3rd Grade Science Unit 6

Big Idea:

Explore natural resources and changes that affect the Earth’s surface.

Student Expectations:

Priority TEKS

3.7(A) [Readiness] Explore and record how soils are formed by weathering of rock and the decomposition of plant and animal remains

3.7(B) [Supporting] Investigate rapid changes in Earth's surface such as volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and landslides

Focus TEKS

3.1(B) [Tools to Know] Make informed choices in the use and conservation of natural resources by recycling or reusing materials such as paper, aluminum cans, and plastics.

3.3(B) [Ways to Show] Represent the natural world using models such as volcanoes or the Sun, Earth, and Moon system and identify their limitations, including size, properties, and materials

3.7(C) [Supporting] Explore the characteristics of natural resources that make them useful in products and materials such as clothing and furniture and how resources may be conserved.

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

3.2(E) [Tools to Know] Demonstrate that repeated investigations may increase the reliability of results

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

3.5(C) [Supporting] Predict, observe, and record changes in the state of matter caused by heating or cooling such as ice becoming liquid water ,condensation forming on the outside of a glass of ice water, or liquid water being heated to the point of becoming water vapor

3.8(A) [Supporting] Observe, measure, record, and compare day-to-day weather changes in different locations at the same time that include air temperature, wind direction, and precipitation

Student Learning Targets:

• I will investigate rapid changes in the Earth’s surface (volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and landslides).
• I will make informed choices in the use and conservation of natural resources.
• I will represent the natural world using models, and explain the limitations of using models, in writing.
• I will explore and record how soils are formed by weathering of rock.
• I will explore and record the decomposition of plant and animal remains.

Essential Questions:

• Why do we use models to represent the natural world?
• How is life on Earth affected by volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, or landslides?
• How does Earth’s surface change?
• How can humans conserve natural resources so we can survive on our Earth?

Extra Information:

Adopted Textbook: ScienceFusion, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

District Grading Policy

Texas Gateway Online Resource Center