The NASA SCIence Files™: Educators: Tools: Life on Mars? Project Rubric


	Life on Mars? Project Rubric

Advanced
(Exemplary) Proficient
(Accomplished) Basic
(Developing) Novice
(Beginning) Score

Originality
Approach is original, appropriate, & engaging.

Approach is original & appropriate.

Approach is unoriginal yet appropriate.

Approach is unoriginal and not appropriate.

Points
Earned
(Circle) 24     23     22 21     20 19     18     17 16     15
Other _____ Points _____

Written
Description
Name identified
Problem clearly defined
Clear explanation of the habitat in which the life-form lives; all conditions requested are noted
Explanation of how the life-form survives in the Mars environment is detailed and clear

Name identified
Problem clearly defined
Clear explanation of the habitat in which the life-form lives; most conditions requested are noted
Explanation of how the life-form survives in the Mars environment is clear

Name identified
Problem defined
Unclear explanation of the habitat in which the life-form lives; some conditions requested are noted
Explanation of how the life-form survives in the Mars environment is brief and unclear

Name not identified
Problem not defined
Unclear explanation of the habitat in which the life-form lives; few conditions requested are noted
Explanation of how the life-form survives in the Mars environment is very brief and unclear

Points
Earned
(Circle) 36     35     34     33 32     31     30     29 28     27     26     25 24     23     22
Other _____ Points _____

Research
Performed
Evidence of in-depth research provided in the problem log
Evidence of more than 3 resources

Evidence of focused research provided in the problem log
Evidence of 3 resources

Evidence of research provided in the problem log
Evidence of 3 resources

Little evidence of research provided in the problem log
Evidence of less than 3 resources

Points
Earned
(Circle) 24     23     22 21     20 19     18     17 16     15
Other _____ Points _____

Illustration
Visually stimulating
Easily understood
Detailed Martian habitat depicted
Included Adaptation features

Visually stimulating
Easily understood
Martian habitat depicted
Included adaptation features

Visually stimulating
Understood after further questioning
Martian habitat depicted
Unclear adaptation features

Not visually stimulating
Understood after further questioning
No Martian habitat depicted
No adaptation features depicted

Points
Earned
(Circle) 16     15 14     13 12     11 10
Other _____ Points _____

Name: _____________________________________________
Comments:
Total Score: ____________________

	Advanced (Exemplary)	Proficient (Accomplished)	Basic (Developing)	Novice (Beginning)	Score
Originality	Approach is original, appropriate, & engaging.	Approach is original & appropriate.	Approach is unoriginal yet appropriate.	Approach is unoriginal and not appropriate.
Points Earned (Circle)	24 23 22	21 20	19 18 17	16 15 Other _____	Points _____
Written Description	Name identified Problem clearly defined Clear explanation of the habitat in which the life-form lives; all conditions requested are noted Explanation of how the life-form survives in the Mars environment is detailed and clear	Name identified Problem clearly defined Clear explanation of the habitat in which the life-form lives; most conditions requested are noted Explanation of how the life-form survives in the Mars environment is clear	Name identified Problem defined Unclear explanation of the habitat in which the life-form lives; some conditions requested are noted Explanation of how the life-form survives in the Mars environment is brief and unclear	Name not identified Problem not defined Unclear explanation of the habitat in which the life-form lives; few conditions requested are noted Explanation of how the life-form survives in the Mars environment is very brief and unclear
Points Earned (Circle)	36 35 34 33	32 31 30 29	28 27 26 25	24 23 22 Other _____	Points _____
Research Performed	Evidence of in-depth research provided in the problem log Evidence of more than 3 resources	Evidence of focused research provided in the problem log Evidence of 3 resources	Evidence of research provided in the problem log Evidence of 3 resources	Little evidence of research provided in the problem log Evidence of less than 3 resources
Points Earned (Circle)	24 23 22	21 20	19 18 17	16 15 Other _____	Points _____
Illustration	Visually stimulating Easily understood Detailed Martian habitat depicted Included Adaptation features	Visually stimulating Easily understood Martian habitat depicted Included adaptation features	Visually stimulating Understood after further questioning Martian habitat depicted Unclear adaptation features	Not visually stimulating Understood after further questioning No Martian habitat depicted No adaptation features depicted
Points Earned (Circle)	16 15	14 13	12 11	10 Other _____	Points _____