Science

Bacich follows the standards outlined in the California Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). We have adopted Amplify Science as our core curriculum (link to their Distance Learning resources) and the units of study are:

• Balancing Forces
• Inheritance and Traits
• Environments and Survival
• Weather and Climate

The performance expectations in third grade help students formulate answers to questions such as: “What is typical weather in different parts of the world and during different times of the year? How can the impact of weather-related hazards be reduced? How do organism traits vary? How are plants, animals, and environments of the past similar or different from current plants, animals, and environments? What happens to organisms when their environment changes? How do equal and unequal forces on an object affect the object? How can magnets be used?”

The crosscutting concepts of patterns; cause and effect; scale, proportion, and quantity; systems and system models; interdependence of science, engineering, and technology; and influence of engineering, technology, and science on society and the natural world are called out as organizing concepts for these disciplinary core ideas.

"In the third grade performance expectations, students are expected to demonstrate grade-appropriate proficiency in asking questions and defining problems; developing and using models, planning and carrying out investigations, analyzing and interpreting data, constructing explanations and designing solutions, engaging in argument from evidence, and obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information. Students are expected to use these practices to demonstrate understanding of the core ideas." -excerpt from the NGSS DCI Arrangement of Standards document

The third grade field trip to the California Academy of Sciences supports our science curriculum.