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Group work rubric: grades K–2, 3–5 and 6–8

This group work rubric scores what each student does in a group: sharing the work, listening, contributing ideas, and staying on task. It scores actions a student controls, never personality. Grades 3–5 and 6–8 use four levels with points, with doing a fair share counting twice; K–2 uses three levels in plain words, with no points. Print it, copy it into Google Docs, or open it in the rubric maker to change any cell.

Written for Peabody Teach. Checked . Free to print, copy and change.

Grades K–2

3 levels, 4 criteria, no points (a switch in the maker adds them).

Group work rubric (Grades K–2)Name ____________________ Date ________
CriteriaWow!YesNot yet
I do my partI do my job and help a friend with theirs.I do my job.I let others do my job.
I listenI listen to every friend and say back what they said.I listen to my friends most of the time.I talk over my friends or do not listen.
I share ideasI share my ideas by talking, drawing or pointing, and I use kind words.I share one idea with my group.I keep my ideas to myself.
I stay on taskI work the whole time and help us get back on task.I work most of the time.I play or wander away from our task.
Open in the maker
  • I can do my job in the group.
  • I can listen when a friend talks.
  • I can share my ideas in a kind way.
  • I can keep working on our task.

Grades 3–5

4 levels, 5 criteria, 24 points in all.

Group work rubric (Grades 3–5)Name ____________________ Date ________ Total ____ / 24
CriteriaExceeds4 pointsMeets3 pointsApproaching2 pointsBeginning1 pointScore
Fair sharecounts ×2Finishes all assigned work on time and offers help to others when done.Finishes assigned work on time.Finishes some assigned work, or needs reminders.Leaves most of the work to others./ 8
ListeningListens without interrupting and responds to what others say by asking or adding.Listens to others and lets each person finish.Listens some of the time, or sometimes interrupts.Interrupts often or ignores others' ideas./ 4
Contributing ideasOffers several useful ideas, spoken or written, and helps the group choose.Offers at least one useful idea, spoken or written.Offers an idea when asked directly.Does not offer ideas, even when asked./ 4
Staying on taskStays on task the whole time and helps the group refocus.Stays on task most of the time.Often needs reminders to get back to work.Rarely works on the task, or pulls others off task./ 4
RespectUses kind words, disagrees with ideas rather than people, and helps settle problems.Uses kind words and takes turns.Sometimes uses unkind words or will not take turns.Is often unkind to group members./ 4
Open in the maker
  • I can finish my part of the work on time.
  • I can listen to my group and respond to their ideas.
  • I can add ideas that help the group, out loud or in writing.
  • I can stay focused on our goal.
  • I can disagree in a kind and helpful way.

Grades 6–8

4 levels, 5 criteria, 24 points in all.

Group work rubric (Grades 6–8)Name ____________________ Date ________ Total ____ / 24
CriteriaExceeds4 pointsMeets3 pointsApproaching2 pointsBeginning1 pointScore
Fair sharecounts ×2Completes every assigned task with quality, meets deadlines, and helps plan how work is divided.Completes assigned tasks well and on time.Completes some tasks or misses deadlines, which slows the group.Leaves most of the work to others./ 8
ListeningParaphrases others' points, asks clarifying questions, and builds on their ideas.Listens closely and responds to others' ideas.Listens but rarely responds, or sometimes interrupts.Interrupts or dismisses others' ideas./ 4
Contributing ideasContributes well-reasoned ideas, in speech or writing, and weighs them against others' ideas.Contributes relevant ideas with reasons.Contributes ideas without reasons, or only when asked.Does not contribute ideas./ 4
Focus and timeStays on task, tracks the group's progress against the deadline, and adjusts the plan when needed.Stays on task and keeps track of their own deadlines.Is often off task or loses track of time.Rarely works on the task./ 4
Handling disagreementDisagrees respectfully with reasons, seeks a fair decision, and supports the choice the group makes.Disagrees respectfully and accepts group decisions.Disagrees in ways that stall the group.Disagreements become unkind or stop the work./ 4
Open in the maker
  • I can complete my role reliably and help the group meet its deadline.
  • I can build on what my group members say.
  • I can contribute ideas and back them with reasons.
  • I can manage my time so the group stays on track.
  • I can work through disagreements respectfully.

When to use it

  • Any group project, lab, station or partner task where you want to score each student, not only the product.
  • As a self-check and peer check at the end of each work session.
  • Before the task: read it aloud and let each group pick one row to work on.

What to say to students

  • Every person has a job, and every job matters.
  • Quiet ideas count: you can write your idea on a card and pass it to the group.
  • Listen to the end of a friend's idea before you add yours.
  • This scores what you do, not who you are.

Related

The criteria are generic and written for this site, with no standards codes, so they fit any curriculum. Open one in the maker to change a word, add a row or switch to a single-point rubric; what you change stays in your browser.