Mark Description: Team worked in a collaborative, mutually beneficial, way that helped address community needs.

7-8 points (exemplary): Partnerships engage in frequent and regular communication, establish a shared vision and set common goals, and collaboratively worked on the project. Partners share knowledge and understanding of community assets and needs, and view each other as valued resources.

​5-6 points (mature): Some communication and ongoing interaction with community partners is central to the project. More opportunities could be provided to encourage the team to see community members as collaborative partners and resources, and not just recipients of service.

 3-4 points (developing): Partnerships are few in number, weak, or non-existent. Project reflects a partial shared vision with minimal collaborative work between the partners. Service is not reciprocal or of mutual benefit.

 1-2 points (formative): Project is determined and implemented with little involvement from community partners. A shared vision and collaborative partnership has not been established or maintained.

Mark Description: Team has a strong, original voice in planning and executing their project.

7-8 points (exemplary): The team is engaged in generating ideas, identifying learning outcomes, and decision-making during planning, implementation, and evaluation of the project. Project works with adults to create an environment that supports trust and open expression of ideas.

5-6 points (mature): Team works collaboratively to develop project plan and takes leadership in carrying out tasks.

3-4 points (developing): Project is a spin-off of an already completed project. One adult teammate offered strong guidance in organizing and completing project tasks.

1-2 points (formative): Project has very limited original team input.

Mark Description: The team presented knowledge in such a way that was exciting, meaningful and understandable to the community.

7-8 points (exemplary): Project is exciting and demonstrates clear evidence of learning. The action taken or research has a meaningful and clear impact on the community. All questions from review committee can be answered with ease.

5-6 points (mature): Project is exciting and demonstrates evidence of learning. The action taken or research has an impact on the community. Most questions can be answered with ease.

3-4 points (developing): Project demonstrates some evidence of learning. The action taken or research has little impact on the community. Some of the questions can be answered.

1-2 points (formative): Project demonstrates little evidence of new learning. Little connection to the community. Questions can not be readily answered.

Mark Description: Product and methodology is a high quality.

7-8 points (exemplary): Professional quality product. Information is very organized. Diagrams, illustrations or models. Independent and dependent variables were clear throughout.​

5-6 points (mature): Good quality product. Information is organized. Diagrams, illustrations or models are accurate and add to the reader's understanding of the topic. Independent and dependent variables were clear.

3-4 points (developing): OK product. Information is organized. Diagrams, illustrations or models are neat and accurate and sometimes add to the reader's understanding of the topic. Independent and dependent variables were mentioned.

1-2 points (formative): Poor product. Information is disorganized. Diagrams, illustrations or models are not accurate OR do not add to the reader's understanding of the topic. Independent and dependent variables were not clear.

Mark Description: An exemplary project will clearly meet one of the NGSS objectives by-

Science: Asking questions and constructing explanations for a more sustainable community.

Technology: Engaging in argument from evidence gathered using technology or planning and carrying out investigations using innovative tools.

Engineering: Designing solutions and defining problems through engineering practices.

Art: Developing and using models and patterns to demonstrate how beautiful science is.

Mathematics: Analyzing and interpreting data by using mathematics and computational thinking.

!: Obtaining, evaluating, and communicating weird science information.

Water Quality: Quantifying water as a natural resource with considerations on human population