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Elementary Curriculum

 

Science - 3rd Grade

District Course #312

Course Description

Science at the elementary level will explore concepts in three main areas: earth science, physical science, and life science. The scientific method and measurement concepts will be incorporated in all three areas, and coordinated with laboratory activities. Unit Zero is not to be taught as a separate unit. Unit Zero has been added to the scope of the course in order to outline major concepts that will be used in units throughout the year. State standards are imbedded throughout the course and guide its instructional objectives. While each standard is expressed through specific instructional objectives, instructors should seek opportunities to apply standards throughout the course.

Adopted Materials

Title: Discover the Wonder
Publisher: Scott Forseman

Hands on Science Laboratory Kits

STC Chemical Tests
STC Plant Growth and Development
FOSS Measurement Kit (in each school)

Copyright Resources

Appendix - Bibliography

Course Scope

Unit 0 Unifying Concepts Ongoing
Unit 1 Physical Science: Matter 3 weeks
Unit 2 Physical Science: Simple Machines 1 week
Unit 3 Life Science: Plants 3 weeks
Unit 4 Earth Science: Solar System 2 weeks
Unit 5 Earth Science: Recycling & Conservation 1 week

Unit 0 Unifying Concepts
Scientific Inquiry, Technology, Communication
Unit 1, 2 Physical Science
  • Structure of Matter
  • Interaction of Matter
  • Simple Machines
Unit 3 Life Science
  • Plant Growth & Development
  • Basic Needs of Plants
Unit 4, 5 Earth Science
  • Scientific Theories of Origin
  • Earth/Moon System
  • Gravity
  • Resource Conservation

Assessment Correlation acronyms key

Unit 0

Unifying Concepts, Scientific Inquiry, Technology, and Communication

Ongoing

Instructional Objective

312.00 Know the Unifying Concepts and Skills that direct science, activate technology and provide historical and social perspectives

Standard Reference
3.S.1

No.

Performance Objective

Resource Reference

Assessment Correlation

01

Explore & use models to explain how theories work

Discover the Wonder by ScottForesman
STC Kits
FOSS Kits

TMA

02

Understand the concepts of past, present, and future

03

Explain that a system consists of an organized group of related objects that form a whole

04

Select and use appropriate units and tools to make measurements with the metric system and U.S. Customary system.

05

Explain the difference between observations and inferences

06

Understand the relationship between science and technology

07

Use available technology to assist in solving problems

08

Understand the importance of working in teams to solve scientific problems

09

Identify the contributions of notable scientists

10

Use scientific inquiry to develop critical thinking skills by:
● Writing and analyzing questions that can be answered by conducting scientific experiments.
● Reading and following technical instructions.
● Stating a hypothesis based on observations.
● Conducting scientific investigations using a control and a variable.
● Selecting and using appropriate tools and techniques to gather and display data.
● Comparing alternative explanations and predictions.
● Communicating scientific procedures & explanations.

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Unit 1

Matter

3 weeks

Instructional Objective

312.01Understand the structure and function of matter and molecules and their interactions.

Standard Reference
3.S.2

No.

Performance Objective

Resource Reference

Assessment Correlation

01

Use instruments to measure properties.

STC Kit
"Chemical Tests"
Discover Science

TMA

02

Identify the physical properties of solids, liquids, and gases.

TMA

03

Explore how common household chemicals have different physical and chemical properties.

TMA

04

Experience how chemicals undergo changes in form, color, or texture when they are mixed together, separated, or heated.

TMA

05

Explain that heating and cooling can cause changes of state in common materials.

 

06

Determine how some chemicals can be identified by their interaction with various liquids.

TMA

07

Demonstrate how types of mixtures, such as solutions or suspensions, are created when solids are combined with water.

TMA

08

Classify chemicals as acids, bases, or neutrals.

TMA

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Unit 2

Simple Machines

1 week

Instructional Objective

312.02 Understand concepts of motion and forces.

Standard Reference
( District Standards)

No.

Performance Objective

Resource Reference

Assessment Correlation

01

Investigate the effect of pull/push on the motion and direction of objects.

YMCA, Micron, Discovery Center, AIMS
Lego Simple Machines:
9610 Gears
9612 Levers
9614 Pulleys
9616 Wheels and Axles

TMA

02

Explore and investigate the six simple machines.

TMA

03

Demonstrate that the six simple machines can decrease the amount of force necessary to complete a task.

TMA

04

Investigate and list examples of simple machines at home or school.

TMA

05

Compare the use of simple machines –past vs. present

TMA

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Unit 3

Plants

3 weeks

Instructional Objective

312.03 Observe and explore the life cycle of plants and their basic needs.

Standard Reference
District

No.

Performance Objective

Resource Reference

Assessment Correlation

01

Follow a life cycle that begins with growth from a seed and proceeds through the production of seeds by planting a flower from seed and harvesting the new seeds.

STC Kit "Plant Growth and Development"
Discover the Wonder Module B

TMA

02

Recognize that to live and grow, plants need light, water, and nutrients from the different soils by using the scientific method.

TMA

03

Compare seeds planted with and without the various needed components.

TMA

04

Describe how and why flowering plants must be pollinated in order to produce seeds.

TMA

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Unit 4

Solar System and Space

2 weeks

Instructional Objective

312.04 Understand scientific theories of origin and subsequent changes in the universe and earth systems.

Standard Reference
3.S.4

No.

Performance Objective

Resource Reference

Assessment Correlation

01

Compare and contrast the basic components of our solar system (planets, sun, moon, asteroids, comets, meteors).

4th grade text Discover the Wonder
Module A
2nd grade text
Discover the Wonder
Module D

TMA

02

Describe the position of the sun.

TMA

03

Recognize and understand the importance of the sun to our earth.

TMA

04

Describe the moon.

TMA

05

Introduce the moon’s relationship to the earth.

TMA

06

Describe patterns of stars.

TMA

07

Describe and compare the planets.

TMA

Instructional Objective

312.05 Explain the reasons for length of a day, the seasons, and year on Earth.

Standard Reference
3.S.4

No.

Performance Objective

Resource Reference

Assessment Correlation

01

Explore the length of a day, the seasons, the year, phases of the moon, and eclipses.

4th grade text Discover the Wonder
Module A
STC Measuring Time Lessons 1-6

TMA

02

Experiment to identify facts related to rotation and/or revolution of Earth and/or the moon.

TMA

03

Identify positional relationships between the earth, sun, and moon.

TMA

Instructional Objective

312.06 Explore the effect of gravity on the solar system, including the Earth, moon, and tides.

Standard Reference
3.S.4

No.

Performance Objective

Resource Reference

Assessment Correlation

01

Explain the effect of gravity on orbits and objects.

4th grade text Discover the Wonder
Module C
Module A

TMA

02

Explain the effect of moon’s gravity on Earth’s tides.

TMA

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Unit 5

Recycling and Conservation

1 week

Instructional Objective

312.07 Understand common environmental quality issues, both natural and human induced.

Standard Reference
3.S.5

No.

Performance Objective

Resource Reference

Assessment Correlation

01

Explain the concept of recycling.

Discover the Wonder
Module F

TMA

02

Identify local environmental issues.

TMA

03

Discuss the causes of pollution.

TMA

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This Bibliography provides a sampling of books and other resources that complement the various science units. The selections were made from the resource portions of each kit as well as the National Science Teachers Association (http://www.nsta.org). Please visit these areas for more ideas.

Chemical Tests

Cobb, Vicki. Gobs of Goo. New York: Gloucester Press, 1986.
     Discusses the states of matter, elements and compounds, and how chemicals can be mixed together to make the substances we use every day.

Wyler, Rose. Science Fun with Homemade Chemistry. Old Tappan. NJ: Julian Messner, 1987.
     A good source of chemistry activities students can do at home with everyday chemicals.

Zubrowski, Bernie. Messing Around with Baking Chemistry. Boston: Little, Brown and Co., 1981.
     This museum activity book enables students to explore what happens when batter and dough turn into cake and bread. It emphasizes the properties of baking powder, baking soda, and yeast.

Related Trade Books

DePaola, Tomie. Strega Nona's Magic Lessons. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1982.
     Bambolona is tired of working for her father, the baker, and sets off to learn magic from Strega Nona. Teachers can relate this story to chemical and physical changes.

Grey, Vivian. The Chemist Who Lost His Head. New York: Coward-McCann, Inc., 1982.
     Recounts the life of the French chemist Antoine Lavoisier, whose work helped transform many of the undocumented scientific beliefs of the Middle Ages into an exact science.

Van Allsburg, Chris. Two Bad Ants. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1988.
     Two bad ants desert their colony in search of marvelous crystals.

Plants

Micucci, Charles. The Life and Times of the Honeyee. 1996

Posada, Mia. Dandelions: Stars in the Grass. Carolrhoda Books/Lerner ISBN 1-57505-383-7
     The life cycle of a dandelion is explored in rhyme. Colorful illustrations and creative placement of text with pictures make this book inviting to the reader. Facts about Dandelions, Recipe for Dandelion Salad, Dandelion Science.

Pfeffer, Wendy. A Log's Life. 1997
     Through stunning cut-paper collages and lyrical, descriptive text, young readers are introduced to the life cycle of a tree. Children will be fascinated as they learn about the many animals that depend upon the tree for food and shelter, as well as assist in the decay process.

Rockwell, Anne. One Bean. 1997

Maass, Robert. Garden. 1998

Levenson, George. Pumpkin Circle: The Story of a Garden. 1998

Scientific Inquiry

Skurzynski, Gloria. Waves: The Electromagnetic Univers (Understanding Scientific Principal). 1998

Cole, Henry. I Took a Walk. 1998

Pollution - Recycling and Conservation

Glaser, Linda. Compost! Growing Gardens from Your Garbage. 1997

Shetterly, Susan. Shelterwood. Tilbury House ISBN 0-88448-210-3
     Beautifully illustrated in oils, this story takes the reader on a summer journey through the woods to learn how environmentally conscious foresters protect the inhabitants by selectively cutting trees, leaving shelter for animals and protecting young trees. The characters also share their appreciation of plants and animals by identifying those that dwell in the woods.

The Womp World

Space

Glaser, Linda. Our Big Home: An Earth Poem. 2001

Eye Witness Books
Magic School Bus - Space and Stars
The Green Book
Isaac Asnoph - Space

Measurement

Adler, David. How Tall, How Short, How Faraway. Holiday House. ISBN 0-8234-1357-6
     In this wonderful hands-on concept book, easy technological measuring tools are superbly introduced and explained. Practical explorations are provided for young students to achieve a deeper understanding of measurements and measuring. The informative text and colorful illustrations clearly explain the difference between customary and metric systems.

Nagda, Ann and Cindy Bickel. Tiger Math: Learning to Graph from a Baby Tiger. Henry Holt ISBN 0-8050-6248-3
     The authors cleverly describe the growth of T.J., an orphaned Siberian tiger cub, through the use of engaging text and various types of graphs. This book is a unique approach to integrating science and mathematics through a topic that is totally irresistible to the reader, a baby tiger cub's life.

Simple Machine

Dahl, Roald. Fantastic Mr. Fox.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

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Boise School District
8169 W. Victory Rd., Boise, ID 83709
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