What is a Rich Task?

A rich task is a project or an assignment that integrates different subjects and involves a variety of teaching and learning methods. 

Teachers would ensure:

• Differentiated instruction
• Allowing students to showcase their learning which benefits the student (ex. written, oral communication or through demonstration)
• Ensuring the students are engaging in inquiry
• Supports individual and group goals 

Rich Tasks ensure students are:

• Problem-solving
• Reasoning and proving
• Reflecting
• Representing
• Connecting
• Selecting tools and computational strategies
• Communicating

What Rich Tasks should include...

The Topic	Characteristics	Assessment
Topics covered are interesting and/or current	The Rich Task is problem based	Assessment must be meaningful
The Rich Task is interdisciplinary	It is challenging	Assessment practices are far richer and more complex than the sitting of a test
It integrates social, linguistic and cultural practice	It involved active thinking and doing	The Rich Task represents an educational outcome

Reference

What is a Rich Task. (n.d.). Retrieved September 28, 2016, from  https://learningschool.wikispaces.com/What is a Rich Task 

OAME Welcome. (n.d.). Retrieved September 28, 2016, from http://www.oame.on.ca/main/index1.php?lang=en 

Literacy and Science....How so?

When creating a Rich Task integrating subjects can be difficult. However, this is a great example of how teachers can incorporate a writing piece within a science activity.

Science Video Writing Activity

  

 Strand: Habitats and Communities

                        Grade: 4

Before the task:

• Teachers would first show students the movie Fern Gully: The Last Rainforest (1992)
• Teachers would then have a discussion about how the rainforest is being destroyed which is affecting various animals homes and their natural habitats.
• This could lead to some inquiry based questions that the students may ask and later on research.

Writing Task:

• Students will be asked to write a creative news article that informs readers that habitats are being destroyed in the rainforest and ways that it can be stopped.

Success Criteria:

Students are able to...

• create a newspaper article using the different elements of expository writing.
• can organize their ideas effectively using the 5 Ws.
• are able to identify different elements of expository writing and explain how these elements affects the reader's reaction to text.
• have a greater knowledge of animals natural habitats and rainforests. 

How is this a Rich Task?

This is a very rich task because not only is the teacher incorporating the strand Habitats and Communities from the science curriculum but it is also incorporating a writing and media literacy piece (if students decide to do their news article digitally)  to showcase their knowledge and comprehension. There is an equal balance between focusing on the science curriculum and the literacy curriculum. 

References

 Teachers, B. T. (n.d.). Awesome Lesson Ideas to Integrate Science Across the Curriculum. Retrieved September 28, 2016, from http://www.teachhub.com/integrate-science-across-curriculum 

Literacy and Science not so Rich

Integrating subjects with literacy may seem like an easy task. 

However, ensuring that the tasks is considered to be a Rich Task can be difficult.

Here is an example of why this lesson that integrates both science and literacy is not a rich task for students to take part in. 

Orphaned Spirit Bear Writing Activity

Strand: Habitats and Communities 
Grade: 4

Before the Task:

• Have students read the article Orphaned Spirit Bear Gets New Home by Andrea Klassen (2015, May 15). 
• Have a discussion with students about the article.

Writing Task:

• Students will be asked to write a descriptive paragraph about what they would like to have placed in a habitat if they were in Clover's shoes (a spirit bear).

Success Criteria:

Students are able to...

• write a descriptive paragraph about a habitat suitable for a spirit bear to live in. 
• use adjectives to help describe the habitat they would like to live in as a spirit bear.
• write a paragraph, which includes concise writing.

Why is This Not a Rich Task? 

Although this activity integrates both science and literacy there is not an equal balance between the two subjects. The main focus of this activity is literacy with the emphasis on descriptive writing. This activity is also considered to be not a rich task because of the lack of teaching skills it incorporates. There is little variety in teaching and learning styles where students have the opportunities to be successful depending on their learning needs. This activity does not promote much inquiry based learning for students to truly engage in while learning about habitats and communities. 

How Could we Turn This into a Rich Task?

Prior to students beginning their descriptive paragraphs it is important for the teacher to brainstorm with the students ideas in a variety of ways. Students could brainstorm characteristics of a good habitat for Clover by writing a list, drawing simple pictures, or verbally expressing their ideas. By giving students the opportunity to chose how they will share their ideas you are able to incorporate a number of learning styles that gives students the chance to be successful during this activity. By discussing characteristics that would make a suitable habitat for a spirit bear science is being incorporated more in the lesson, giving literacy and science an equal balance during the integration. When bringing an equal balance of scientific information into a lesson such as this one, it would spark students interests and allow for more inquiry based learning, which then creates a rich task for learning. 

References 

Klassen. A. (2015, May 15). Spirit Bear gets royal treatment with new enclosure in Kamloops, B.C. 680 News. Retrieved from 

http://www.680news.com/2015/05/15/spirit-bear-gets-royal-treatment-with-new-enclosure-in-kamloops-b-c/

Benefits of Integration

• Can help students recognize the links between their learning and real life /other contexts.
• Can alleviate the pressure on teachers to try and fit every subject area into their planning.
• Connects ideas in the curriculum.

• Enhances learning by introducing content from new perspectives.
• Breaks disciplinary boundaries, thereby providing teacher more flexibility.
• Students can often draw more meaning and relevance from learning.
• Acts as a reinforcement tool.

How can INTEGRATION help students?

• increases motivation 
• improvement of the learning process
• provides genuine teamwork 

Students need to see the relationships within and between disciplines

References

Cornett, C. E., Smithrim, K., & Pantaleo, S. (2000). The arts as meaning makers: Integrating literature and the arts throughout the curriculum. Toronto: Prentice Hall, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Sutherland, K. (Ed.). (2008, October 07). An Introduction to Integrated Studies. [Video File]. Retrieved September 26, 2016, from http://www.edutopia.org/integrated-studies-introduction-video.

The Benefits of Cross-Curricular Instruction. (n.d.). Retrieved September 24, 2016, from https://sites.google.com/site/professionalpageofjohngabriel/home/the-benefits-of-cross-curricular-instruction

No Small Matter. (2016, May 6). Why you should try cross-curricular teaching | NO SMALL MATTER & Columbia College Chicago. [Video File]. Retrieved September 25, 2016, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYElu806gyU.