3rd-Grade-Science-Curriculum-
3rd-Grade-Science-Curriculum-
Third Grade
Science
Curriculum Essentials
Science Standard 1
Science Standard 2
Students know and understand the characteristics Students know and understand the processes and
and structure of living things, the processes of life, interactions of Earth’s systems and the structure and
and how living things interact with each other and dynamics of Earth and other objects in space.
their environment.
Science Standard 5
Students understand that the nature of science involves a particular way of building knowledge and making
meaning of the natural world.
• Science involves a particular way of knowing that • How is science different from other disciplines in the
includes relying on empirical evidence, logical way it approaches questions?
arguments, skepticism, and peer review. Scientific
ideas are revised over time as new evidence
becomes available.
• Benefits and costs of scientific research and • How have science and technology affected the
technological innovation include consequences that quality of life?
are long‐term as well as short‐term, and indirect as
well as direct.
• Scientific inquiry involves asking scientifically‐ • How do people use the process of science to
oriented questions, collecting evidence, forming investigate questions about the natural world?
explanations, connecting explanations to scientific
knowledge and theory, and communicating and
justifying explanations.
• All organisms share similar characteristics and basic • How are all living the same, and how are they
needs, but they also have differences that allow different?
people to identify, describe and classify them.
• The Earth System is composed of and part of a • How do Earth’s systems interact?
multitude of systems, which cycle and interact
resulting in dynamic equilibrium.
Science Standard 1: Students apply the processes of Science Standard 2: Students know and understand
scientific investigation and design, safely conduct, common properties, forms, and changes in matter and
communicate about and evaluate such investigations. energy.
To meet this standard, a Third Grade student: To meet this standard, a Third Grade student:
√ Designs, plans, and conducts a variety of simple √ Explains that matter has mass, takes up space and is
investigations that include testable questions, made up of parts that are too small to be seen.
predictions, and logical conclusions that link √ Describes the different types and sources of energy.
explanations and evidence.
√ Measures and records data accurately using metric
units and appropriate tools and technology.
√ Follows classroom and safety procedures when
conducting scientific investigations.
√ Uses reading and writing skills to inquire, think
critically, and applies scientific concepts to new
situations.
Science Standard 3: Students know and understand the Science Standard 4: Students know and understand the
characteristics and structure of living things, the processes and interactions of Earth’s systems and the
processes of life, and how living things interact with structure and dynamics of Earth and other objects in
each other and their environment. space.
To meet this standard, a Third Grade student: To meet this standard, a Third Grade student:
√ Explains that humans, like all (multi‐cellular) √ Explains how fossils provide evidence of past life.
organisms, are made up of a variety of body systems
that perform specific functions.
Science Standard 5: Students understand that the nature of science involves a particular way of building knowledge
and making meaning of the natural world.
Essential Learnings
Essential Knowledge, Skills, Topics, Processes, and Concepts
Science Standard 1
Students apply the processes of scientific investigation and design, safely conduct, communicate about and
evaluate such investigations.
Essential Learnings
Develops and communicates logical conclusions (orally and in writing) that link
c
explanations to evidence (data)
Measures and records data accurately using metric units and appropriate tools
3S2
and technology
Gathers data in an organized fashion using appropriate tools and methods (for
a
example: thermometer, metric ruler, balance, digital devices)
Uses metric units (meter, liter, gram, degree Celsius) to accurately measure length,
b
volume, mass, and temperature
c Completes graphs, tables, and charts to display data
d Makes and records systematic observations using metric units
Continued on next page
Essential Learnings
Essential Knowledge, Skills, Topics, Processes, and Concepts
b Uses responsible behavior and humane procedures when handling live organisms
Processes, and Concepts
Uses reading and writing skills to inquire, think critically, and applies scientific
3S4
concepts to new situations
Infers meaning in science texts using background experiences, knowledge, and
a context clues
Writes entries in a science notebook that include questions, predictions, plans that
b correctly sequence events, data, conclusions that link claims and evidence, and
reflections
c Reflects on own work as a scientist
Key Academic Vocabulary: capacity, Celsius, centimeter, conclusion, data, evidence, explanation,
gram, kilogram, length, liter, mass, meter, metric, milliliter, millimeter, observation, prediction, record,
temperature, testable, unit, volume
Essential Learnings
Essential Knowledge, Skills, Topics, Processes, and Concepts
Science Standard 2
Students know and understand common properties, forms, and changes in matter and energy.
Essential Learnings
Explains that matter has mass, takes up space and is made up of parts that are
3S5
Essential Knowledge, Skills, Topics,
b Explains that all matter is made of particles, which are too small to be seen
c Knows that the particles that make up matter are called “atoms”
d Identifies the state (solid, liquid or gas) of a sample of matter in an open container
Essential Learnings
Essential Knowledge, Skills, Topics, Processes, and Concepts
Key Academic Vocabulary: atom, energy, heat, light, mass, matter, particle, sound, space, work
Essential Learnings
Essential Knowledge, Skills, Topics, Processes, and Concepts
Science Standard 3
Students know and understand the characteristics and structure of living things, the processes of life, and
how living things interact with each other and their environment.
Essential Learnings
Names the major human body systems and their main functions (digestive,
a
Processes, and Concepts
Key Academic Vocabulary: body system, brain, circulatory, digestive, function, heart, intestines, joint,
kidneys, liver, locomotion, lungs, movement, muscular, nervous, organ, protection, respiratory,
skeletal, skin, stomach, support
Essential Learnings
Essential Knowledge, Skills, Topics, Processes, and Concepts
Science Standard 4
Students know and understand the processes and interactions of Earth’s systems and the structure and
dynamics of Earth and other objects in space.
Essential Learnings
Describes how fossil evidence reveals environmental characteristics and changes over
b
time
Predicts and infers how fossils are formed from previously living organisms
c
Essential Learnings
Essential Knowledge, Skills, Topics, Processes, and Concepts
Science Standard 5
Students understand that the nature of science involves a particular way of building knowledge and making
meaning of the natural world.
Essential Learnings
Using given data, predicts how a similar event will affect a physical property of a
c similar object
Essential Learnings
Essential Knowledge, Skills, Topics, Processes, and Concepts
3S10 Explains how models are used to represent events and objects
Essential Knowledge, Skills, Topics,
Processes, and Concepts
Identifies that basic models are used to understand scientific processes and/or
a objects that may be difficult to study
Creates simple models (for example: model joints) to represent events and/or
b
objects
c Gives examples of models that are used to represent events and/or objects
Suggested Timelines
Standard K 1 2 3 4 5
Atom the smallest particle of a chemical element, consisting of a positively charged nucleus
surrounded by negatively charged electrons
Body system a group of organs or structures within the body that work together to perform one or
more specific functions
Brain the portion of the vertebrate central nervous system that is enclosed within the cranium,
continuous with the spinal cord, and composed of gray matter and white matter. It is the
primary center for the regulation and control of bodily activities, receiving and
interpreting sensory impulses, and transmitting information to the muscles and body
organs. It is also the seat of consciousness, thought, memory, and emotion
Capacity the maximum amount that can be contained
Celsius of or relating to a temperature scale that registers the freezing point of water as 0° and
the boiling point as 100° under normal atmospheric pressure
Centimeter metric unit of length equal to 1/100 of a meter
Change transform or become different
Circulatory system the body system that circulates blood through the body, consisting of the heart and
blood vessels
Conclusion a judgment or decision reached by reasoning
Data factual information (as measurements or statistics) used as a basis for reasoning,
discussion, or calculation
Digestive system body system consisting of the alimentary canal and digestive glands and responsible for
the ingestion, digestion, and absorption of food
Explanation a statement based on scientific evidence and logical argument about causes and effects
or relationships between variables
Fossil a remnant or trace of an organism of a past geologic age, such as a skeleton or leaf
imprint, embedded and preserved in the earth's crust
Function the role or purpose of a structure
Gas the state of matter distinguished from the solid and liquid states by relatively low density
and viscosity, relatively great expansion and contraction with changes in pressure and
temperature, the ability to diffuse readily, and the spontaneous tendency to become
distributed uniformly throughout any container
Heart the chambered muscular organ in vertebrates that pumps blood received from the veins
into the arteries, thereby maintaining the flow of blood through the entire circulatory
system
Heat a form of energy associated with the motion of atoms or molecules and capable of being
transmitted through solid and fluid media by conduction through fluid media by
convection, and through empty space by radiation
Intestines the portion of the alimentary canal extending from the stomach to the anus and, in
humans and other mammals, consisting of two segments, the small intestine and the
large intestine
Investigation a detailed inquiry or systematic examination
Kidneys pair of organs in the dorsal region of the vertebrate abdominal cavity, functioning to
maintain proper water and electrolyte balance, regulate acid‐base concentration, and
filter the blood of metabolic wastes, which are then excreted as urine
Kilogram metric unit equaling 1000 grams
Length the distance of something from end to end, usually the longest dimension
Liver a large, reddish‐brown, glandular vertebrate organ located in the upper right portion of
the abdominal cavity that secretes bile and is active in the formation of certain blood
proteins and in the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins
Locomotion movement
Lungs the two spongy, saclike respiratory organs in most vertebrates, occupying the chest
cavity together with the heart and functioning to remove carbon dioxide from the blood
and provide it with oxygen
Mass the quantity of matter which a body contains, as measured by its acceleration under a
given force or by the force exerted on it by a gravitational field
Matter physical substance or material in general, that which occupies space and possesses mass
Opinion a belief or conclusion held with confidence but not substantiated by positive knowledge
or evidence
Respiratory system the organs that are involved in breathing; these include the nose, throat, larynx, trachea,
bronchi, and lungs. Also called the respiratory tract
Science the intellectual and practical activity encompassing the systematic study of the structure
and behavior of the physical and natural world through observation and experiment
Skeleton hard inner framework of bones inside an animal that provides shape, support, and
protection
Skin flexible organ that covers the body and protects it
Sound vibrations transmitted through an elastic solid or a liquid or gas, capable of being
detected by human organs of hearing
Space an empty area (usually bounded in some way between things); the expanse in which the
solar system, stars, and galaxies exist; the universe
State of matter the physical state that matter exists in; solid, liquid or gas
Stomach the enlarged, saclike portion of the alimentary canal, one of the principal organs of
digestion, located in vertebrates between the esophagus and the small intestine
Support to bear the weight of; to hold in position so as to keep from falling, sinking, or slipping
Temperature a measure of the average kinetic energy of the particles in a sample of matter, expressed
in terms of units or degrees designated on a standard scale
Testable able to be tested or investigated by a scientific investigation
Unit a standard amount of a physical quantity, such as length or energy, used to express
magnitudes of that quantity
Verify to determine or test the accuracy of, as by comparison, investigation, or reference
Work the transfer of energy from one physical system to another, especially the transfer of
energy to a body by the application of a force that moves the body in the direction of the
force