Science
Grade 3 science exploring ecosystems, the water cycle, states of matter changes, and forces and motion
Life Science: Ecosystems
Ecosystems and Food Chains
Understanding that an ecosystem is a community of living and non-living things interacting in an environment. Constructing food chains that show the flow of energy from producers to consumers to decomposers.
Food Webs and Interdependence
Extending food chains into food webs to show complex feeding relationships in an ecosystem. Investigating how changes to one part of a food web can affect all other parts.
Adaptations and Survival
Exploring how structural and behavioral adaptations help animals and plants survive in their ecosystems. Comparing adaptations of organisms living in different biomes such as rainforest, desert, and tundra.
Physical Science: Matter and Forces
States of Matter and Changes
Reviewing solids, liquids, and gases and investigating what happens when matter changes state, such as melting, freezing, evaporation, and condensation. Connecting state changes to temperature.
Forces and Motion
Understanding that forces such as pushes, pulls, gravity, and friction affect the motion of objects. Investigating how the size of a force and the mass of an object influence speed and direction of movement.
Magnets and Electricity Basics
Extending knowledge of magnets to explore magnetic force fields and how magnets are used in motors. Introducing simple electrical circuits, identifying conductors and insulators.
Earth Science: Water and Weather
The Water Cycle
Explaining the continuous movement of water through evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and collection. Modeling the water cycle and discussing how it distributes fresh water around the planet.
Weather, Climate, and Natural Hazards
Distinguishing between weather (short-term) and climate (long-term) and exploring how climate varies across regions. Identifying natural hazards such as floods, droughts, and storms and how they affect communities.