Home > Examples > Tasks & Rubrics

Task #1: Recall and Organization of Facts

Standards: Students will be able to recall and list information about a particular topic.
Students will be able to organize information prior to writing.
Students will equally contribute ideas in a group.
Students will encourage others.


Task: Recalling and Organizing Facts About Subject Matter

- This activity should be done on the last day of a particular week.

1. Introductory Activity - Whole Group Recall of Facts and Organization

- Engage the class in a whole group discussion. Present the students with a subject area, like Social Studies, and have them recall facts that answer this question - What did you learn this week is Social Studies. Guide them in being very specific with their answers. If they say, “I learned about the Native Americans,” then ask them to be more specific. Say, “What did you learn this week about Native Americans.” As they come up with facts, make a big list on the board or overhead. Then ask them to look at all of the information listed and choose one specific area (or topic) that includes a lot of the facts presented. Star (or highlight) all the facts that are related to a particular topic. Take this topic and its facts and fill out the organizer together. Have the students try to organize the information logically (by time, by cause and effect, etc.). The organizer: (and example)

Topic A: Social Studies- Differences between the British Army and the Continental Army in the Revolutionary War.

Idea 1: Weapons

* British Army - many guns

* Continental Army - fewer weapons, guns & axes

Idea 2: Experience in Battle

* British Army - experienced soldiers and officers

* Continental Army - less experience in battle

Idea 2: Clothing

* British Army - warm clothing, red uniforms, shiny boots

* Cont. Army - ragged clothing, some - rags for shoes


- When finished, we will assess our fact recall and organization as a group using the Recall and Organization Rubric.

2. Small Group Activity - Groups of two or three

- Tell the students that they need to choose another topic that was studied this week and follow the same process: recall facts and list them, narrow down the topic, and fill out organizer. Tell them that I will be walking around while they are working and listen for them to equally contribute ideas to the group and encourage the other group members. I will use the Group Work Rubric to assess them. When they finish, they should assess themselves with the Recall and Organization Rubric and then call me over to verify their assessment.

3. Individual Practice

- For homework, ask them to individually practice the process with two other subject areas. Their pages of recalled facts and their organizers will be collected and assessed according to the Recall and Organization Rubric.


Criteria:

1. Recalling Facts - Students should have a comprehensive list of accurate facts learned about a particular subject area for the week.

2. Organizing Facts - Topic should be focused on one idea.
- Facts about the topic should be organized logically.

3. Contributing Ideas - Students should equally contribute in the group.

4. Encouraging Others - Students should encourage others in their group.



Rubrics:

Group Work Rubric

Recall and Organization Rubric

Copyright 2013, Jon Mueller. Professor of Psychology, North Central College, Naperville, IL. Comments, questions or suggestions about this website should be sent to the author, Jon Mueller, at jfmueller@noctrl.edu.