This created lesson plan is for students to be able to work in peer groups.

Students have the opportunity to select manipulatives in

order to solve the word problem. Also, they are able to collaborate in how they believe it should be solved. This lesson takes students
to a higher order of thinking by discovering what information is missing and needed to move on to the next step. After each group has
completed this lesson, they are given the opportunity to present to the class to demonstrate how they worked the problem.
 CATEGORY 1 2 3 4
NEVER MET WAS INTRODUCED TO AMELIA AMELIA AND I HUNG OUT A AMELIA IS MY BEST FRIEND
AMELIA BEFORE FEW TIMES

Traits Traits? What I met her once, so I know 1 trait I’ve gotten to know Amelia and Amelia is my BFF, so I used key
(Physical and traits…I don’t even about her and I included it in the I included 1 physical trait and 1 details from the text and included
Character) know her! paragraph. character trait for a total of 2 more than 1 physical trait and more
traits in the paragraph. than 1 character trait in the
paragraph.
Feelings What feelings…she I met her once, so I know 1 I’ve gotten to know Amelia and Amelia is my BFF, so I used key
has feelings? feeling about her and I included I included 2 of her feelings in details from the text and included
it in the paragraph. the paragraph. more than 2 of her feelings in the
paragraph.
Motivations What I met her once, so I know 1 I’ve gotten to know Amelia and Amelia is my BFF, so I used key
motivations…she is motivation about her and I I included 2 of her motivations details from the text and included
motivated? included it in the paragraph. in the paragraph. more than 2 of her motivations in
the paragraph.
Writing includes I’m just learning to I’m starting to get the hang of Check my writing out, it’s That’s what I’m talking about.
Capitalization and write…I didn’t writing. awesome!! Send me to college…I’m ready!!
Punctuation know I needed
capitalization and
punctuation.
Sentences include Uh oh…my Hopefully, you can understand a Yep, that’s how great sentence William Shakespeare meets Amelia
proper structure sentence makes no little of what I wrote. structure is done! Earhart.
sense!!
Illustration includes Who is that a picture Hey, is that Amelia Earhart? What a stunning illustration of Michael Angelo meets Amelia
character traits of? Amelia Earhart! Earhart.

I believe rubrics are important for students to know what the educator is looking for and expecting when given an assignment. Often times, there can a
misunderstanding and students may not know what the expectations are. Rather than using the traditional rubric, I work to keep learning fun and engaging.
Above is an example of a rubric from a 4th grade language arts class. I wanted to determine what students had learned about Amelia Earhart and her character
traits when writing a paragraph describing her. The rubric corresponded with a point grading scale.