Activities for Formative Assessment

Class IX
Biology
Chapter: Improvement in Food Production
Topic to be assessed: Improvement in Food Resources from Plants
and Animals
Expected learning outcomes:

 The students will become aware of the working of the Traditional

farms in the villages and towns.
 The students will appreciate the role of technological
advancements in improving food production
 The students will be able to analyse how to get the maximum
benefits from the farm by applying some practices judiciously.
 The students will apply the various methods of crop improvement
to increase the crop yield.

Task: How can we bring about an Improvement in Food Resources

A Case Study

For Learning outcome/outcomes:

 The students will become aware of the working of the Traditional farms in the villages
and towns.
 The students will appreciate the role of technological advancements in improving
food production
 The students will be able to analyse how to get the maximum benefits from the farm
by applying some practices judiciously.
 The students will apply the various methods of crop improvement to increase the
crop yield.
Activity: Case study and its Presentation

LAYOUT:

For each case study, 10 members are required:

 The Farmer (The student who is the group leader is THE FARMER)
 Farmer’s family - 4 members (Group leader will decide the composition of his family)
 Labourers on the farm – 5 (Farmer and family will allocate work to the labourers in
the farm)
Common features of the farm:

Area: 4 acres, Animals- Cows, Poultry birds, honey bee or fish (any one)

The Teacher will divide the class into three or four groups depending on the size of the
class. The students will divide duties in the farm and make a case study. Teacher shall also
give them one problem each and the group has to find a way to deal with that problem.

PROBLEM: any one of the following:

 Drought,
 two cows suffering from foot and mouth disease,
 low yield of crop in the field,
 decreased egg laying capacity of birds,
 demand for more fertilizer is proving to be too expensive
 Low yield of fish

The Final presentation of the Case Study shall include the following:

 Farmer introduces his family and other people on the farm.

 The type of crops and animals reared on the farm
 Work done by the farmer
 Work done by the family members
 Work allocated to the labourers
 Any special techniques to increase plant productivity
 Any special techniques to increase productivity of animals
 How the group has dealt with the ‘specific problem’
 Technological improvements introduced

Time span: a) Case study: seven days

b) Presentation : 15 minutes for each group

c.w. / h.w a) Case study: Can be done in class and at home

b) Presentation : In the class

Resources a) Case study: Internet, Text book, Library

required b) Presentation : Projector, computer

Assessment Case Study and presentation (Total marks=25)

rubric and
Distribution of duties amongst the group
its criterion
Excellent Very good Good Need for Not done
improvement
 4 3 2 1 -

Has the group been able to address the problem and suggest a solution

Yes, absolutely Sufficiently Scope for No, the group has Not done
addressed improvement is not been able to
there address the issue

4 3 2 1 -

Individual work done by the student

Active participant Sufficiently active Not very active Low level of Not participated
participation

4 3 2 1 -

Presentation:
Marks for the group (5)

Quality of Very Good Good Need for improvement

presentation(3)
3 2 1

Use of Very Good Good Need for improvement

resources(2)
3 2 1

Marks for the individual (5)

Involvement in Very Good Good Average Need for

presentation improvement
4 3 2
(3) 1

Contribution in Very Good Good Average Need for

the improvement
presentation 3 3 2
(2) 1

Remedial Measures:

• If the distribution of duties is not done properly, the teacher shall site
examples of groups that have been able to do it efficiently during 'Class
Discussion’.
• If a group has not addressed the problem given to them and suggest a
solution, the teacher shall give an assignment to the group based on the
topics / problems.

• If a particular member is not actively participating, the teacher shall give

an alternate assignment to that student (Newsletter, PowerPoint
Presentation based on the same topic.)