3rd Grade exploring the earth's materials and Processes

Scope and sequence

Suggested Time Frame: 3rd Grade Science Curriculum Map

• 2nd Nine Weeks- Consult the 3rd Grade Science Curriculum Map for specific details.

The 3rd Grade Science Curriculum Map outlines the following information:

• 1. Recommended pacing, scope, and sequence for each unit.

  2. Alignment with standards, conceptual understandings, and performance indicators

  3. Links to Unit Concept Storyboard Maps, Content and SEP Support Documents, and Curriculum Guides

  4. Details for Evidence of Understanding, Essential Learning Experiences, and Suggested Learning Engagements

  5. Where appropriate, alignment with specific FOSS, DSM, GEMS, and STC kit Activities and Investigations

Learning goals, skills, and concepts

Learning Goals

• Students will gather observational and measurement data about the properties of rocks, minerals, and soils in order to:

  • Classify unknown rock specimens as igneous, metamorphic, or sedimentary rocks based on properties.

  • Classify unknown minerals using a mineral chart (see support document) based on the properties of luster, color, hardness, and other properties.

  • Classify unknown soil samples as humus, sand, silt, or clay based on their appearance and texture.

• Students will apply what they learned from their investigations into the properties of Earth materials as well as information from various sources to describe how humans use different Earth materials, what makes them renewable or nonrenewable, and how to conserve them.

• Students will gather information from various sources, including maps, models, pictures, and satellite images, to develop models that they will use to classify and describe the pattern and distribution of landforms and water features on the Earth. The following features should include:

  • Water features: Oceans, Seas, Rivers, Streams, Lakes, Ponds, Glaciers

  • Landforms: Volcanoes, Mountains, Valleys, Canyons, Plains, Islands

• Models can include but are not limited to:

  • Diagrams

  • 3-D Models

  • Illustrations

  • Charts

• Students will gather observational and measurement data from investigations using stream tables (or something similar) to describe how weathering, erosion, and gravity shape the Earth’s surface.

• Students will gather information from various sources about natural and human-caused events in order to describe their impact on the Earth’s surface, define problems related to these events, and design and test solutions.

Skills and Concepts

• Analyze and Interpret Data- SEP Support Document

• Obtain and Communicate Information- SEP Support Document

• Develop and Use Models- SEP Support Document

• Plan and Carry Out Investigations- SEP Support Document

• Define Problems and Design Solutions- SEP Support Document

• Properties of Rocks, Minerals, and Soils- Essential Knowledge Support Document

• Renewable and Nonrenewable Resources- Essential Knowledge Support Document

• Distribution of Land and Water Features- Essential Knowledge Support Document

• Classifying Landforms- Essential Knowledge Support Document

• Natural Processes- Essential Knowledge Support Document

• Natural Events and Human Activities- Essential Knowledge Support Document

• Problems from Natural Events and Human Activities- Essential Knowledge Support Document

Science Concept Storyboard

This link will take you to a print-friendly version of the science concept storyboard.

Lessons and activities

Earth Materials Unit Plan Support Doc

Potential Instructional Strategies/Lessons/Examples

• Earth Materials (FOSS Kit) Investigations 2, 3, 4

• Pearson SC Interactive Science Textbook:

  • Chapter 3 -Earth’s Surface

    • Lesson 1 (3.E.4.A1)

      • QuickLab pg. 105-Great intro experience for students to practice observing and classifying rocks and minerals

      • This lesson gives great information pertaining to the types of rocks (sedimentary,igneous, metamorphic), but is lacking exposure to all minerals listed within the support document. This should be supplemented using rocks and minerals kit.

    • Lesson 2 (3.E.4.A1)

      • This lesson helps to address the information on soil which is lacking from the previous lesson

    • Lab Investigation, p. 112(3.E.4A.1)

  • Chapter 3 Earth’s Surface

    • Lesson 3 (3.E.4A.2, 3.E.4B.1, 3.E.4B.3)

      • Quick Lab pg. 123- Quick intro to get students thinking about landforms(creating a ‘volcano’).

      • This lesson gives information about almost all types of landforms and water features with the exception of islands, canyons, streams, and seas. Students will still need to develop and use models of each of these landforms and water features. It also addresses some of the natural events that change to Earth’s surface but not all (excluding landslides and floods). All effects that people have on Earth’s surface are presented in chapter 4 lesson 3

    • Inquiry warm-up pg. 102 and Lab Investigation pg. 130 are the only instances where the indicator where weathering and erosion are addressed in this text.(3.E.4B.2)

    • Lab Investigation p. 132(3.E.4B.4)

  • Chapter 4 Earth’s Resources, lesson 1 ‘What are natural resources?’

    • Lesson 1 (3.E4A.3)

      • Quick Lab pg. 149 exemplifies different common natural resources

    • Lab Investigation, p. 172(3.E.4A.3)

    • Lesson 3 (3.E.4A.3, 3.E.4B.3, 3.E.4B.4)

      • Quick Lab pg 165- Great connection to water pollution

      • This lesson gives students the positives and negative affects humans have on the environment. The quick lab on pg. 169 presents one way students can design solutions to decrease our impact on the environment but you may want to have students work on designing solution to different problems so that they can share their findings with the class.

• AIMS Activities: 2005 SC Science AIMS 3rd Grade Earth Science

  • All Sorts of Rocks (3.E.4A.1)

  • Sedimentary Rock Sources(3.E.4A.1) (3.E.4B.2)

  • Metamorphic Morsels (3.E.4A.1) (involves sweets-not a ‘smart snack’)

  • Creating Crystals (igneous)( (3.E.4A.1)

  • All Sorts of Soils (3.E.4A.1)

  • Soil Safari (3.E.4A.1)

  • Mineral Management (3.E.4A.1)

  • Sandpile (3.E.4A.1)

  • The Earth Has What We Need! (3.E.4A.3

  • Rocks and Minerals as Resources (3.E.4A.3) (3.E.4A.1)

  • Where is Water (3.E.4A.2)

  • Making Sense of Water(3.E.4A.2)

  • The Earth’s Features (3.E.4B.1)

  • Weathering (3.E.4B.2) This activity and the 2 that follow are the foldable mini-books.

  • Erosion(3.E.4B.2)

  • Boulder to Bits (3.E.4B.2)

  • Weathering Away(3.E.4B.2) In this activity and the 3 that follow, students conduct the investigation, but do not plan it.

  • Radishes Rock (3.E.4B.2)

  • Ice Breakers(3.E.4B.2)

  • Agent Erosion(3.E.4B.2)

  • Shakes and Quakes(3.E.4B.3)

• Energy Sources and Use (3.E.4A.3)

  • This lesson, from the American Association for the Advancement of Science ScienceNetLinks website, details a lesson where students explore renewable and nonrenewable resources.

• All the Water in the World (3.E.4A.2)

  • Recognize that there is a lot of water in the world, but that not very much of it can be used for our drinking water and other water supply needs. Recognize that groundwater is a very small percentage of the earth’s water. Understand how important it is that we take care of our groundwater.

    • Teacher Note: Although this activity does not meet the specific performance expectations of these performance indicators, it can be used to as part of the learning experience to illustrate how much of the Earth’s water is freshwater vs. saltwater.

• Carve That Mountain (3.E.4A.2 and 3.E.4B.1)

  • This activity, from the TeachEngineering website, outlines how students can develop models to illustrate the shapes and characteristics of different landforms and water features. The activity goes on to address engineering issues beyond the scope of the SC standards.

Additional Resources

• South Carolina- Naturally!

  • This website provides information about the geology of South Carolina by different regions. This may be used to provide teachers with background information to include in lessons or, depending on reading level, might be something your students could access as a informational text.

• RSD2 Literacy Connections website

• Discovery Education video clip ‘Getting to Know: Soil’

• Discovery Education video clips, ‘Weathering and Erosion’, ‘Science lab: Earthquakes’

• Diamond Dell-traveling van of rock mining, comes to school, email: gemmining@hotmail.com

• Learning Geology Blog

  • This blog has an abundance of background information about geology and might be of use for teachers who are looking to gather information in the planning of this unit.

• South Carolina- Naturally!

  • This website provides information about the geology of South Carolina by different regions. This may be used to provide teachers with background information to include in lessons or, depending on reading level, might be something your students could access as a informational text.

• Learning Geology Blog

  • This blog has an abundance of background information about geology and might be of use for teachers who are looking to gather information in the planning of this unit.

• Weather Wiz Kids (3.E.4B.3)

  • I know what you are thinking- we don't teach weather in 3rd grade. This site not only includes weather information presented in student-friendly language, it also include a link to other non-weather related natural disasters, such as landslides, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions. Great background information for students to access.

• National Geographic Video Resource:

  • As with any video resource, teachers should carefully preview and vet any videos before showing them to students.