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Bridge Challenge Assessment Rubric

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Bridge Challenge Assessment Rubric

A small bridge on a dairy farm must safely carry a feed trolley across a creek. Use the scenario and rubric below to assess your investigation and explain the forces involved. For self-assessment questions, compare your work with the rubric and give evidence.

Assessment rubric

Choose the level that best matches your evidence for each criterion. Level 1: identifies few relevant features and gives little supporting detail. Level 2: identifies some relevant features and gives a brief reason or evidence. Level 3: identifies variables, describes a controlled method, uses measured results, and explains conclusions with relevant science. Level 4: frames a focused question, controls and repeats tests carefully, analyses evidence in detail, and explains conclusions using relevant science, including how load and bridge structure affect forces.

1.Which statement best describes a strong investigation question and prediction for the bridge challenge?

Level 1: I asked whether the bridge was strong and guessed what might happen.
Level 2: I asked a testable question and made a prediction with a brief reason.
Level 3: I identified the changed and measured variables and justified my prediction using forces.
Level 4: I framed a focused question, justified a prediction using force and material ideas, and considered how the variables may interact.

2.You are testing whether adding diagonal braces changes the maximum load a model bridge can hold. Name the independent variable, dependent variable and two variables to keep the same.

3.When the feed trolley rests on the bridge, complete the sentence: the downward force the trolley exerts on the bridge is its (also called the load).

4.When the feed trolley rests on the bridge, complete the sentence: the upward forces exerted by the supports are forces.

5.A team tests one bridge once and writes, “It held lots of weights.” Explain two ways they could improve their data collection so another team can compare results.

6.Three repeated tests of a braced bridge held 18 N, 20 N and 19 N before failure. Calculate the mean maximum load and state one conclusion the data supports.

7.True or false? If one bridge design holds a greater load in a single test, that is enough to show it is always stronger. Give a reason.

8.Match each feature of a scientific poster with its purpose.

A graph with labelled axes and units
A method with enough detail to repeat
A conclusion linked to the results

Explains how the test was carried out
Answers the investigation question using evidence
Shows patterns in measured results

9.Circle your overall level for the bridge investigation: Level 1, Level 2, Level 3 or Level 4. Give one specific piece of evidence from your work that supports your choice.

10.Identify one strength in your investigation and one practical improvement you would make if you repeated it. Explain how the improvement could make the evidence more reliable or valid.