3rd Grade Science Unit 10

Big Idea:

Describe food chains and environmental changes within ecosystems.

Student Expectations:

Priority TEKS

3.9(A) [Readiness] Observe and describe the physical characteristics of environments and how they support populations and communities of plants and animals within an ecosystem

Focus TEKS

3.9(B) [Supporting] Identify and describe the flow of energy in a food chain and predict how changes in a food chain affect the ecosystem such as removal of frogs from a pond or bees from a field

3.9(C) [Supporting] Describe environmental changes such as floods and droughts where some organisms thrive and others perish or move to new locations

Ongoing TEKS

3.2(C) [Ways to Show] Construct maps, graphic organizers, simple tables, charts, and bar graphs using tools and current technology to organize, examine, and evaluate measured data

3.3(A) [Ways to Show] Analyze, evaluate, and critique scientific explanations by using evidence, logical reasoning, and experimental and observational testing

3.3(C) [Ways to Show] Connect grade-level appropriate science concepts with the history of science, science careers, and contributions of scientists

3.4(A) [Tools to Know] Collect, record, and analyze information using tools, including cameras, computers, hand lenses, metric rulers, Celsius thermometers, wind vanes, rain gauges, pan balances, graduated cylinders, beakers, spring scales, hot plates, meter sticks, magnets, collecting nets, notebooks, and Sun, Earth, and Moon system models; timing devices and materials to support observation of habitats of organisms such as terrariums and aquariums

3.10(A) [Readiness] Explore how structures and functions of plants and animals allow them to survive in a particular environment

Student Learning Targets:

• I will observe and describe the physical characteristics of ecosystems that support the plants and animals in it.
• I will identify and describe the flow of energy in a food chain.
• I will predict how changes in a food chain affect the ecosystem, in writing.
• I will describe how environmental changes affect organisms.

Essential Questions:

• What might happen if you introduce a new species into an ecosystem?
• How do ecosystems support the plants and animals that live there?
• How do environmental changes affect an ecosystem?

Extra Information:

Adopted Textbook: ScienceFusion, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

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