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Sort pictures into living and nonliving

K-2, PKPercent accuracyTemplateReview and individualize before use. How templates are made
When to use this goal

For early elementary students who can match pictures but do not yet sort by the living or nonliving rule, often calling anything that moves alive. Present levels in sorting by one attribute show readiness.

Baseline
Include tricky items (a car, a cloud, a seed, fire, a tree in winter) as well as easy ones, and record which items are missed. A student who sorts all moving things as living needs the rule card more than more practice.
Tips
Use real photos rather than cartoons so plants look alive. Change the card set each probe but keep a similar number of tricky items. This template works well for alternate assessment science standards that ask for classifying.
Limits
Sorting accuracy does not show the student can explain the rule; use the second behavior if that matters. Seeds and dead leaves are debated even among adults, so decide in advance how they are scored.

Original IEP Atlas template based on general measurement principles; not copied from any goal bank. ID ca-sci-003.

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Student

How the goal refers to the student

Skill

What the student will do

Something an adult can see, count or time.

Condition

When or under what conditions

Support

Support allowed

Criterion

Percent of attempted items answered correctly.

Sample numbers. Replace them with the student's data.

Criterion wording

Data collection

Scoring completed student work (permanent products) against a defined answer key or checklist.

How often data are collected
Mastery rule

How many measurements must meet the criterion.

Timeframe

Timeframe

Goal

By the annual IEP review date, given 10 photo cards of plants, animals and objects and two labeled sorting mats, the student will sort each card onto the living or nonliving mat independently with at least 90% accuracy on living and nonliving sorting cards, in 3 of 4 consecutive weekly probes, as measured by work-sample analysis collected weekly.

Baseline: 50% accuracy.

  • Condition
  • Observable behavior
  • Criterion
  • Measurement method

ObjectivesCopy by fieldData sheet

Measurability check11 of 11 met
  • Met: Observable behavior. Stated as an action.

  • Met: Condition. Stated.

  • Met: Unit fits the behavior. Percent accuracy fits this behavior.

  • Met: Explicit criterion. Number and unit stated.

  • Met: Mastery rule and schedule. Both stated.

  • Met: Method produces the metric. Work-sample analysis gives percent accuracy data.

  • Met: Review timeframe. Stated.

  • Met: Baseline and target compatible. Same unit, change in the right direction.

  • Met: Aligned with area of need. Still about Science Skills.

  • Met: Level of support. Defined.

  • Met: Blanks filled in. Nothing left to fill in.

Checks structure and wording only. Whether the goal fits the student is the team's call.

Short-term objectives (optional)

When are objectives required?

Required for students on alternate assessments (34 CFR §300.320(a)(2)(ii)); some states require them for everyone.

Build objectives by

Paste into your IEP system

Most district systems have a separate box for each part of a goal. Copy them one at a time, or all at once as labeled text.

Area of need
Science, Social Studies & Digital Literacy - Science Skills
Baseline
50% accuracy.
Annual goal348 characters
By the annual IEP review date, given 10 photo cards of plants, animals and objects and two labeled sorting mats, the student will sort each card onto the living or nonliving mat independently with at least 90% accuracy on living and nonliving sorting cards, in 3 of 4 consecutive weekly probes, as measured by work-sample analysis collected weekly.
Timeframe
By the annual IEP review date
Condition
Given 10 photo cards of plants, animals and objects and two labeled sorting mats
Behavior
The student will sort each card onto the living or nonliving mat independently
Criteria
With at least 90% accuracy on living and nonliving sorting cards, in 3 of 4 consecutive weekly probes
Evaluation method
Work-sample analysis
Schedule
Weekly

Copied as plain text, with straight quotes and plain dashes.

Matching data sheet

Accuracy tracker. Records number correct and number attempted.

The CSV opens in Excel or Google Sheets, with formulas. Sheets print blank; no student data is stored.