How to Make a Diorama Rubric
A rubric is a grading scale that teachers use to assess the grade for a project, such as a diorama. It also gives students a detailed understanding of what is expected from their finished diorama and how they will be scored. A diorama is a 3-D project, usually done in a shoebox, that offers a pictorial rendering of a specific study. For example, they may show a certain animal's habitat, a reenactment of a famous war battle or may depict what a 13th century church might have looked like. Several factors help determine a student's performance and comprehension.
Instructions
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Set a grading scale for the project. Some teachers use a wording system, such as poor, fair, good or excellent. Other instructors assign a number score to each; poor = 1; fair = 2; good = 3 and excellent = 4.
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Divide the diorama project into sections that will be scored separately using your number or word scale. Include content, organization, creativity and grammar or spelling, if applicable.
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Define what constitutes a score for each number or word on the scale. Do this for each category. Include what level of performance will garner each score. For example, spelling mistakes, sloppy work or an inaccurate representation of the subject lowers a student's score.
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Design a printed rubric. Using computer software, make a chart that lists each category down the side and the number or word scoring across the top. Fill in each section with the applicable information. Print copies and provide them to your students.
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Tips & Warnings
Go over the grading rubric with your class when you hand it out. This will make it clear what is expected of them and how they will score a top score.
If available, use dioramas created by previous students as a way to demonstrate what kind of work will result in a high score and what kind of work will result in a low score.
Along with the printed rubric, consider offering students a tips sheet that gives them ideas on ways to create a high-scoring diorama. This is an ideal way to help students who have never created a diorama or who don't excel at creative projects.
