Name:_________________________________________

Research Plan Rubric

Category
Problem

All sections are completed

Most sections are completed
fully. The notes are detailed fully. The notes provide some
and organized. The problem details and the problem is not
well thought out and written.
fully thought out.

Sections are filled out with

minimal details. There are
few details in the notes
section. The problem is
written in a confusing way.

Sections are not filled out

or there are no details
provided in the notes.
The problem is not
connected to the content.

Gather
Information

All pages of the Research

Plan are completely filled
out and are correct. The
notes are clear and they
make sense. Student
displays 3 thoughtful
questions for DEC.

All of the pages are complete,

Most of the pages are
and most of the answers are complete and. The answers
correct. Notes are clear and are either incorrect or do not
make sense. The 3 DEC
make sense. The student
questions are not very
does not have 3 questions
thoughtful.
for the DEC.

None of the pages are

complete. Answers are
incorrect or do not make
sense. There are no
notes and no questions
for the DEC.

Hypothesis

The hypothesis is a wellcrafted question that was

based off of information
gathered in previous
sections.

The hypothesis shows some

thoughtfulness and is based
off of some of the information
gathered in previous sections.

The hypothesis shows little

insight into the topic and is
loosely based off of
information gathered in
previous sections.

The hypothesis shows no

knowledge of the topic
and is not based off of
information gathered in
previous sections.

The students were able to

The students were able to
define each water test and
define each water test and
describe the impact that it describe the impact that it has
has on lake water. They
on lake water. The students
were then able to describe
were not able to articulate
in detail each step they were
their steps for their own
going to take to conduct
experiment.
their own experiment.

The students were not able

to define all water tests or
could not describe the
impact that it has on lake
water. The students were
not able to describe the
steps for their own
experiment.

The students did not

define or describe the
different water tests.
There is no evidence that
the student understands
the steps needed to
conduct the water testing
on their own for their
experiment.

Experiment

Record
Data

Conclusion

The students were able to

conduct the water testing
experiment and make a
meaningful conclusion
based off their own findings.
The student then
determined if their
hypothesis was correct and
can describe why or why
not.

The students conducted the

different experiments but
were unable to make
conclusions based off their
findings. The student could
determine if their hypothesis
was correct, but could not
describe why or why not.

The student did not

The student did not
complete all of the water
complete any of the
tests and was unable to
water tests or did not
make conclusions based off make any connections to
their findings. The student
their own findings. The
determined if their
student did not determine
hypothesis was correct but
if their hypothesis was
could not describe why or
correct and did not
why not.
describe why or why not.

The student was able to

The student was able to write
The student was able to
The student did write a
write a well-crafted
an informative letter to the
write a letter to the DEC.
letter but did not include
informative letter to the local
local DEC. The letter gives
Non-relevant background
any background
DEC. The letter thoughtfully some background information
information was provided
information. The student
described the background
and presents the students
and the student did not
did not present any of his
information that was
findings in a way that is
present all of the findings
or hers experiment
collected and presented the difficult to follow. The student from his or hers experiment. findings. The letter was
students own findings in a
did ask how they can help
The student did ask how
not well thought out and
clear and concise manner.
that ecosystem. The letter is
they can help that
has numerous spelling
The student the asked for
almost free of spelling errors
ecosystem. There are a
errors. The letter does
advice on how they can help and is consistent with grade
large number of spelling
not meet grade level
that ecosystem. The letter
level expectations.
errors and the letter does
expectations.
was free from any spelling
not meet grade level
errors and is consistent with
expectations.
grade level expectations.