Elmore County Public School System
Third Grade Science Instructional Planning Guide
2015-2016 School Year
2015-2016
Elmore County Pacing and Resource Guide
Alabama Course of Study - Science
Third Grade
Elmore County Vision Statement
Elmore County Public School System strives to prepare students
to be responsible and productive citizens in an ever-changing world.
Elmore County Mission Statement
Elmore County Public Schools’ mission is to provide
relevant, engaging, positive learning environments where
students are empowered to realize their self-worth through
continuous academic, social and emotional growth.
Elmore County Public School System
Third Grade Science Instructional Planning Guide
2015-2016 School Year
THIRD GRADE
Students in Grade 3 are becoming more aware of scientific concepts. They are active, inquisitive, and have a
greater interest in their environment and an increased capacity for intellectual growth. Through varied and
appropriate activities, third-grade students begin to develop a sense of where they are in their world. Teachers
extend the natural inclinations of students to ask questions and investigate their world through an inquiry-based
classroom environment. In this learning environment, students apply process skills, engage in hands-on activities, and
participate in cooperative groups to conduct investigations that begin with questions and progress toward the
communication of answers. The development of critical-thinking and problem-solving skills is a major goal of the
third-grade science program. In Grade 3, the study of science includes planning and implementing simple classroom
and field investigations. Students describe the layers of Earth, including the inner and outer cores, mantle, and crust.
They observe the force and motion of objects, identify weather phenomena, organize weather data into tables or
charts, describe the life cycle of plants, and determine the effect of environmental conditions on plant growth and
survival.
Elmore County Public School System
Third Grade Science Instructional Planning Guide
2015-2016 School Year
Physical Science (1 -5)
Standard Students will:
Classify substances as soluble or insoluble.
3.1
Examples: soluble—sugar in water, powdered drink in water;
insoluble—sand in water, oil in water
3.2
Identify physical and chemical changes of matter.
Examples: physical—chopping wood, chemical—burning wood
Suggested Resources
Sci. Unit E, Chapter 11, Lesson 1-3, pgs. 370-396
QuickReads, A-3, Solids, Liquids, Gases, p. 25-33
Six Minute Solutions, Intermediate, passage 303
QuickReads, A-3, Solids, Liquids, Gases, p. 25-33
Sci. Unit E, Chapter 11, Lesson 1-3, pgs. 370-396
QuickReads, A-3, Solids, Liquids, Gases, p. 25-33
3.3
3.4
3.5
Describe ways energy from the sun is used.
Examples: plant growth, light, heat
 Identifying fossil fuels as a source of energy
Define force and motion.
 Identifying forces that change an object’s position or motion
Examples: lifting, pushing, pulling
 Identifying sources of friction
Examples: rubbing hands together, applying sandpaper to wood
 Describing the force of gravity
Identify the relationship of simple machines to compound machines.
Example: pencil sharpener composed of a wheel and axle,
inclined plane, and wedge
Six Minute Solutions, Intermediate, passage 303
QuickReads, A-3, Solids, Liquids, Gases, p. 25-33
Sci., Unit A, Chapter 1, Lesson 1, pgs. 30-37
Sci. Unit A, Chapter 2, Lessons 1, 2, & 3, pgs. 53-77
Sci. Unit A, Chapter 3, Lesson 3 pgs. 104-113
Sci. Unit B, Chapter 5, Lesson 2, pgs. 170-177
HASP – Plant and Growth Development
Six Minute Solutions, Intermediate, Passage 118
QuickReads, C-3, Simple Machines, p. 24-37
Sci. Unit F, Chapter 15, Lessons 1-2, pgs. 494-510
Sci. Unit F, Chapter 16, Lessons 1-3, pgs. 524-550
Six Minute Solutions, Intermediate, Passage 118
QuickReads, C-3, Simple Machines, p. 24-37
Sci. Unit F, Chapter 15, Lessons 1-2, pgs. 494-510
Sci. Unit F, Chapter 16, Lessons 1-3, pgs. 524-550
Dates:
Taught
Tested
Elmore County Public School System
Third Grade Science Instructional Planning Guide
2015-2016 School Year
Life Science (6 -10)
Standard Students will
3.6
Identify structures and functions of the muscular and skeletal
systems of the human body.
Suggested Resources
Sci. Life Science Book A & B, Reference & Resource
pages R6-R9.
QuickReads, D-1, The Human Body, p. 80-93.
Six Minute Solutions, Primary, passages 301-305
3.7
3.8
3.9
3.10
Describe the life cycle of plants, including seed, seed germination,
growth, and reproduction.
 Describing the role of plants in a food chain
 Identifying plant and animal cells
 Describing how plants occupy space and use light, nutrients,
water, and air
 Classifying plants according to their features
Examples: evergreen or deciduous, flowering or nonflowering
 Identifying helpful and harmful effects of plants
Examples: helpful—provide food, control erosion; harmful—cause
allergic reactions, produce poisons
 Identifying how bees pollinate flowers
 Identifying photosynthesis as the method used by plants to
produce food
Identify how organisms are classified in the Animalia and Plantae
kingdoms.
Describe how fossils provide evidence of prehistoric plant life.
Example: plant fossils in coal or shale providing evidence of
existence of prehistoric ferns
Determine habitat conditions that support plant growth and survival.
Examples: deserts support cacti, wetlands support ferns and
mosses
Six Minute Solutions, Intermediate, passages 319, 502.
Sci., Unit A, Chapter 1, Lesson 1, pgs. 30-37
Sci. Unit A, Chapter 2, Lessons 1, 2, & 3, pgs. 53-77
Sci. Unit A, Chapter 3, Lesson 3 pgs. 104-113
Sci. Unit B, Chapter 5, Lesson 2, pgs. 170-177
HASP – Plant and Growth Development
QuickReads, A-1, From Seeds to Plants, p. 38-51
Sci. Unit A, Chapter 1, Lesson 1, pgs. 28-37
Sci. Unit A, Chapter 2, Lesson 2, pgs. 62-71
HASP Unit on Rocks & Minerals
Sci. Unit C, Chapter 6, Lesson 3, pgs. 214-220
Quick Reads, Level D-2 Ecosystems, p.67
Sci. Unit A, Chapter 1, Lesson 2, pgs. 38-41
Sci. Unit A, Chapter 2, Lesson 1, pgs. 54-61
Sci. Unit A, Chapter 2, Lesson 3, pgs. 72-75
Dates:
Taught
Tested
Elmore County Public School System
Third Grade Science Instructional Planning Guide
2015-2016 School Year
Earth and Space Science (11 -14)
Standard Students will:
Describe Earth’s layers, including inner and outer cores, mantle, and
3.11
crust.
 Classifying rocks and minerals by characteristics, including
streak, color, hardness, magnetism, luster, and texture
Suggested Resources
Sci. Unit C, Chapter 6, Lessons 1-2, pgs. 194-212.
Sci. Unit C, Chapter 7, Lessons 1-3, pgs. 228-252
Quick Reads, Level D-2, Volcanoes, p. 52-62
Quick Reads, Level B-2, Rocks, p. 81-91
3.12
3.13
3.14
Identify conditions that result in specific weather phenomena,
including thunderstorms, tornadoes, and hurricanes.
 Identifying cloud types associated with specific weather
patterns
 Identifying positive and negative effects of weather
phenomena
 Examples: positive—flooding deposits good soil when
waters recede, negative—flooding kills crops
 Identifying technology used to record and predict weather,
including thermometers, barometers, rain gauges,
anemometers, and satellites
 Explaining symbols shown on a weather map
 Organizing weather data into tables or charts
Describe ways to sustain natural resources, including recycling,
reusing, conserving, and protecting the environment.
 Recognizing the impact of society on human health and
environmental conditions
Describe the position of Earth, the moon, and the sun during the
course of a day or month.
 Describing various forms of technology used in observing
Earth and its moon
Six Minutes Solutions, Intermediate, passage 321
QuickReads, C-2, Hurricanes, p. 10-23
Quick Reads, Level D-2, Natural Resources and the
Economy, p. 24-30
Sci. Unit C, Chapter 8, Lesson 1, pgs. 260-269;
Lesson 3, pgs. 278-285
Lesson 4, pgs. 286-293
Sci. Unit D, Chapter 10, Lessons 1-3, pgs. 334-360
QuickReads, C-2, The Solar System, p. 39-51.
Dates:
Taught
Tested
Elmore County Public School System
Third Grade Science Instructional Planning Guide
2015-2016 School Year