Scoring Scout Training Slides Investigation Training
Scoring Scout
Mission
Becoming a Master Researcher
Mammal Matchup HQ
Today's Mission
Goal: Norming
We are going to look at different mammal reports and decide what makes writing Expert quality.
Why?
So we can all agree on the rules for a great report before we write our own!
Using critical thinking to find the evidence.
Scout's Field Guide
We use these 4 categories to judge the reports.
Organization
Does the report have a clear map?
Elaboration
Are there specific facts and numbers?
Language
Are there comparison signal words?
Conventions
Is it easy to read and spelled correctly?
Time to
Investigate
Examine the 3 Evidence Logs:#82, #47, and #12 .
Don't be fooled! Use your Scoring Guide to find the true expert.
#82
Case File Analysis
Evidence Log #82
"A blue whale can grow up to 100 feet long. However, the Etruscan shrew is only about 1.5 inches long! This means the whale is thousands of times bigger..."
"They are also similar because they are both warm-blooded... both show how diverse nature can be."
Why is this an Expert?
Specific numbers (100ft, 1.5in)
Signal words: "However", "In conclusion"
Clear intro and summary
Target Score
16 / 16
#47
Case File Analysis
Evidence Log #47
"The whale is different because it has blubber. The bat is different because it has wings. They are also same because they have babies... I think they are both very cool."
Scout Feedback
Has facts, but lacks specific measurements.
Basic signals like "different" and "same".
Conclusion is just an opinion.
Average Score
10 / 16
#12
Case File Analysis
Evidence Log #12
"the whale is big... the other one is small... it is also a mammal. I like the big one better because it is very big and heavy."
Beginning Researcher
No numbers or specific details.
Repeats the words "big" and "small".
Punctuation and capitalization errors.
Starting Score
6 / 16
Mission Debrief
Which Log was the Expert ?
#82
Score 16
#47
Score 10
#12
Score 6
Your Final Mission:
Take one thing you learned from the Expert and apply it to your own mammal report today!
Researcher Scoring Rubric Ink Friendly Researcher Scoring Rubric
Evaluation Standards for Mammal Reports
Researcher Name
The Mission: Use this rubric to score the quality of mammalian field reports. A score of 4 is our "Expert" goal.
Criteria 4 Expert 3 Scout 2 Ranger 1 Beginner Organization
Structure & flow.
| Clear intro, middle, and end. Ideas flow perfectly. | Has an intro, middle, and end. Most parts follow a path. | Missing clear intro or end. Ideas might be out of order. | Writing is confusing and does not follow a plan or path. |
|
Elaboration
Facts & evidence.
| Uses specific numbers to compare. Explains why facts matter. | Uses facts to compare. Reader can understand well. | Uses few facts. Needs more data to show differences. | Very few facts. Repeats the same simple idea over and over. |
|
Language
Signal words.
| Uses expert words like however or similarly . | Uses common words like but or also to compare. | Simple words. Only 1 signal word to show difference. | Does not use any comparison signal words at all. |
|
Conventions
Grammar/Spelling.
| Capitals, spelling, and periods are almost perfect. | Small mistakes, but reader can still understand. | Several mistakes make it hard to read in some spots. | Many errors make it very hard to read the field report. |
Lead Researchers: Look for the specific Evidence Log IDs before you begin your investigation!
Mammal Matchup Guide Handout Print Friendly Field Researcher Guide
Mammal Matchup
Comparing Mammalian Extremes
RESEARCHER:
DATE:
1
The Discovery Phase
Before writing your report, gather your evidence. Use your Blue Whale article for the first column and your own research for either the Bumblebee Bat or the Etruscan Shrew .
| Category |
Blue Whale
|
Tiny Mammal Name
|
| --- | --- | --- |
| Length | 80 to 100 feet | |
| Weight | Over 150 tons | |
| Habitat | Global Oceans | |
| Diet | Krill (Filter-feeding) | |
| Unique Trait | Baleen instead of teeth | |
Scientific Comparison
"The Blue Whale's heart is the size of a car. How does your tiny mammal compare to a common object like a paperclip?"
Source Tracking
Website Used:
2
Drafting Your Report
Use the simple starters below to get your ideas moving. Fill in the lines to build your original report!
Introduction
Step A
Simple Starters
"Mammals come in...", "Did you know that..."
Vocabulary
extremes, massive, scale
Write your introduction below
The Smallest Species
Step B
Simple Starters
"My tiny mammal is...", "It makes its home in..."
Vocabulary
habitat, minute, adapted
Describe your tiny mammal's size, home, and diet
The Comparison
Step C
Simple Starters
"The Blue Whale is huge, but...", "One way they are different is..."
Vocabulary
comparison, proportion, mammal
Compare the giant and the tiny mammal side-by-side
Conclusion
Step D
Simple Starters
"Learning about both animals...", "These two mammals show..."
Vocabulary
diversity, significance, extreme
Summarize your main points and final thoughts
3
Final Checklist
My Report Check-up
Facts and Numbers
Did I include how big and heavy both animals are?
Connecting Words
Did I use words like "but," "also," or "however" to join my ideas?
My Own Words
Did I write the facts in my own way instead of just copying?
Researcher's Reflection
Evidence Case Files Project Evidence Case Files
Norming Mission: Comparing Mammal Reports
Evidence Log #47
I am writing about blue whales and bumblebee bats. They are both mammals. The blue whale is very big and lives in the water. It can weigh 200 tons. The bumblebee bat is very small and it can fly. It is the size of a bee. This is the weight and length of both.
The whale is different because it has blubber. The bat is different because it has wings. They are also same because they have babies. They are mammals. The whale eats krill and the bat eats bugs. I think they are both very cool animals to learn about in school.
This concludes my report on the two mammals. I hope you liked learning about them because I did.
Evidence Log #12
the whale is big. It lives in the ocean and it is a mammal. the other one is small. it is a bat. It is also a mammal. I like the big one better because it is very big and heavy. The bat is tiny and can fly around.
they are both cool. that is my report on mammals.
Evidence Log #82
Mammals come in many different sizes. The blue whale and the Etruscan shrew are both mammals, but they are very different in many ways. The blue whale is the biggest animal ever, while the shrew is one of the smallest mammals on Earth.
One huge difference is their size. A blue whale can grow up to 100 feet long. However, the Etruscan shrew is only about 1.5 inches long! This means the whale is thousands of times bigger than the tiny shrew. Another difference is where they live. Blue whales live in the deep ocean, but shrews live on land in forests or grasslands.
They are also similar because they are both warm-blooded. Both animals must eat a lot of food to stay alive. The whale eats tiny krill, while the shrew eats insects. In conclusion, these two mammals show how diverse nature can be. Even though one is a giant and one is tiny, they are both part of the mammal family.
End of Evidence Files
Sample Scout Scorecard Ink Friendly Sample Scout Scorecard
Norming Mission: Rating Research Quality
Investigator Name
Read each Evidence Log carefully. Use the Scoring Scout Rubric to decide the score (1 to 4) for each category. Explain your choice in the evidence box!
Evidence Log #47
Organization
/ 4
Elaboration
/ 4
Language
/ 4
Conventions
/ 4
My Evidence (Why did I give these scores?):
Evidence Log #12
Organization
/ 4
Elaboration
/ 4
Language
/ 4
Conventions
/ 4
My Evidence (Why did I give these scores?):
Evidence Log #82
Organization
/ 4
Elaboration
/ 4
Language
/ 4
Conventions
/ 4
My Evidence (Why did I give these scores?):
Investigator Summary
Which log was the strongest? Why? How does it show what a "High Quality" mammal report should look like?
Scoring Scout Teacher Key Ink Friendly Teacher Scout Key
Official Norming Key for Case Files #47, #12, and #82
| Criteria | Log #47
Strong Case (#82):
Sophisticated signals ("However", "In conclusion"). Specific data (100ft vs 1.5in). Clear comparative structure.
Average Case (#47):
Has facts but uses basic language. Conclusion is a personal opinion, not a summary.
Weak Case (#12):
Brief and vague. Lacks numbers. Repeated use of "big" and "small". Convention errors.
Facilitation Guide:
Identify the "Signal Word" in #82. How does it change the sentence?
Compare the conclusion of #47 vs #82. Why is #82 "museum-ready"?
If you were #12's editor, what is the first fact you'd tell them to add?
Researcher Reflection Bridge Form Reflection Bridge
Applying the Expert Sample to My Own Work
Researcher Name
Step 1: The Expert Case
What is one thing the Expert (#82) did that you will try in your report?
Write one "Signal Word" you found in the Expert report:
Step 2: Avoiding Mistakes
What is one mistake in Case #12 that you will avoid today?
Step 3: My Focus Area
My Research Goal
Mark the category you will work hardest on today:
Organization
Elaboration
Language
Conventions
Researcher Word Tool Kit Cheat Sheet Researcher's Word Tool Kit
Comparison Signals & Mammal Vocabulary
How they are ALIKE
Both
"Both animals are mammals."
Also
"The whale also has babies."
Similarly
"Similarly , they are warm-blooded."
Too
"The bat is a mammal, too ."
How they are DIFFERENT
But
"Whales swim, but shrews run."
However
"However , the bat has wings."
While
"A whale is huge, while a bat is tiny."
In Contrast
"In contrast , their weight is unique."
Mammal Expert Vocabulary
Habitat
The place where the animal lives (ocean, forest).
Diet
What the animal eats (insects, krill, plants).
Massive
Very, very big and heavy.
Minute
Tiny; very small in size (rhymes with "my-newt").
Unique
Something special that only they have.
Adapted
How the body changes to live in its home.
Sentence Builder Map
Mammal 1 The Blue Whale
Signal Word HOWEVER
Mammal 2 The Bumblebee Bat
Field Tool: Keep this with your report draft!
Final Report Scoring Rubric Ink Friendly Final Report Scoring Guide
Self & Teacher Assessment Rubric
Researcher Name
Mission Completion: Use this rubric to score your own report first. Then, your Lead Researcher (Teacher) will provide the final score.
| Criteria | 4however or similarly . | Uses but or also . | Simple words. 1 signal word. | No signals. | /4 | /4 |
| Conv. | Spelling/Capitals are almost perfect. | Small errors only. | Many errors. Hard to read. | Hard to read. | /4 | /4 |
My Favorite Part:
Teacher Feedback:
Final Total Score: /16
