Ecosystem Test Clusters

Part A (1 pt): Valid Claim: White-tailed deer population will decrease (OR pond algae/mayflies will increase).

Part B (1 pt): Accurate Evidence: Cites 70% maple loss / open canopy / increased sunlight reaching ground or pond.

Part C (1 pt): Scientific Reasoning: Explains connection via food web energy/matter (e.g., deer lose their primary food supply of maple leaves/twigs, leading to starvation/migration; OR extra sunlight powers rapid photosynthesis in algae, increasing food available for mayflies).

Grade 5 Elementary-Level Science • NYSSLS Scoring Key Continued on Page 2 ➔ Page 1 of 2

Teacher Scoring Guide & Rubric

Cluster 2 Scoring Key & Diagnostic Guidance

Form 1 Key

CLUSTER 2 KEY Arid Desert & Open Grassland Habitats

Total Points: 7

Question 5: Multiple Choice Correct: C (1 pt)

Rationale: The hawk eats prairie dogs that feed on blue grama grass. The grass originally transformed sunlight into chemical energy during photosynthesis.

Question 6: Multiple Choice Correct: A (1 pt)

Rationale: Regardless of arid soil conditions, plant biomass is built from carbon dioxide gas taken in through stomata and water molecules, rearranged into glucose and cellulose.

Question 7: Role of Decomposers (Short Response) 2-Point Rubric

2 Points: Fully describes both: (1) darkling beetles/fungi breaking down dry stems and animal droppings, and (2) replenishing soil with recycled matter for new grasses/seedlings.

1 Point: Partially describes decomposition (e.g., identifies eating dead waste but omits recycling matter back to soil/producers).

0 Points: Inaccurate or unrelated response.

Exemplar 2-Point Response: "Darkling beetles and prairie soil fungi break down tough dry grasses, cactus pads, and droppings. They turn dead organic matter into soil nutrients so new prairie grasses can take root and grow."

Question 8: Drought Disturbance Argument (Extended CER) 3-Point Rubric (1 pt Claim, 1 pt Evidence, 1 pt Reasoning)

Part A (1 pt): Valid Claim: The Prairie Dog population (or Ferruginous Hawk population) will decrease.

Part B (1 pt): Accurate Evidence: Cites 60% rainfall decline / over half of grasses drying up before making seeds.

Part C (1 pt): Scientific Reasoning: Explains that prairie grasses are the primary producers and direct food source for prairie dogs. Without sufficient grass, prairie dogs lack energy to survive. If prairie dogs decline, secondary consumers like hawks have less prey and their numbers drop as well.

Common Grade 5 Misconceptions & Diagnostic Interventions

Misconception 1: Plants "eat" soil

Students frequently select soil minerals as the source of plant mass (Q2 & Q6 distractors B/C). Instructional Fix: Reference Jan Baptist van Helmont's classic willow tree experiment showing trees gain hundreds of pounds while soil mass changes by mere ounces. Emphasize that invisible $CO_2$ gas in air provides the actual carbon atoms that build wood and leaves.

Misconception 2: Energy cycles like matter

Students often confuse the one-way flow of energy with the closed cycling of matter. Instructional Fix: Remind students that energy flows in one direction (Sun → Producer → Consumer → lost as heat), requiring continuous sunlight input. In contrast, matter (atoms/molecules) cycles indefinitely between organisms, decomposers, and soil/water.

Scoring Summary: 14 total points possible across both clusters (7 pts each). Recommended proficiency cutoff: 10/14 (71%). NYSSLS Grade 5 Performance Level 3 (Proficient)

Grade 5 Elementary-Level Science • NYSSLS Scoring Key End of Scoring Guide Page 2 of 2