Download Diary of a Red Blood Cell - St. Edward the Confessor School

Diary of a Red Blood Cell
5th Grade Science – Due Tuesday 11/24
Task: Write a story that is approximately 1 page long (neatly written or typed
size 12 font, double spaced) that tells the first hand account of a red blood
cell’s journey through the circulatory system.
Requirements:
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Your diary should be written in the first person perspective, so instead of saying, for example, “The red
blood cell moved into the aorta” you would say “I moved into the aorta.”
Your story should also be exciting to read! Add lots of details about what each passageway looks like
from arteries, to veins to capillaries and beyond. You must include at least 10 places the red blood
cell travels through on its way around the body (See notes on the next page for more information)
The more detail you add about each part of the circulatory system, the better. “I went out of the
ventricle” is true, but a little boring. “I was ferociously pushed out of the right ventricle when it
contracted with its strong muscle. I then soared into the pulmonary artery on my way to the left lung”
is much more exciting and informative.
A good writer also always checks their CUPS, so make sure you have carefully looked over
capitalization, usage, punctuation, and spelling before submitting your final copy.
Content
Quality of
Writing
CUPS
4
Writer includes 910 places the red
blood cell travels
through on its way
through the body.
Writer uses very
vivid descriptions
of each location.
The red blood cell
travels all the way
through the body in
a complete loop.
The red blood cell
is shown picking up
oxygen and
releasing oxygen in
the appropriate
places.
The writer includes
impeccable
capitalization,
usage, punctuation,
and spelling.
3
Writer includes 8-7
places the red blood
cell travels through
on its way through
the body.
Writer includes
descriptions of most
locations.
The red blood cell
travels most of the
way through the
body.
The red blood cell is
shown picking up
oxygen OR releasing
oxygen in the
appropriate place.
2
Writer includes 6-5
places the red
blood cell travels
through on its way
through the body.
Writer includes
descriptions of
some locations.
The red blood cell
travels some of the
way through the
body.
The red blood cell is
shown picking up
oxygen OR releasing
oxygen in the
appropriate place.
1
Writer includes 4 or fewer
places the red blood cell
travels through on its way
through the body.
The writer includes
few capitalization,
usage, punctuation,
and spelling
mistakes.
The writer includes
some capitalization,
usage, punctuation,
and spelling
mistakes.
The writer includes many
capitalization, usage,
punctuation, and spelling
mistakes.
Writer includes
descriptions of few
locations.
The red blood cell travels
only partially through the
body.
The red blood cell is
shown neither picking up
oxygen NOR releasing
oxygen in the appropriate
place.