climate influences: housing (shelter) Native American dress and culture society and governmental structure religion food staples (resources) Additional: You also must provide a map outlining where your group lives showing any major landforms of the area. Work respectfully and cooperatively with your team members Provide your resources/references Incorporate any pictures or information you can find Time Frame: You will be given three class periods to complete this task

Scoring Scheme: Criteria Exceeds (9-10 points) Correctly identifies location and important geographical features and describes their importance to the development of the Native American settlements Correctly explains the use of natural resources by the Native Americans and analyzes how it affected their lifestyle by comparing different settlements with each other. Correctly details the different cultural elements of the Native American group and describes their importance to their way of life Correctly explains the government and religious practices and their importance to the Native American group Students were all actively involved in the learning experience and task includes all requirements Meets (7-8 points) Correctly identifies location and provides description of the environment and geographical features Needs Improvement (5-6 points) Identifies location but provides descriptions of environment or geographical features with several incorrect facts. Does Not Meet (0-4 points) Does not correctly identify location or provide description of the environment or geographical features.

Identifies location of Native American settlement (including map) and describes the environment and important physical features

Explains how Native Americans use the resources of their area

Correctly explains the use of natural resources by the Native Americans

Explains the use of natural resources by the Native Americans with several incorrect facts.

Does not correctly explain the use of resources by the Native Americans.

Explores the Native American cultures

Correctly details the different cultural elements of the Native American group

Explains the different cultural elements of the Native American group with several incorrect facts

Does not correctly explain the different cultural elements of the Native American group

Explains how government and religious practices developed and were used

Correctly explains the government and religious practices

Explains the government and religious practices with several incorrect facts

Does not correctly explain the government and religious practices

Assessment is the result of a group effort with all requirements

Most students were actively involved in the learning experience and task includes some

Few students were actively involved in the learning experience and task is missing several

Most work is completed by one student and most requirements are missing

requirements

requirements