Historical Understanding Standard and Benchmarks
Standard 2: Understands the historical perspective
Level III
1. Understands that specific individuals and the values those
individuals held had an impact on history
2. Analyzes the influence specific ideas and beliefs had on a
period of history
3. Analyzes the effect that specific "chance events" had on history
4. Analyzes the effects specific decisions had on history
Language Arts Standard and Benchmarks
Writing
Standard 4: Gathers and uses information for research purposes
Level III
5. Determines the appropriateness of an information source for
a research topic
6. Organizes information and ideas from multiple sources in systematic
ways (e.g., time lines, outlines, notes, graphic representations)
7. Writes research papers (e.g., separates information into major
components based on a set of criteria, examines critical relationships
between and among elements of a research topic, addresses different perspectives
on a topic, achieves balance between research information and original
ideas, integrates a variety of information into a whole, draws conclusions)
8. Uses appropriate methods to cite and document reference sources
(e.g., footnotes, bibliography)
Reading
Standard 7: Uses reading skills and strategies to understand
and interpret a variety of informational texts
Level III
3. Summarizes and paraphrases information in texts (e.g., arranges
information in chronological, logical, or sequential order; conveys main
ideas, critical details, and underlying meaning; uses own words or quoted
materials; preserves author's perspective and voice)
4. Uses new information to adjust and extend personal knowledge
base
7. Differentiates between fact and opinion in informational texts
Listening and Speaking
Standard 8: Uses listening and speaking strategies for different
purposes
Level III
7. Makes oral presentations to the class (e.g., uses notes and
outlines; uses organizational pattern that includes preview, introduction,
body, transitions, conclusion; and point of view; uses evidence and arguments
to support opinions; uses visual media)
8. Uses appropriate verbal and nonverbal techniques for oral
presentations (e.g., modulation of voice, inflection, tempo, word choice,
grammar, feeling, expression, tone, volume, enunciation, physical gestures,
body movement, eye contact, posture)
9. Evaluates strategies used by speakers in oral presentations
(e.g., persuasive techniques, verbal messages supported by nonverbal techniques,
effect of word choice, use of slanted or biased material)
Thinking and Reasoning Standard and Benchmarks
Standard 1: Understands and applies the basic principles of
presenting an argument
Level III
4. Makes basic distinctions between information that is based on fact and information that is based on opinion
Standard 3: Effectively uses mental processes that are based on identifying
similarities and differences
Level III
3. Selects criteria or rules for category membership that are
relevant and important
4. Orders information and events chronologically or based on
frequency of occurrence
5. Orders information based on importance to a given criterion
8. Compares different sources of information for the same topic
in terms of basic similarities and differences
Working With Others Standard and Benchmarks
Standard 1: Contributes to the overall effort of a group
Level IV
2. Demonstrates respect for others in the
group
3. Identifies and uses the strengths of others
4. Takes initiative when needed
7. Engages in active listening
9. Evaluates the overall progress of a group
toward a goal
Standard 4: Displays effective interpersonal communication skills
Level IV
4. Seeks information nondefensively
5. Provides feedback in a constructive manner
9. Uses emotions appropriately in personal
dialogues
15. Acknowledges the strengths of others
Mathematics Standard and Benchmarks
Standard 1: Uses a variety of strategies in the problem-solving
process
Level III
1. Understands how to break a complex problem into simpler parts
or use a similar problem type to solve a problem
4. Formulates a problem, determines information required to solve
the problem, chooses methods for obtaining this information, and sets limits
for acceptable solutions
5. Represents problem situations in and translates among oral,
written, concrete, pictorial, and graphical forms
Science Standard and Benchmarks
Nature of Science
Standard 13: Understands the scientific enterprise
Level III
1. Knows that people of all backgrounds and with diverse interests,
talents, qualities, and motivations engage in fields of science and engineering;
some of these people work in teams and others work alone, but all communicate
extensively with others
2. Knows that the work of science requires a variety of human
abilities, qualities, and habits of mind (e.g., reasoning, insight, energy,
skill, creativity, intellectual honesty, tolerance of ambiguity, skepticism,
openness to new ideas)
3. Knows various settings in which scientists and engineers may
work (e.g., colleges and universities, businesses and industries, research
institutes, government agencies)
5. Knows that throughout history, many scientific innovators
have had difficulty breaking through accepted ideas of their time to reach
conclusions that are now considered to be common knowledge
Technology Standard and Benchmarks
Standard 1: Knows the characteristics and uses of computer hardware
and operating systems
Level III
1. Knows the differing capacities and trade-offs for computer
storage media, such as CD-ROMs, floppy disks, hard disks, and tape drives
2. Types with some facility, demonstrating some memorization
of keys
3. Connects via modem to other computer users via the internet,
an on-line service, or bulletin board system
Standard 2: Knows the characteristics and uses of computer software
programs
Level III
1. Uses advanced features and utilities of word processors (e.g.,
uses clip art, a spell-checker, grammar checker, thesaurus, outliner)
5. Uses boolean searches to execute complex searches on a data
base