Mission to Mars Assignment/Rubric

Over the course of this unit we will be reading the book Life on Mars by Jennifer Brown. If Arty and his
group had found life on Mars how would those being survive in that environment? What adaptations would they
have needed in relation to finding water, food, and shelter? This is the task that each group of explorers will
investigate using fact based sources. In groups of four, students will work together to describe the type of
shelter their Martians would live in, and how they would find food/water. Students will build a model in class or
design a diagram to show their shelter and how they would hypothetically find food and water. This will be
presented to the class at the end of the unit, in 5-10 minute presentations.

Mission to Mars Rubric

Criteria
Presentation
Skills
30 points

Unsatisfactory

20 points

20 points

20 points

10 points

Group lacks enthusiasm

when presenting model.
Speaks softly, does not
enunciate words
clearly.
Does not clearly state
reasoning behind
theory and why it
would be important to
Martians.
Member(s) seemed
unprepared.
Students do not use
appropriate sources.

Developing

Model size and

dimensions are not
consistent.
Parts are not labeled
correctly.

Lacks of awareness of
Standard English
grammar and usage.
Makes three or more
obvious errors.

No references cited.

Mastery

Group members explain

function of model with
enthusiasm.
Speaks with hesitation,
and most pronounces
words clearly.
Reasoning behind theory
and/or why it would be
important to Martians is
unclear.
Some members more
dominate than others.
Students use some fact
based sources.
Building has practical
application and purpose
with no evidence to
support it.

Model size and/or

dimensions are not
consistent.
Some parts are labeled or
labels are not consistent.

Uses Standard English

grammar and practices

correctness of expression.
Makes less than three
errors.
References cited
incorrectly or list is
incomplete.

Use attention getter to

present project.
Speaks loudly, and
pronounces words clearly.
Clearly states reasoning
behind theory and why it
would be important to
Martians who lives there.
All members equally
represented.
Students use fact based
sources on the type of
building for the mission.
Finds a practical
application and reason to
the build their building.
Model is the proper size
and dimensions.
All parts of the building
are labeled correctly
Follows Standard English
conventions throughout.
No obvious errors.

References are cited

correctly.