Grade 3 · Science
3.10A
Weather comparisons
Compare and describe day‑to‑day weather in different locations at the same time, including temperature, wind direction, and precipitation.
3.10B
Soil formation
Investigate and explain how soils (e.g., sand, clay) form by weathering of rock and decomposition of plant/animal remains.
3.10C
Rapid changes to Earth’s surface
Model and describe rapid changes such as volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, landslides.
3.11A
Uses of natural resources
Explore and explain how humans use natural resources (construction, agriculture, transportation, products).
3.11B
Conservation importance
Explain why conservation of natural resources is important.
3.11C
Ways to conserve
Identify ways to conserve resources: reduce, reuse, recycle.
3.12A
Temperature/precipitation & organisms
Explain how temperature and precipitation affect animal growth and behavior (migration, hibernation) and plant responses (dormancy).
3.12B
Food chains & flow of energy
Identify and describe the flow of energy in a food chain and predict effects of changes (e.g., removal of species).
3.12C
Natural changes & organisms
Describe how natural changes (floods, droughts) cause some organisms to thrive and others to perish or relocate.
3.12D
Fossils as evidence
Identify fossils as evidence of past living organisms and environments, including common Texas fossils.
3.13A
Structures/functions & survival
Explore and explain how external structures and functions of animals enable survival in their environment.
3.13B
Life cycles
Explore, illustrate, and compare life cycles in organisms such as beetles, crickets, radishes, or lima beans.
3.1A
Ask questions & define problems
Ask questions and define problems based on observations or information from text, phenomena, models, or investigations.
3.1B
Plan investigations & design solutions
Use scientific practices to plan and conduct descriptive investigations and use engineering practices to design solutions to problems.
3.1C
Safety
Demonstrate safe practices and use safety equipment during classroom and field investigations per TEA safety standards.
3.1D
Tools & technology
Use appropriate tools (e.g., hand lenses, thermometers, rain gauges, scales, magnets, timing devices, Sun‑Earth‑Moon models, digital tools) to observe, measure, test, and analyze.
3.1E
Collect evidence
Collect observations and measurements as evidence.
3.1F
Organize data
Construct graphic organizers to collect data (tables, bar/line graphs, tree or concept maps, Venn, flow/sequence maps, input‑output tables).
3.1G
Develop & use models
Develop and use models to represent phenomena, objects, and processes or design a prototype for a solution.
3.2A
Models: limits/advantages
Identify advantages and limitations of models such as size, scale, properties, and materials.
3.2B
Analyze data
Analyze data by identifying significant features, patterns, or sources of error.
3.2C
Math in patterns
Use mathematical calculations to compare patterns and relationships.
3.2D
Evaluate designs
Evaluate a design or object using criteria.
3.3A
Develop explanations/solutions
Develop explanations and propose solutions supported by data and models.
3.3B
Communicate findings
Communicate explanations and solutions individually and collaboratively in various settings and formats.
3.3C
Discuss evidence
Listen actively to others to identify relevant evidence and engage respectfully in scientific discussion.
3.4A
Impact of science & innovation
Explain how scientific discoveries and innovative solutions impact science and society.
3.4B
Explore STEM careers
Research and explore resources (museums, libraries, organizations, companies, online platforms, mentors) to investigate STEM careers.
3.5A
Patterns
Identify and use patterns to explain phenomena or design solutions.
3.5B
Cause & effect
Identify and investigate cause‑and‑effect relationships to explain phenomena or analyze problems.
3.5C
Scale, proportion, quantity
Use scale, proportion, and quantity to describe, compare, or model systems.
3.5D
Systems & system models
Examine and model parts of a system and their interdependence.
3.5E
Energy & matter
Investigate the flow of energy and cycling of matter through systems.
3.5F
Structure & function
Explain relationships between structure and function of objects, organisms, and systems.
3.5G
Stability & change
Explain how factors or conditions impact stability and change in objects, organisms, and systems.
3.6A
Measure/test properties of matter
Measure, test, and record physical properties, including temperature, mass, magnetism, and ability to sink or float.
3.6B
Classify states of matter
Describe and classify samples of matter as solids, liquids, gases; demonstrate shape/volume characteristics.
3.6C
Changes of state
Predict, observe, and record changes of state caused by heating or cooling (e.g., melting, condensation, evaporation).
3.6D
Select materials by properties
Demonstrate combining materials based on properties to create/modify objects and justify material selection.
3.7A
Forces at contact or distance
Demonstrate and describe forces acting on an object in contact or at a distance, including magnetism, gravity, pushes, pulls.
3.7B
Change in position & motion
Plan and conduct a descriptive investigation to show how pushing and pulling changes position and motion.
3.8A
Everyday forms of energy
Identify everyday examples of light, sound, thermal, and mechanical energy.
3.8B
Speed & mechanical energy
Plan and conduct investigations showing how an object’s speed relates to its mechanical energy.
3.9A
Orbits of Sun, Earth, Moon
Construct models and explain the orbits of the Sun, Earth, and Moon in relation to each other.
3.9B
Order of the planets
Identify the order of the planets in Earth’s solar system relative to the Sun.