Speaking Assessment

Grade Level: 1st Grade

WIDA Proficiency Level: 3 (Developing) & 4 (Expanding)
**Note: Since Sophia is a speaking level 3.8, she is assessed using both level 3 and 4
assessments since she is level 3, but close to level 4.**
WIDA Standards

ELD Standard 5: The Language of Social Studies

Students at all levels of English language proficiency interact with grade-level words and
expressions
Performance Definition: Within the sociocultural contexts for language use children will speak
using...
Short and some expanded sentences with emerging complexity
Expanded expression of one idea or emerging expression of multiple related ideas
Repetitive grammatical structures with occasional variation
Sentence patterns across content areas
Specific content language, including cognates and expressions
Words or expressions with multiple meanings used across content areas
Topic: American Leaders in Early U.S. History
Virginia History SOL: 1.2 The student will describe the stories of American leaders and their
contributions to our country, with emphasis on George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Abraham
Lincoln, George Washington Carver, and Eleanor Roosevelt.
Virginia SOL Grade One English: Oral Language 1.1-1.4

1.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
2.
a.
b.
3.
a.
b.
c.
d.
4.
a.

Propositions:
George Washington
was born in Virginia
was a farmer
was a brave leader of soldiers
was the first President of the U.S.
is known as the Father of Our Country
Benjamin Franklin
proved that electricity was present in lightning through his kite experiment
started the first library and the first volunteer fire department in America
Abraham Lincoln
was born in a log cabin
taught himself how to read
President of the U.S.
was known as Honest Abe
George Washington Carver
was an African American during the time of slavery in the U.S.

b.
c.
d.
5.
a.
b.
c.

studied science and plants

became a teacher
developed hundreds of uses for peanuts, sweet potatoes, and soybeans
Eleanor Roosevelt
was a leader for equal rights for all people
volunteered for many organizations
was the First Lady to President Roosevelt

Intensive Speaking
WIDA Level: 3
Purpose: Assess a childs ability to talk about selected American heros and their contribution to
our country through short stretches of discourse (no more than one sentence) with linguistic
ability at a developing level.
This activity will be an informal, formative assessment task that will be carried out within the
subject area. The student will be assessed on the content of their responses.
This activity will take place in small groups with the teacher or adult volunteer asking students
the questions.
Student hears:
Directions: Look at the picture. Answer the questions about each person we have talked about
in class.
The student sees:

The student hears:

Who is this man? George Washington Carver
What did he study? He studied science and plants (must say both to be considered fully
correct).
What was his job? He was a teacher.
What plants did he study the most and find many uses for? He found hundreds of uses for
peanuts, soybeans, and sweet potatoes (stating two out of three plants will be considered
correct).

The student sees:

The student hears:

Who is this woman? Eleanor Roosevelt
She was married to President Roosevelt. What does this mean her title was? She was a first
lady.
What did she want for all people? She wanted equal rights for all people.
Responsive Speaking

1.

2.
3.

4.

5.

6.

WIDA Level: 4
Purpose: Assess a childs ability to respond to open-ended short questions from an interlocutor
with a brief response. The focus will be on the content of the students answer and whether or
not they know the appropriate vocabulary needed to answer each question. The students ability
to understand the question and provide grammatically correct answers will be assessed.
Directions: (Given orally) Carefully listen to each question and answer in a complete sentence.
**This will take place in a one-on-one interview with the teacher while students are completing
another activity**
Students Hear:
What is one example of what Benjamin Franklin is famous for? (proving electricity through his
kite experiment, starting the first library, starting the first volunteer fire department in America) [1
point for one example]
What is one example of what Abraham Lincoln is famous for? (President of the U.S., known as
Honest Abe, teaching himself how to read) [1 point for one example]
What is one example of what George Washington is famous for? (Was a farmer, was a brave
leader of soldiers, was the first President of the U.S., known as the Father of Our Country) [1
point for one example]
What is one example of what George Washington Carver is famous for? (African American
during the time of slavery in the U.S., studied science and plants, was a teacher, developed
many uses for peanuts, sweet potatoes, and soybeans) [1 point for one example]
What is one example of what Eleanor Roosevelt is famous for? (was a leader for equal rights
for all people, volunteered for many organizations, was the First Lady to President Roosevelt)
[1 point for one example]
Who is your favorite American leader? Why? [1 point for naming an American leader, 1 point for
explaining one reason why]

7. If you pick any American leader to be for the day, who would you pick? Why? [1 point for naming
an American leader, 1 point for explaining reason why]
**Since there are many possibilities for answers to these questions, I have listed all the
possible answers in italics, but students only need to give one answer.**
Interactive Speaking
WIDA Level: 3
Purpose: Assess a childs ability to communicate using relatively long stretches of interactive
discourse using specific content language.
Activity/Game Description: Teacher writes down one question covering content from the unit
on individual index cards. The teacher hides the cards around the room while students are not
in the classroom. Split into teams of three, students individually find the cards, bring one at a
time to the teacher, and orally answer the question on the card. For a correct answer, the
students will get to keep the card. For an incorrect answer, the teacher tells the student to ask a
group member to find the correct answer. The group of students with the most cards at the end
of the game wins.
*This activity can be used as an informal, formative assessment task that should be taught in
the classroom within the subject unit.*
Directions: Students hear- You have been divided into teams of three. The names of these
teams are listed on the Smart Board. When I finish giving directions, you may find your team
members. Around the room there are hidden cards. Each card has one question about the 5
American leaders that we have learned about. One team member from each team will find one
card. Read the question on your card. If you cannot read it, you can ask one of your team
members for help. Bring that card to me and answer it the best you can. If you answer correctly,
you win the card for your team. If you cannot answer correctly, ask someone on your team for
the right answer. Once you have correctly answered the question on your card, another team
member may go find a card. The team with the most cards wins!
Questions:
George Washington
1. Where was George Washington born? In Virginia.
2. Who was George Washington? a farmer and/or brave leader of soldiers and/or the first President of the
U.S. and/or the Father of Our Country
3. Who is known as the Father of Our Country? George Washington
4. Who was the first President of the U.S.? George Washington
Benjamin Franklin
1. What did Benjamin Franklin prove through his kite experiment? Electricity was present.
2. How did Benjamin Franklin prove electricity was present? Through his kite experiment.
3. What did Benjamin Franklin start in America? The first library and/or the first volunteer fire department.
4. Who started the first library in America? Benjamin Franklin
5. Who started the first volunteer fire department in America? Benjamin Franklin
Abraham Lincoln
1. Where was Abraham Lincoln born? In a log cabin.
2. What did Abraham Lincoln teach himself? How to read.
3. Who was Abraham Lincoln? A President of the U.S. and/or Honest Abe
4. What other name was Abraham Lincoln known as? Honest Abe
5. Who went by the name, Honest Abe? Abraham Lincoln
George Washington Carver

1. Who was George Washington Carver? An African American during the time of slavery in the U.S. and/or
a teacher
2. What 2 things did George Washington Carver study? Science and plants.
3. What 3 things did George Washington Carver develop hundreds of uses for? Peanuts, sweet potatoes,
and soybeans.
4. Who was a famous African American during the time of slavery in the U.S.? George Washington Carver
Eleanor Roosevelt
1. Which famous female leader volunteered for many organizations? Eleanor Roosevelt
2. What was Eleanor Roosevelt a leader for? Equal rights for all people.
3. Who was Eleanor Roosevelt? the First Lady and/or the First Lady to President Roosevelt and/or a leader
for equal rights for all people and/or a volunteer for many organizations
4. Who was the First Lady to President Roosevelt? Eleanor Roosevelt

Extensive Speaking
WIDA Level: 4
Purpose: Assess a childs ability to use planning in the use of expanded expression of one idea
during which the opportunity for oral interaction with other people is highly limited or ruled out
altogether.
Activity Description: Students will choose one of the five American leaders that have been
discussed in class to give a short presentation on (2-3 minutes). There will be books available
in the classroom on each American leader for the students to use as resources to prepare the
information they will present. Each child will be asked to answer the 5Ws (See Attachment)
about their chosen American leader within their presentation. To help support their presentation
they will also be creating a mini-poster (8.5X11 inch paper), in which they will draw a picture of
their leader and a picture to symbolize their facts. An example will be provided. This activity will
be completed in a weeks span, with Friday being the presentation day. There will be a rubric to
assess the presentation both in content and how well the student can expand on their topic;
there will also be a checklist to assess oral presentation.
Directions (Given orally on Monday as well as given in a handout to take home): You will
choose one of our 5 American leaders to talk to the class about on Friday. You will use books
about your leader to find facts about them to answer the 5Ws (Who, What, When, Where,
Why). During class time, you will create a mini-poster with a drawing of your leader and
pictures describing the facts you find about them. On Friday everyone will show their poster to
the class and talk about what they found about their leader. The mini-poster is worth 9 points
and the presentation is worth 24 points.
Points (content):
Mini-poster (9 points):
Drawing of American leader (3 points)
Name of American leader written on poster (3 points)
At least 4 pictures depicting 5Ws facts (3 points)
Presentation (24 points):
Introduces American leader and gives a brief background on them (6 points)
Verbally makes connections between pictures and the facts they found about the
leader (6 points)
Describes what time period they are from (6 points)
Tells about four contributions they made to US history (6 points)

(Note: For the presentation students will be assessed on how well they are able to
expand on their topic--American leader--and their uses of some short and some
expanded sentences. They will also be assessed on how well they are able to give a
presentation that flows and is somewhat organized around a common theme--5Ws)
Rubric for Mini Poster and Extensive Speaking Presentation
Element 1: Mini-Poster

Terrific - 3 points

Very

Good - 2
points

Good - 1 point

Needs Work -0 points

Terrific drawing of
American leader with
color and detail.

Very good drawing of

American leader with
some color and
detail.

Good drawing of
American leader with
no color or detail.

No drawing of
American leader.

Name of American
leader and spelled
correctly clearly
written on poster.

Name of American
leader written on
poster, but is spelled
incorrectly.

Name of American
leader hard to find on
poster.

No name of American
leader on poster.

Four pictures of 5Ws

facts.

Three pictures of
5Ws fact.

One or two pictures

of 5 Ws fact.

No pictures of 5Ws
fact.

Element 2: Presentation

Criteria

Terrific6 points

Very Good -

Good2 points

Needs Work0 points

points

American
Leader
introduced

Introduces
American leader
and provides
background
information.

Introduces
American leader
and provides little
background
information.

Introduces
American leader
with no
background
information.

The American
leader was not
introduced.

Verbally makes
connections
between
pictures and
facts

Verbally makes
connections
between 4 pictures
and facts.

Verbally makes
connections
between 3
pictures and facts.

Verbally makes
connections
between 1-2
pictures and facts.

Does not make

connections
between pictures
and facts.

Describes time
period of
American
leader

Gives a description
of full time period
of American leader,
providing specific
dates.

Gives a brief
description of
general time
period.

Only gives dates

for time period of
American leader.

Gives no
description of
time period of
American leader.

Tells about
contributions
American
leader made to
US history

Tells about 4
contributions the
American leader
made to US
history.

Tells about 3
contributions the
American leader
made to US
history.

Tells about 2
contributions the
American leader
made to US
history.

Tells about 1 or
less contributions
the American
leader made to
US history.

Attachment: