Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System

2017, Grade 8 Science and Technology/Engineering

Question 10: Open-Response

Reporting Category: Technology/Engineering
Standard: 2.4 - Identify appropriate materials, tools, and machines needed to construct a prototype of a given engineering design.

A student designs a birdhouse to be used outside for wild birds. A diagram of the birdhouse is shown below.

Identify two materials the student will need to build the birdhouse.
Identify two tools or machines the student will need to build the birdhouse.
Describe how both the materials and the tools you identified in parts (a) and (b) would be used to build the birdhouse.

Scoring Guide and Sample Student Work

Select a score point in the table below to view the sample student response.

Score	Description
4	The response demonstrates a thorough understanding of the appropriate materials, tools, and machines needed to construct a prototype of a given engineering design. The response correctly identifies two materials and two tools or machines the student will need to build the birdhouse. The response also clearly describes how both the materials and the tools or machines identified would be used to build the birdhouse.
4
3	The response demonstrates a general understanding of the appropriate materials, tools, and machines needed to construct a prototype of a given engineering design.
2	The response demonstrates a limited understanding of the appropriate materials, tools, and machines needed to construct a prototype of a given engineering design.
1	The response demonstrates a minimal understanding of the appropriate materials, tools, and machines needed to construct a prototype of a given engineering design.
0	The response is incorrect or contains some correct work that is irrelevant to the skill or concept being measured.

Note: There are 2 sample student responses for Score Point 4.

Grade 8 Science and Technology/Engineering

Question 10: Technology/Engineering

Question 22: Earth and Space Science

Return to the MCAS 2017 Student Work Directory

Last Updated: August 8, 2022