GRADE 3
Earth and Space Science
|
| Give a simple explanation of what a mineral is and some
examples. |
| Identify the physical properties of minerals (hardness,
color, luster, cleavage, and streak), and explain how minerals can be
tested
for these different physical properties. |
| Identify the three categories of rocks (metamorphic, igneous,
and sedimentary) based on how they are formed, and explain the natural
and physical processes that create these rocks. |
| Explain and give examples of the ways in which soil is formed
( the weathering of rock by water and wind and from the decomposition
of plant and animal remains). |
| Recognize and discuss the different properties of soil,
including color, texture ( size of particles), the ability to retain
water, and the ability to support the growth of plants. |
| Life Science |
| Classify animals according to the physical
characteristics
they share. |
| Give examples of how inherited characteristics
may
change over time as adaptations to changes in the environment that
enable
organisms to survive. (e.g. shape of beak or feet, placement of
eyes
on head, length of neck, shape of teeth, color.) |
| Give examples of how changes in the environment
(drought,
cold) have caused some animals to die or move to new locations
(migration). |
| Describe how organisms meet some of their needs
in
an environment by using behaviors (patterns of activities) in response
to
information received from the environment. Recognize that some
animal
behaviors are instinctive (turtles burying their eggs), and others are
learned
(humans building fires for warmth). |
| Recognize tha many plants and animals can
survive
harsh moments because of seasonal behaviors (some animals hibernate,
and
other animals migrate). |
| Give examples of how organisms can cause changes
in their environment to ensure survival. Explain how some of these
changes
may affect the ecosystem. |
| Describe how energy derived from the sun is used by plants to produce sugars (photosynthesis) and is transferred within a food chain from producers (plants) to consumers to decomposers. |
| Physical Science |
| Identify the basic forms of energy (light, sound, heat, electrical, and magnetic). Recognize that energy is the ability to cause motion or create change. |
| Give examples of how energy can be transferred from one form to another. |
| Recognize that electricity in circuits requires a complete loop through which an electrical current can pass, and that electricity can produce light heat, and sound. |
| Identify and classify objects and materials that conduct electricity and objects and materials that are insulators of electricity. |
| Explain how electro-magnets can be made, and give examples of how they can be used. |
| Recognize that magnets have poles that repel and attract each other. |
| Identify and classify objects and materials that a magnet will attract and objects and materials that a magnet will not attract. |
| Technology and Engineering |
| Appropriate materials, tools, and machines
extend
our ability to solve problems and invent. |
| Identify materials used to accomplish a design
task
based on specific property, i.e., weight, strength, hardness, and
flexibility. |
| Identify and explain the appropriate materials
and
tools to construct a given prototype safely. |