Our Curriculum › Science › 3rd Grade
Science 3
Third-grade science covering forces and magnets, life cycles, inherited traits and adaptations, fossils, weather and climate, and engineering. Topics come back several times through the year, along with three full science projects and a nature journal.
180 lessons
One a day for a school year
9 units
Each opens to its lessons
3 full science projects
Question to conclusion, each time
Standards
NGSS Grade 3 science
What's taught, unit by unit
Forces, life cycles, adaptations and weatherDays 1–30
Balanced and unbalanced forces, magnets, life cycles, animal groups, inherited traits, fossils, changing habitats and adaptations; weather by season, climate, reading weather graphs, designing for storms, the design process, and the six simple machines.
- 1 · Balanced and Unbalanced Forces
- 2 · Predicting Motion with Patterns
- 3 · Magnets: Forces Without Touching
- 4 · Designing with Magnets
- 5 · Life Cycles of Living Things
- 6 · Animal Groups: Safety in Numbers
- 7 · Inherited Traits
- 8 · Fossils: Clues from the Past
- 9 · How Habitats Change
- 11 · Adaptations Help Animals Survive
- 12 · Plant Adaptations
- 13 · When Environments Change
- 14 · Weather Patterns by Season
- 16 · Comparing Climates Around the World
- 17 · Reading Weather Data and Graphs
- 18 · Designing for Severe Weather
- 19 · The Engineering Design Process
- 21 · Inherited Traits in Plants
- 22 · Why Siblings Look Different
- 23 · Traits Influenced by the Environment
- 24 · Simple Machines Review: The Lever
- 26 · Simple Machines: Pulley and Inclined Plane
- 27 · Simple Machines: Wedge and Screw
- 28 · Building with Simple Machines
- 29 · Famous Scientists
Plus 5 review days, not listed.
First science projectDays 31–40
A full project from start to finish: choosing a question, writing a hypothesis, planning a fair test, running the experiment, recording data, graphing results, drawing conclusions and sharing the project.
- 31 · Planning a Science Project
- 32 · Making a Hypothesis
- 33 · Planning a Fair Test
- 34 · Running Your Experiment
- 36 · Recording Data
- 37 · Making a Graph of Your Results
- 38 · Drawing Conclusions
- 39 · Sharing Your Project
Plus 2 review days, not listed.
Resources, nature journal and a second lookDays 41–70
Natural resources, conserving and recycling, how weather affects communities, starting a nature journal, careers in science, then revisiting forces, magnet strength, frog life cycles, traits that help survival, fossils, weather safety and how people adapt.
- 41 · Natural Resources
- 42 · Conserving Resources
- 43 · Recycling and Reusing
- 44 · How Weather Affects Communities
- 46 · Starting a Nature Journal
- 47 · Observing Local Wildlife
- 48 · Observing Plant Growth
- 49 · Careers in Science
- 51 · Checking Your Nature Journal
- 52 · Balanced Forces in Everyday Objects
- 53 · Testing Magnet Strength
- 54 · Animal Life Cycles: Frogs Revisited
- 56 · Traits That Help Survival
- 57 · Fossils and Ancient Environments
- 58 · Simple Machines Around the House
- 59 · Weather Safety Review
- 61 · Comparing Animal Life Cycles
- 62 · How Force Changes Direction
- 63 · Adaptations for Different Seasons
- 64 · How People Adapt to Their Environment
- 66 · Cumulative Practice: Forces and Motion
- 67 · Cumulative Practice: Living Things
- 68 · Cumulative Practice: Earth and Weather
- 69 · Cumulative Practice: Engineering and Machines
Plus 6 review days, not listed.
Second science project and how scientists workDays 71–80
A second full project on a new question, then how scientists work together, how technology helps them, what makes a good scientific question, and how mistakes can lead to discoveries.
- 71 · Second Science Project: Choosing a Question
- 72 · Second Project: Hypothesis and Fair Test
- 73 · Second Project: Running the Experiment
- 74 · Second Project: Data and Conclusions
- 76 · How Scientists Work Together
- 77 · Technology Helps Scientists
- 78 · Asking Good Scientific Questions
- 79 · Science Mistakes Lead to Discovery
Plus 2 review days, not listed.
Weather stations, sports forces and more practiceDays 81–100
Trivia and teach-someone days, how weather affects plants, weather instruments, predicting weather from clouds and building a weather station, a second nature journal, forces in sports, animal variation, fossils, simple machines and seasonal weather safety.
- 81 · Cumulative Practice: Life Cycles and Traits
- 82 · Science Trivia Challenge
- 83 · Science Around the House
- 84 · Teach Someone a Science Topic
- 86 · How Weather Affects Plants
- 87 · Weather Instruments
- 88 · Predicting Weather from Clouds
- 89 · Building a Weather Station
- 91 · Second Nature Journal: Starting Over
- 92 · Forces in Sports
- 93 · Comparing Animal Traits
- 94 · Second Nature Journal: Follow-Up
- 96 · How Habitats Meet Animal Needs
- 97 · Fossils Tell a Story
- 98 · Simple Machines Challenge
- 99 · Weather Safety Around the Seasons
Plus 4 review days, not listed.
Third project, friction and engineering challengesDays 101–120
A third full science project, magnets in everyday tools, frog life cycles and plant adaptations again, friction, animal groups, seasonal weather patterns, and a build-test-improve bridge challenge.
- 101 · Third Science-Fair Project: Choosing a Question
- 102 · Third Project: Hypothesis and Fair Test
- 103 · Third Project: Running the Experiment
- 104 · Third Project: Results and Conclusion
- 106 · How Magnets Are Used in Everyday Life
- 107 · Animal Life Cycles: A Closer Look at Frogs
- 108 · How Plants Adapt to Their Environment
- 109 · Third Nature Journal Entry
- 111 · Forces That Slow Things Down: Friction
- 112 · How Animals Protect Their Young
- 113 · Comparing Fossils to Living Things Today
- 114 · Engineering Challenge: Build a Bridge
- 116 · How Weather Patterns Repeat by Season
- 117 · Fourth Nature Journal Entry: Comparing Seasons
- 118 · Animal Groups: Living in Herds and Groups
- 119 · Engineering Challenge: Improve Your Bridge
Plus 4 review days, not listed.
Comparing and testing: forces, traits and designDays 121–140
Balanced versus unbalanced forces, comparing life cycles, how environment shapes plant traits, designing a boat and an umbrella, magnets through materials, how fossils form, inheritance, how scientists share findings and science careers.
- 121 · How Balanced and Unbalanced Forces Compare
- 122 · Animal Life Cycle Comparison Chart
- 123 · How Environment Shapes Plant Traits
- 124 · Engineering Challenge: Design a Boat
- 126 · How Scientists Share Discoveries
- 127 · Traits That Help Plants Survive
- 128 · Fossils and Changing Habitats
- 129 · Fifth Nature Journal Entry
- 131 · Magnet Investigation: Strength Through Materials
- 132 · Comparing Habitats: Forest vs. Desert
- 133 · How Fossils Form
- 134 · Engineering Challenge: Design an Umbrella
- 136 · How Traits Are Passed From Parents
- 137 · Sixth Nature Journal Entry: A Full-Year Look Back
- 138 · Water and Living Things
- 139 · Science Careers Deep Dive
Plus 4 review days, not listed.
Science olympics, final challenge and reflectionDays 141–160
Two rounds of a family science olympics, explaining a topic to a younger child, a habitat diorama, an animal adaptations quiz show, a final engineering challenge, a science fact book and self-assessment. Mostly review and reflection.
- 141 · Science Olympics: Round 1
- 142 · Science Olympics: Round 2
- 143 · Explaining a Science Concept to a Younger Kid
- 144 · Design a Habitat Diorama
- 146 · What Makes a Good Scientific Question
- 147 · Animal Adaptations Quiz Show
- 148 · Reflecting on a Year of Science
- 149 · Final Engineering Challenge: Your Choice
- 151 · Final Nature Journal: One Last Look
- 152 · Third Engineering Challenge Retrospective
- 153 · Create a Science Fact Book
- 154 · Science Year Highlights
- 156 · Science Skills Self-Assessment
- 157 · What I Want to Explore Next
- 158 · Teach Your Family Everything You Know
- 159 · Science Goals for Next Year
Plus 4 review days, not listed.
Trivia, portfolio and year-end celebrationDays 161–180
Four rounds of trivia, writing your own trivia, advice for next year's students, a final nature observation, a portfolio of best work, a year-in-review reflection, a family demo and a closing celebration. Very little new content.
- 161 · Writing Advice for Next Year's Scientists
- 162 · Science 3 Trivia Finale: Round 1
- 163 · Science 3 Trivia Finale: Round 2
- 164 · Design Your Own Science Trivia
- 166 · Final Nature Observation Project
- 167 · Science 3 Portfolio: Choose Your Best 5
- 168 · Science 3 Year in Review
- 169 · Dream Up a Science Fair Project
- 171 · Choosing Your Favorite Experiment of the Year
- 172 · Science 3 Trivia Finale: Round 3
- 173 · Finishing Your Science Portfolio
- 174 · Thank a Scientist (Real or Imagined)
- 176 · Science 3 Year in Review: Final Reflection
- 177 · One More Family Science Demo
- 178 · Science 3 Trivia Finale: Round 4
- 179 · Getting Excited for Science 4
- 180 · Science 3 Complete! Final Celebration
Plus 3 review days, not listed.
By the end of the year, your child can
- Show how balanced and unbalanced forces and magnets change an object's motion
- Compare life cycles of different plants and animals
- Explain how traits are inherited and how an environment can change them
- Tell how adaptations help living things survive and what fossils reveal about the past
- Read weather data and describe weather patterns and climates
- Plan and run a fair test, record data, and write a conclusion
Other 3rd Grade subjects: Math 3 · Reading 3 · Writing 3 · History 3