Grade 3 Science
Week of May 23-27
Unit 9: Investigating Ecosystems (20 Days)
TEKS: 3.9C Describe environmental changes such as floods and droughts where some organisms thrive and others perish, or move to new locations.
Key Understanding(s)
 Plants and animals depend on each other and their physical environment and can be affected by changes in the ecosystem.
Performance Indicator
 Identify the habitat needs for any three populations in a specific ecosystem. Write a story that describes a day in the life of one of the
organisms as it meets its needs for survival. Include interactions within the ecosystem that contribute to that organism’s survival. (3.2F; 3.9A;
3.9B; 3.9C)
Date
Day
Lesson concept
Materials
Notes/Instructional ideas
Mon
14
Explore (Unit 8, lesson 4 p. 4-5,
 Masking tape
 Review living things basic needs – land, water and
5/23
Steps 3-4): How changes to an
air
 Land, Water and Air Cards
ecosystem affects the surrounding
handout
 Students will be assigned an animal and a basic need
animal population
 Prairie Habitat Cards handout
 By playing musical chairs, students will see how
animal populations change and survival rate due to
 Prairie Ecology Game Directions
changes in an ecosystem
handout
 Environmental Changes
Scenarios handout
 Music

Tues
15
Explain (Unit 8, lesson 4 p. 4-5):
 Chart paper
 Discussion of extinct, endangered and threatened in
5/24
Endangered and extinct species
relationship to animal populations and survival
 Age appropriate books about
based on a habitat
endangered habitats/wildlife
 Read a book and discuss why the species is
endangered and how provide some solutions
Wed
16
Elaborate (Unit 8, lesson 4 p. 5-6):
 Endangered wildlife Jeopardy
 Match the appropriate plant or animal that is
5/25
Endangered and threatened wildlife
Game Species handout
extinct, endangered or threatened based on clues
provides about the ecosystem or habitat
Grade 3 Science
Week of May 23-27
Date
Thurs
5/26
&
Fri
5/27
Day
17 &
18
Lesson concept
Evaluate (Unit 8, lesson 2 p. 7):
Assessed on ecosystems
Materials
 That’s a Habitat handout; pages
students researched on days 4 &
5
 Pictures of organisms
 Evaluation Rubric: Competition
and Survival handout
Notes/Instructional ideas
 Performance indicator: Identify the habitat needs
for any three populations in a specific ecosystem.
Write a story that describes a day in the life of one
of the organisms as it meets its needs for survival.
Include interactions within the ecosystem that
contribute to that organism’s survival.
 As you set up and administer the Performance
Indicator, emphasize for students the components
needed to meet the expectations put forth in 3.9
A,B, and C.
 Share rubric with students prior to beginning project