Item 48 Anchor Papers    

Mammals are exposed to a variety of outside temperatures. However, they are able to maintain a constant internal body temperature.

Describe ways that mammals warm and cool themselves in response to their environment.

Include in your response

  • an example of a mammal and its environment
     
  • both body structures and activities they use
     
  • specific examples of both warming and cooling
     
Write your answer in your Answer Book.

Score Level 1 Anchor Paper

 

This response shows some understanding of the question. The student identifies a mammal (human), a body structure (hair), and an activity (run around) for warming. Bullet three is not addressed. The supporting details are minimally effective.

image of student response

Score Level 1 Anchor Paper

 

This response shows evidence of some understanding of the question. The student identifies a mammal (human) and gives an example of an activity they use to warm themselves (shiver) and an activity they use to cool themselves (sweat). No body structures are given and no further details about the activities are provided. The supporting details are only minimally effective.

image of student response

Score Level 2 Anchor Paper

 

This response shows a basic understanding of the question. The student names a mammal (horse) in an appropriate environment (outside in the summer). Body structures used in warming (hair; muscles) and related activities (stands up; shiver), along with a brief, but adequate, explanation of how these structures warm the animal (holding in the heat; activity in the muscles), add to the response. The student provides a brief description of sweating (evaporate; cool). The supporting details are adequate. Scientific terminology (homeostasis) is present in the response, though the student merely states the term without any discussion or definition.

image of student response

Score Level 2 Anchor Paper

 

This response shows a basic understanding of the question. The student correctly suggests panting in dogs as a cooling activity and uses adequate supporting detail to describe this cooling mechanism (allows heat to escape through its tongue and mouth). Fewer details are given regarding sweating and shivering, but including sweat glands as a body structure in the discussion provides additional support. Although some scientific terminology (homeostasis) is present in the response, the student merely states the term without any discussion or definition. More supporting details are needed for a higher score.

image of student response

Score Level 3 Anchor Paper

 

This response indicates a good understanding of the question. Several mammals are identified (wolves; humans; bears; wales), along with several body structures (fur; sweat glands; blubber) and activities (perspiration; hibernating). Supporting details are generally complete. A description of one cooling process is provided (perspiration to cool themselves… sweat glands located in the skin…glands release liquid to cool the body). A brief description of one warming structure is given (wales…keep themselves warm in cold water because they have an insulating layer of blubber underneath their skin).

image of student response

Score Level 3 Anchor Paper

 

This response indicates a good understanding of the question. Many mammals are identified (pig; elephant; polar bear; whale), along with several body structures (blood vessels; fur; blubber). The student shows the ability to synthesize information by connecting several ideas among different mammals (blood vessels close to the surface of its skin…breezes and air currents cool the blood; fur…that traps air…which keeps the polar bear warm; blubber creates an insulating coat against cold water; throw dirt…onto their backs to block the sun; roll in the mud to block the sun and keep them cool.) The supporting details are generally complete.

image of student response

Score Level 4 Anchor Paper

 

This response represents a full and complete understanding of the question. The student synthesizes ideas into complete explanations of how mammals maintain constant internal body temperatures (skin contains nerve endings which…can dilate [blood vessels] in heat to allow the release [of heat]…can shrink [blood vessels] when temperatures are cool, preventing the escape of heat; trigger sweating, a method of cooling…when this water evaporates, heat is released; in cooler seasons…mammals, such as dogs, grow more fur to insulate [trap] heat; during summer…dogs shed fur). Scientific terminology (nerve endings; veins and arteries; secreting; evaporates; cardiovascular system; dilate; water vapor) enhances the response. The supporting details throughout this response are pertinent and complete.

image of student response
 

Anchor Papers ~ Biology ~ Item 48

Mammals are exposed to a variety of outside temperatures. However, they are able to maintain a constant internal body temperature.

Describe ways that mammals warm and cool themselves in response to their environment.

Include in your response

  • an example of a mammal and its environment
     
  • both body structures and activities they use
     
  • specific examples of both warming and cooling
     
Write your answer in your Answer Book.

 

Score Level 1 Anchor Paper

 

This response shows some understanding of the question. The student identifies a mammal (human), a body structure (hair), and an activity (run around) for warming. Bullet three is not addressed. The supporting details are minimally effective.

image of student response

 

Score Level 1 Anchor Paper

 

This response shows evidence of some understanding of the question. The student identifies a mammal (human) and gives an example of an activity they use to warm themselves (shiver) and an activity they use to cool themselves (sweat). No body structures are given and no further details about the activities are provided. The supporting details are only minimally effective.

image of student response

 

Score Level 2 Anchor Paper

 

This response shows a basic understanding of the question. The student names a mammal (horse) in an appropriate environment (outside in the summer). Body structures used in warming (hair; muscles) and related activities (stands up; shiver), along with a brief, but adequate, explanation of how these structures warm the animal (holding in the heat; activity in the muscles), add to the response. The student provides a brief description of sweating (evaporate; cool). The supporting details are adequate. Scientific terminology (homeostasis) is present in the response, though the student merely states the term without any discussion or definition.

image of student response

 

Score Level 2 Anchor Paper

 

This response shows a basic understanding of the question. The student correctly suggests panting in dogs as a cooling activity and uses adequate supporting detail to describe this cooling mechanism (allows heat to escape through its tongue and mouth). Fewer details are given regarding sweating and shivering, but including sweat glands as a body structure in the discussion provides additional support. Although some scientific terminology (homeostasis) is present in the response, the student merely states the term without any discussion or definition. More supporting details are needed for a higher score.

image of student response

 

Score Level 3 Anchor Paper

 

This response indicates a good understanding of the question. Several mammals are identified (wolves; humans; bears; wales), along with several body structures (fur; sweat glands; blubber) and activities (perspiration; hibernating). Supporting details are generally complete. A description of one cooling process is provided (perspiration to cool themselves… sweat glands located in the skin…glands release liquid to cool the body). A brief description of one warming structure is given (wales…keep themselves warm in cold water because they have an insulating layer of blubber underneath their skin).

image of student response

 

Score Level 3 Anchor Paper

 

This response indicates a good understanding of the question. Many mammals are identified (pig; elephant; polar bear; whale), along with several body structures (blood vessels; fur; blubber). The student shows the ability to synthesize information by connecting several ideas among different mammals (blood vessels close to the surface of its skin…breezes and air currents cool the blood; fur…that traps air…which keeps the polar bear warm; blubber creates an insulating coat against cold water; throw dirt…onto their backs to block the sun; roll in the mud to block the sun and keep them cool.) The supporting details are generally complete.

image of student response

 

Score Level 4 Anchor Paper

 

This response represents a full and complete understanding of the question. The student synthesizes ideas into complete explanations of how mammals maintain constant internal body temperatures (skin contains nerve endings which…can dilate [blood vessels] in heat to allow the release [of heat]…can shrink [blood vessels] when temperatures are cool, preventing the escape of heat; trigger sweating, a method of cooling…when this water evaporates, heat is released; in cooler seasons…mammals, such as dogs, grow more fur to insulate [trap] heat; during summer…dogs shed fur). Scientific terminology (nerve endings; veins and arteries; secreting; evaporates; cardiovascular system; dilate; water vapor) enhances the response. The supporting details throughout this response are pertinent and complete.

image of student response