Science Task Prescreen
Task Title: Gravitational Slingshot (Assist) Simulation
Grade: High School
Date: April 23, 2026
SEP: Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking
DCI: ESS1.B: Earth and the Solar System
CCC: Scale, Proportion, and Quantity
Task Purpose: To determine if students can use a computational model to predict orbital motion and explain changes in trajectory using gravitational concepts.
Instructions
- Before you begin: Complete the task as a student would. Then, consider any support materials provided to teachers or students, such as contextual information about the task and answer keys/rubrics.
- Prescreen: Answer the following high-level questions to identify any major red flags (🚩) in your task. If you find one or more red flags, consider the purpose of the task and the evidence gathered to determine whether the task warrants a deeper dive.
Prescreen Questionnaire
| Question | Yes | No |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Is there a phenomenon or problem driving the task? | [x] | [ ] 🚩 |
| 2. Can the majority of the task be answered without using information provided by the task scenario? | [ ] 🚩 | [x] |
| 3. Can significant portions of the task be answered successfully by using rote knowledge (e.g., definitions, prescriptive or memorized procedure)? | [ ] 🚩 | [x] |
| 4. Does the majority of the task require students to use reasoning to successfully complete the task? | [x] | [ ] 🚩 |
| 5. Does the task require students to use some understanding of disciplinary core ideas to successfully complete the task? | [x] | [ ] 🚩 |
| 6. Do students have to use at least one science and engineering practice to successfully complete the task? | [x] | [ ] 🚩 |
| 7. Are the dimensions assessed separately in the majority of the task? | [ ] 🚩 | [x] |
| 8. Is the task coherent and comprehensible from the student perspective? | [x] | [ ] 🚩 |
Recommendation
Based on your assessment needs and the task purpose recorded above, make a recommendation about this task moving forward (choose one):
- Warrants further review.
- Should not be used.
Summary
Summarize your evidence and reasoning:
The task focuses entirely on gravitational assists, a real-world application of orbital mechanics (the Voyager missions). It accurately asks students to manipulate Planet Mass, Initial Velocity, and Approach Angle, which are the exact inputs of the simulation. It asks them to record Max Speed, Final Speed, and Escape Status, which are exactly what the simulation provides. The 5E structure moves from engagement to exploration (using the simulation to generate computational data), to sensemaking (explaining the data using gravity and orbital mechanics), to argumentation (elaborating on optimal conditions). The final deliverable is a clearly defined written proposal requiring Claim, Evidence, and Reasoning (CER). No red flags were identified.