Reading Performance Task
Teacher Instructions
Caribou Migration
Instructions for the Teacher
The “Caribou Migration” performance task is based on a text that describes caribou, their
migration habits, and human factors that influence and threaten this migration. The
performance task also includes a map, which shows the summer and winter migratory
paths of the Porcupine caribou herd in Alaska and Canada, as well as the calving area of
the herd within the summer range. Students read the text and examine the map, respond
to questions to demonstrate their understanding of the text and map, and write a
response that requires applying their comprehension of cause and effect and their ability
to make predictions based on the relationship between ideas.
Read the student performance task and familiarize yourself with the text, map, and tasks
the student will be asked to complete. Provide students with the student performance task
and a means (paper or electronic) to write their responses. The recommended time for
completing the task is one hour. Students complete the task individually. Assess student
performance based on the accompanying rubric.
Performance Task Skills
•
Describe cause-and-effect relationships in historical, scientific, and technical texts,
recognizing and using words and clauses that signal those relationships (e.g.,
because, so)
•
Make predictions based on the relationships between events, ideas, concepts, and
procedural steps in an informational text (e.g., connect chapter titles with text
content)
•
Describe the key details of an informational text and explain how they support the
main idea
•
Use a range of strategies to determine the meanings of general academic and
content-area words and phrases in grade-appropriate informational texts (e.g.,
beginning dictionaries; sentence-level context clues such as embedded word
definitions and restatement)
•
Use information in illustrations to find key details and deepen understanding of the
text
•
Use sentence-level context clues (e.g., embedded word definitions, restatement) to
determine or clarify the meanings of general academic and content-area words and
phrases
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Task
Evidence
Rating/Points
1. What does the word
migration mean? What are
three animals that migrate?
• Student correctly defines migration,
indicating ability to use sentence-level
context clues to determine the meaning
of content-area words.
5 points
• Student lists three animals that migrate
(birds, whales, caribou) indicating
ability to describe key details that
support a main idea in an informational
text.
2. Why are caribou able to live
in cold places? Use information
from the passage to give
reasons for your answer.
• Student identifies characteristics of
caribou that make it well suited for cold
climates, such as wide hooves, a wide
nose, and thick fur, indicating ability to
determine key details of an
informational text.
• Student provides an explanation of the
benefits of each characteristic,
indicating ability to explain key details
of an informational text.
3. What is the main idea of the
passage? Can you describe
three details that show the
main idea?
• Student correctly explains a main idea
of the passage (e.g., caribou migrate
during the summer and winter by
moving in big herds to where it is
warmest), indicating ability to explain
the main idea of an informational text.
• Student describes three details that
support the main idea, indicating ability
to describe key details of an
informational text and explain how they
support the main idea.
4a. Where are baby caribou in
the Porcupine herd born? Is
this in the summer range or
winter range of the Porcupine
herd? Why do you think they
are born there? Use
information from the map and
passage to give reasons for
your answer.
• Student correctly explains the
geographical area where baby caribou
from the Porcupine herd are born
according to the map (e.g., on the
coast of northern Alaska and Canada,
near the Beaufort Sea; in the area with
trees, plants, and grasses), indicating
ability to use information in illustrations
to find key details and deepen
understanding of the text.
• Student correctly identifies the place
where baby caribou are born in the
summer range.
• Student provides a logical explanation
as to why the baby caribou of the
Porcupine herd are born in the summer
range based on their learning. They
may include such elements as the fact
• 2 points for the
correct definition
• 1 point for each
example (3
possible)
6 points
• 1 point per
characteristic (3
possible)
• 1 point per
explanation (3
possible)
8 points
• 2 points for an
accurate
explanation of a
main idea
• 2 points for each
supporting detail,
described
accurately and
effectively (6
possible points)
7 points
• 3 points for an
accurate
explanation of the
area where baby
caribou of the
Porcupine herd are
born that cites the
map and passage
as evidence
• 1 point for
correctly
identifying the
range where baby
caribou of the
Porcupine herd are
born in the
summer range
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that it is warmer and there is more
food in the summer range for the baby
caribou than in the winter range,
indicating ability to use information in
illustrations to find key details, deepen
understanding of the text, and make
predictions based on the relationships
between ideas in an informational text.
• 3 points for a
logical explanation
of reasons why the
baby caribou of the
Porcupine herd are
born in the
summer range.
4b. What traits does the
summer range of the Porcupine
caribou herd probably have?
What traits does the winter
range probably have?
• Student correctly lists characteristics of
the summer range (grass and plants,
warm, on the coast) and winter range
(hilly, inland, cold but warmer than the
coast), indicating ability to describe key
details of an informational text and
make predictions based on the
relationships between ideas in an
informational text.
4 points
5. Complete the cause-andeffect chart below based on
what you have learned.
• Student describes the correct causes or
effects for each item in the chart,
indicating ability to describe cause-andeffect relationships in scientific texts
and make predictions based on the
relationships between ideas in an
informational text.
8 points
6. What might happen to the
Porcupine caribou as a result of
the new buildings? Think about
what you have learned.
Remember to give reasons for
your answer.
• Student explains the likely effect of
land development on caribou (e.g.,
interference with migration, dangerous
migration, blocked paths), indicating
ability to make predictions based on
the relationships between ideas;
describe cause-and-effect relationships
in scientific texts; and describe key
details of an informational text.
2 points
7. Use your understanding of
caribou migration to write this
article. In your article, you will
explain the causes and effects
of caribou migration. You also
should explain the causes and
effects of human actions on
caribou migration. You can use
details from the passage and
map to give reasons for your
explanation. Remember to use
words like because, so, and as
a result to explain your ideas.
• Student demonstrates understanding of
the causes and effects of caribou
migration, indicating ability to describe
cause-and-effect relationships in
scientific texts, use information in
illustrations to deepen understanding of
a text, and describe key details of an
informational text, explaining how they
support the main idea.
20 points
• Student demonstrates understanding of
the effects that humans have on
caribou migration, indicating the
abilities specified in bullet one.
• Student uses details from the text to
support the explanation.
• Student uses linking words and phrases
(e.g., because, so) to connect ideas.
• 1 point for each
correct
characteristic of
each range (2
characteristics
each for summer
and winter; 4
possible points)
• 2 points for each
correctly described
cause or effect (4
blanks, 2 possible
points each)
• 1 point for the
explanation of
each likely
prediction (2
possible points)
• 4 points for
effectively
explaining causes
of caribou
migration
• 4 points for
effectively
explaining effects
of caribou
migration
• 4 points for
effectively
explaining causes
of human activity
• 4 points for
effectively
explaining effects
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of human activity
• 2 points for
effectively
supporting
explanation with
details from the
text
• 2 points for
effectively using
linking words and
phrases
Sample Top-Score Response for Item #7
Caribou live in cold places, like Alaska. It can get too cold for them in winter, so they
migrate. They move to warmer places. One cause of caribou migration is cold weather. It
snows and gets too windy, so the caribou move. Another cause is no food. The effect of
caribou migration is that the caribou move south. They move away from the water. They
move to the hills. Thousands of caribou move to the winter range. There is some food
there. Caribou live off their stored fat, too. Because they migrate, the caribou are able to
survive the winter. When it gets warmer, the caribou move back near the water. There is
more food there. There are plants and grass to eat. Caribou have their babies there
because it is warm and there is food.
People sometimes build things where the caribou like to migrate. They build houses and
roads. As a result, the caribou can’t move through those places anymore. They may get
hunted because they must take a different way. They may not make it to the range
because it takes too long to get there. Baby caribou are born in the summer range. It’s
warmer there and there is more food. If caribou can’t get to the summer range, the baby
caribou might not live. If caribou can’t get to the winter range, they may get too cold. If
people keep building, then there might be fewer caribou. Then visitors won’t be able to
see them. Native people will miss them too. Scientists won’t be able to study them.
People need to be careful so the caribou can still migrate.
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Instructions for the Student
Read the passage “Caribou Migration” and look at the map. As you read, think about the
reasons caribou migrate. Also, think about how people’s actions may change caribou
migration. After reading it, you will answer questions about the passage and the
information on the map. Then, you’ll use what you’ve learned to write an article. That way
other people can learn about caribou migration too!
Caribou Migration
Caribou are members of the deer family. They are sometimes called reindeer. Caribou live
in cold areas. They are found in parts of North America, Europe, and Asia. Alaska has
nearly one million caribou. Caribou live in groups, or herds. They have thick fur that
protects them from the cold. Caribou also have wide feet, or hooves. Hooves help caribou
walk through snow. Caribou have wide noses, too. They use their noses to sniff for food
beneath the ice. Caribou can live in the coldest weather. Still, when winter approaches,
they look for warmth. They will travel hundreds of miles to find it.
When animals move from one place
to another in large groups, they
migrate. This movement also can be
called migration. Birds migrate by
air. Whales migrate by sea. Caribou
are the largest animals to migrate
on land. They move in herds of
thousands. One of these herds is
called the Porcupine caribou herd.
The herd is named after a river. The
number of caribou in the herd
changes a little from year to year. A
recent count showed that the herd
had over 120,000 members. They
travel through Alaska and Canada.
They travel more than three
thousand miles every year.
Caribou live in one area of land during the summer. This area is a called their summer
range. Caribou migrate to a different area of land during the winter. This place is called
their winter range. Summer ranges are usually near the coast, or where the land meets
the ocean. The land there is rich with plants and grasses. Caribou eat as much of this food
as they can. They want to store fat for the winter. An adult caribou can eat twelve pounds
of food each day.
In September, the summer range becomes colder. The wind gets strong. The snow can be
heavy. It’s hard to find food. Then, caribou migrate to the winter range. This winter range
is farther south. It is usually on land far away from the water. The air is warmer there.
The land has more hills. The hills block the cold winds. In the winter range, there is some
food, but not a lot. Lichen (a flat, moss-like growth on rocks and trees) is one of the main
foods caribou eat in the winter. Caribou survive mostly on their body fat. By March, the
summer range warms up. Caribou migrate back to this area. They are ready to find
more food.
Caribou have a good sense of direction. They may travel the same migration route for
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many years. Sometimes people move in and build roads, homes, and businesses on land
on the migration routes. This is a problem for the caribou. Caribou do not like to cross
areas with roads and buildings. They move around them. This makes their routes longer.
Longer routes are not good for caribou. It makes the journey less safe. It leaves the
caribou open to predators, or animals who want to hunt them. It also may block them
from reaching their ranges.
Efforts have been made to help the caribou. Laws tell builders that they can’t build in
certain places. They may have to build bridges that go over land instead of roads that go
through it.
Caribou are important to native people. Visitors also like to come see the caribou. This
brings money to local towns. Scientists track caribou migration to learn more about the
world of animals. They, and others, hope that caribou migration will continue for years
to come.
1.
2.
Migration Routes of the Porcupine Caribou Herd
What does the word migration mean? What are three animals that migrate?
Why are caribou able to live in cold places? Use information from the passage to
give reasons for your answer.
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3.
What is the main idea of the passage? Can you describe three details that show
the main idea? Use the chart to write your answers.
Main Idea
Detail #1
Detail #2
Detail #3
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4.
Part A: Where are baby caribou in the Porcupine herd born? Is this in the summer
range or winter range of the Porcupine herd? Why do you think they are born
there? Use information from the map and passage to give reasons for your
answer.
Part B: What traits does the summer range of the Porcupine caribou herd
probably have? What traits does the winter range probably have? Look at the map
and review the passage as you think about your answers. Write your answers in
the chart.
Summer Range
5.
Winter Range
You have learned about what causes the Porcupine caribou to migrate. You have
also learned what may happen as the result of human actions. Complete the
cause-and-effect chart below based on what you have learned.
Cause
Caribou eat as many plants and
grasses as they can during the
summer.
Effect
Snow becomes heavy and the
winds become cold on the
summer range.
Caribou have to take a longer
migration route.
Caribou have to take a longer
migration route.
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6.
Imagine that new homes and roads are being built where the Porcupine caribou
pass through when migrating for the winter. What might happen to the Porcupine
caribou as a result of the new buildings? Think about what you have learned.
Remember to give reasons for your answer.
Use What You Have Learned!
Now it’s time to show what you have learned. You will help a scientist write an important
article.
A scientist wants to put information about caribou migration on a wildlife website. She
needs an article that describes caribou migration. The scientist hopes that the article will
help others understand why caribou migrate. She also hopes the article will explain how
people’s actions may change caribou migration. The scientist has asked you to help her
write the article.
7.
Use your understanding of caribou migration to write this article. In your article,
you will explain the causes and effects of caribou migration. You also should
explain the causes and effects of human actions on caribou migration. You can
use details from the passage and map to give reasons for your explanation.
Remember to use words like “because,” “so,” and “as a result” to explain your
ideas.
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