Evolution Children’s Book Rubric

Objective: ​Choose an example organism that expresses evidence of Evolution by Natural Selection and use its story to express the principles evolution by natural
selection (The Struggle for Existence, Variation and Adaptation, and Survival of the Fittest).
Evidence of Evolution:
Closely related but different, distantly related but similar, fossil record and recent fossil finds, homologous structures (analogous and vestigial),
embryology, life’s common genetic code, homologous molecules, or observing Natural Selection in action

Evolution Caldecott​ Award Winner New York Times Published by Puffin Self published Keep this blog
Children's Book Best Seller private
Rubric (60 pts) 5 4 3 2 1

3 Principles Story clearly and correctly Story correctly expresses Story correctly expresses the The Evolutionary Principle The Evolutionary
of evolution: expresses the Evolutionary the Evolutionary Principle of Evolutionary Principle of of struggle for existence is Principle of struggle for
Principle of struggle for struggle for existence as struggle for existence attempted to be existence is present
Struggle for existence as part of the story part of the story narrative addressed within the story
existence narrative

U 3 Principles Story clearly and correctly Story correctly expresses Story correctly expresses the The Evolutionary Principle The Evolutionary
of evolution: expresses the Evolutionary the Evolutionary Principle of Evolutionary Principle of of Variation is attempted Principle of Variation is
s Principle of Variation as part of Variation as part of the story Variation to be addressed within the present
i Variation the story narrative narrative story
n
g 3 Principles Story clearly and correctly Story correctly expresses Story correctly expresses the The Evolutionary Principle The Evolutionary
of evolution: expresses the Evolutionary the Evolutionary Principle of Evolutionary Principle of of Survival of the Fittest is Principle of Survival of
Principle of Survival of the Survival of the Fittest as part Survival of the Fittest attempted to be the Fittest is present
K Survival of Fittest as part of the story of the story narrative addressed within the story
n the Fittest narrative
o
w Evidence of
The chosen evolutionary The chosen evolutionary The chosen evolutionary The chosen evolutionary No evidence of the
principle is clearly conveyed in principle is conveyed in the principle is present in the principle is present in the chosen evolutionary
l evolution and connected to the story story. story story but unclear. principle in the story.
e narrative
d
7 At least 7 facts about your At least 7 facts about your At least 5 facts about your Facts are present and/ or Facts are unclear.
g species are clearly included species are included and species are included and connection to evolution or
characteristic
e and clearly connected to the connected to the narrative of connected to the narrative of the story’s narrative is
narrative of the story and the story or evolution the story or evolution unclear.
evolution

Narrative The narrative is clearly and
smoothly enriched by the
characteristics of the Species
and the principles of evolution
The narrative is enriched by
the characteristics of the
Species and the principles of
evolution
There is a clear Narrative There is a clear Narrative The Narrative is
connected to characteristics of incomplete
the object
And
connected to Evolution

Using Knowledge
/30
Evolution Caldecott ​Award Winner New York Times Published by Puffin Self published Keep this blog
Children's Book Best Seller private
Rubric (60 pts) 5 4 3 2 1

Title Title and illustration on cover
page/Cover clearly and creatively relate to
the story and entice the reader
to pick up the book. Reading
level noted.
Title and illustration on cover Title and illustration relate to Title and Illustration are Title or illustration
clearly relate to the story. the story. present, but do not relate present
to the story.
Reading level noted.

I
n Pictures Part 1 Original Illustrations are Original Illustrations are There are Original illustrations are not There are no
relevant, neat, and visually relevant or visually Illustrations original illustrations
q appealing appealing (Academic dishonesty)
u
i Pictures Part 2 Original Illustrations clearly Original Illustrations support Original Illustrations support The illustrations do not Illustrations are missing
r support the narrative and have the narrative and have the narrative support the narrative or incomplete
citation as needed citation as needed
i
n Neatness The final draft of the story is The final draft of the story is The Final draft of the story is The final draft of the story is The final draft is sloppy
g readable, clean, neat and readable, neat and attractive. readable, neat, and complete readable and some of the and rushed.
attractive and shows professional pages are attractive. It
presentation. looks like parts of it might
A have been done in a hurry.
n
d Organization, The story is very well The story is pretty well ​The story is pretty well The story is a little hard to Story shows no evidence
organized. One idea follows organized. Ideas flow logically organized. Ideas flow logically follow. The transitions are of a logical flow or
Grammar, and
another in a logical sequence most of the time. Clear most of the time. sometimes not clear. transitions.
D Spelling transitions are used. The transitions are sometimes
with clear transitions.
e not clear. Many incorrectly used Few sentences are
s Excellent Grammar structure Grammar errors present but grammatical elements and structurally correct and
i and accuracy. do not detract from the book. structure. Many elementary are generally
mistakes. incomprehensible.
g
n
i
n
g Works Cited There are at least 5 sources in There are at least 5 sources There are 5 sources There are sources No evidence of source
APA format with endnotes or in a consistent format with citation.
footnotes endnotes or footnotes
(Academic
Dishonesty)

Inquiring and Designing

/30
EXTRA CREDIT (up to 5 pts): ​All five areas of the plot (exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution.) are clearly present