Level One depth of knowledge activities for fifth grade students may involve the recall of knowledge and an automatic response. Reciting a poem that has been memorized or recalling the names of characters in a story are Level One activities. Reciting a multiplication table is an example of a Level One activity. Students in geography class may memorize the 50 United States and each state capitol. Students who make a model of our solar system or draw a diagram of the water cycle from memory exhibit Level One depth of knowledge.
Level Two depth of knowledge activities require a fifth grade student to examine a problem or activity and to decide the best approach to solve the problem or engage in the activity. Examples of Level Two activities include figuring out the meaning of new vocabulary words based on knowledge of root words, prefixes and suffixes. Fifth grade students engage in Level Two depth of knowledge activity when they are asked to consider and describe the effect of an event, such as the impact of flooding on an urban area or explain what caused the flood. Level Two activities require students to interpret data and to identify patterns.
Level Three depth of knowledge activities for fifth grade students require students to examine a problem, make reasoned conclusions and present evidence to support their conclusions. Level Three activities do not have one correct answer, but should be designed so that the student must interpret the information and form his own ideas. A Level Three depth of knowledge activity for fifth grade students may be to read a book or an essay and describe the author's intended audience and purpose. Students must provide specific examples to support their interpretation of the information.
Level Four depth of knowledge activities engage the fifth grade student in planning and carrying out assessments of information and conducting experiments. Level Four activities may take place over an extended period of time, such as a science experiment to determine the optimum environment for mold growth. Social studies and cultural activities for Level Four may include studying about different cultures during the same time period and identifying common cultural traits among different peoples. Level Four activities require students to utilize information and data from multiple sources.