CURRICULUM FRAMEWORK FOR AN INQUIRY-BASED, INTERDISCIPLINARY UNIT OF STUDY
GRADE 3 - CONCEPTUAL TOPIC: WEATHER AROUND THE WORLD
Essential Question for the Unit of Study
How do communities adapt to their weather in order to thrive?
At the conclusion of this unit of study, students will be prepared to provide a research-based, logical answer to this question.
Science Content Focus Standards
Next Generation National Standards (NGSS)
 What is typical weather in different parts of the world
and during different times of the year?
 What happens to organisms when their environment
changes?
Next Generation Sunshine State Standards (NGSSS)
 Radiant heat from the sun
 Sun is a star that emits energy - light and heat
 Water cycle (changes in water)
 Energy involved in weather (light, heat, sound)
 Measure and compare temperature, mass and volume
 SC.3.E.5.1, SC.3.E.5.2, SC.3.E.5.3, SC.3.E.5.5, SC.3.E.6.1,
SC.3.P.8.1, SC.3.P.8.2, SC.3.P.9.1, SC.3.P.10.1, SC.3.P.10.2,
SC.3.P.11.1, SC.3.P.11.2, SC.3.L.17.1
Social Studies Content Focus Standards
Next Generation Sunshine State Standards (NGSSS)
 Geography
 Climate and vegetation
 Regions of the US, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean
 SS.3.G.1.1, SS.3.G.1.2, SS.3.G.1.4, SS.3.G.1.5, SS.3.G.1.6,
SS.3.G.2.1, SS.3.G.2.2, SS.3.G.2.3, SS.3.G.2.4, SS.3.G.2.5,
SS.3.G.3.1, SS.3.G.3.2, and SS.3.G.4.1
Literacy and Content Area (Science, Social Studies, Mathematics) Integration
Big Idea Performance Task
Students research a specific type of severe weather and then create a newscast to explain the weather they researched. Students
will be able to answer the essential question: How do communities adapt to their weather in order to thrive?
Print or Digital Resource
Science Fusion Textbook/Digital Lessons Unit 1:
Lesson 1 – How Do Scientist’s Investigate Questions (pp. 3-14)
Lesson 2 – How To Use a Model
Lesson 3 – How Do Scientists Use Tools (pp. 17-26
Lesson 5 – How Do Scientists Use Data (pp. 33-40)
Discovery Education Video - Rain Gauge
Literacy Department, revised 10/15/13
Mini Lesson/Activity
CURRICULUM FRAMEWORK FOR AN INQUIRY-BASED, INTERDISCIPLINARY UNIT OF STUDY
http://app.discoveryeducation.com/player/view/assetGuid/B490145C-AE33-4CB9A8F0-DE9701A5B2B5
Science Fusion Textbook/Digital Lessons Unit 3:
Lesson 1 – What Are Some Physical Properties? (pp. 83-93)
Lesson 2 – How Are Mass and Volume Measured? (pp. 96-98)
Discovery Education Video – Make a Rain Gauge
http://app.discoveryeducation.com/player/view/assetGuid/598A932E-DA00-43CC91B1-862211023694
Buzz About It (Gr. 1): What Do Authors Do?” by Eileen Christelow
Hurricanes by Patricia Lauber
Online Science Reader (BL): Heat, Light, and Sound
Education World Lesson: Incredible Shrinking Notes
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/03/lp322-02.shtml
Hands-on Science Kit TE- BEEP:
03 Sci LP 027: Evaporating Water Session I
03 Sci LP 028:Evaporating Water Session II
Science Fusion Textbook - BEEP:
03 Sci LP 121 – The Sun and Our Seasons
03 Sci LP 122 – Spring Has Sprung
03 Sci LP 123 – Summertime
03 Sci LP 124 – Harvest Time
03 Sci LP 126 – Winter Days
03 Sci LP 128 – How Do Living Things Change with the Seasons?
Social Studies: The Two Bobbies-A Story of Hurricane Katrina, Friendship, and Survival
Social Studies Textbook – Unit 1
Intro: The Geography of North America and the Caribbean (pp. 2-5)
Lesson 1: A Place in Our World (pp. 10-19)
Social Studies Textbook – Unit 2
Literacy Department, revised 10/15/13
CURRICULUM FRAMEWORK FOR AN INQUIRY-BASED, INTERDISCIPLINARY UNIT OF STUDY
Lesson 1: All About Culture (pp. 61-69)
Discovery Education Video: Hurricane Katrina
http://app.discoveryeducation.com/search?Ntt=hurricane+katrina
Writing Institute: Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes
Writing Fundamentals (K): Diary of a Worm by Doreen Cronin
Discovery Education Video: Volunteers
http://app.discoveryeducation.com/player/view/assetGuid/CAEC6F53-1F28-446F9906-913F6667C323
Social Studies Textbook – Unit 1
Lesson 5: The Caribbean (pp. 44-50)
Lesson 2: The United States and its Regions (pp. 20-31)
Lesson 3: Canada (pp. 32-37)
Lesson 4: Mexico (pp. 38-43)
Discovery Education plans: Modeling Hurricanes
Writing Institute: Can It Rain Cats and Dogs? by Melvin Berger
Online Science Reader (OL): Matter is Everything!
Science Fusion Textbook/Digital Lessons Unit 3:
Lesson 4 – What Are the States of Matter? (pp. 101-112)
Lesson 5 – How Can the State of Matter Change? (pp. 113-115)
Online Science Reader (BL): Properties of Matter
FEMA Family Emergency Plan
http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/prepare/ready.php
Science Fusion Textbook - BEEP:
03 Sci LP 093 – Cold Snap
03 Sci LP 120 - What Causes Our Season?
Temperatures (high and low):
http://www.WeatherChannel.com
Discovery Education Video – Introduction to Weather and Climate section of Earth
Literacy Department, revised 10/15/13
CURRICULUM FRAMEWORK FOR AN INQUIRY-BASED, INTERDISCIPLINARY UNIT OF STUDY
Science: Weather and Climate
http://app.discoveryeducation.com/search?Ntt=Earth+Science%3A+Weather+and+Cli
mate
Science Fusion Digital Inquiry: Unit 3
Lesson 3 – How is Temperature Measured?
Science Fusion Textbook: Unit 3
Lesson 1 – Hot and Cold (pp. 90-91)
Science Fusion Textbook – BEEP
03 Sci LP 020 – Temperature
03 Sci LP 022 – How is Temperature Measured?
Discovery Education Video: Our Big Home – An Earth Poem
http://app.discoveryeducation.com/player/view/assetGuid/69077627-8B504B90-8AFC-D509BE20F77A
Science Fusion Leveled Reader (OL); The Changing Forms of Water
Writing Institute: Water Dance
Buzz About It (Gr. 1): The Cloud Book by Tommie dePaola
Writing Institute: Winter Lullaby by Barbara Seuling
Science Fusion Leveled Reader (
Delta Science Reader: Water Cycle
Online Science Reader BL: Energy
Online Science Reader OL:All About Energy
Online Science Reader AL: Catch the Sun!
Writing Institute: Do Tornadoes Really Twist?
Social Studies: Canada
Social Studies: Dear Primo: A Letter to my Cousin
Writing Institute: Rain
Literacy Department, revised 10/15/13
CURRICULUM FRAMEWORK FOR AN INQUIRY-BASED, INTERDISCIPLINARY UNIT OF STUDY
Writing Institute: The Snowy Day
Weather:
http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/weather.html
Weather:
http://www.exploringweather.com/
Weather:
http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/wwatch/
Regions of the US:
http://regions.mrdonn.org/usa.html
Regions of the US:
http://pinterest.com/tlbreezy2/teaching-us-regions/
Regions of the US:
http://education.nationalgeographic.com/education/maps/united-statesregions/?ar_a=1
Water Cycle:
http://www.epa.gov/safewater/kids/flash/flash_watercycle.html
Water Cycle:
http://earthguide.ucsd.edu/earthguide/diagrams/watercycle/
Water Cycle:
http://www.education.noaa.gov/Freshwater/Water_Cycle.html
Regions of Canada:
http://bookbuilder.cast.org/view_print.php?book=33034
Close Analytical Reading of Complex Texts (Paired Genres)
Text #1: Can it Rain Cats and Dogs? Questions and Answers About Weather, by Melvin and Gilda Berger; fiction
Text #2: Water Dance by Thomas Locker; informational text
Extended-Hour Correlations
Literacy Department, revised 10/15/13
CURRICULUM FRAMEWORK FOR AN INQUIRY-BASED, INTERDISCIPLINARY UNIT OF STUDY
Quarter 4, Weeks 31-32: Maps and Globes
Quarter 4, Weeks 33-34: Plants and Animals respond to the Seasons
Literacy Department, revised 10/15/13
CURRICULUM FRAMEWORK FOR AN INQUIRY-BASED, INTERDISCIPLINARY UNIT OF STUDY
GRADE 3 - CONCEPTUAL TOPIC: SOLAR ENERGY APPLICATIONS
Overarching questions for the unit of study.
Essential Question for the Unit of Study
Science Content Focus Standards
Next Generation National Standards (NGSS)
 Engineering design processes
 How do equal and unequal forces on an object affect the
object?
 How can magnets be used?
Social Studies Content Focus Standards
Next Generation Sunshine State Standards (NGSSS)
 Economics
 Geography (location best for solar energy usage)
 SS.3.E.1.1, SS.3.E.1.3, SS.3.G.1.5
Next Generation Sunshine State Standards (NGSSS)
 Energy transformations (heat and light) -> motion (e.g.,
photovoltaics – solar car, solar toy)
 Sun as source of heat and light
 Compare materials and objects according to properties
such as size, shape, color, texture and hardness (relate to
building materials).
 SC.3.E.5.1, SC.3.E.5.2, SC.3.E.5.3, SC.3.E.5.5, SC.3.E.6.1,
SC.3.P.8.1, SC.3.P.8.3, SC.3.P.10.1, SC.3.P.10.2, SC.3.P.10.3,
SC.3.P.10.4, SC.3.P.11.1, SC.3.P.11.2
Literacy and Content Area (Science, Social Studies, Mathematics) Integration
Big Idea Performance Task
Identify the big idea performance task.
Print or Digital Resource
Delta Science Reader: Force and Motion
Online Science Reader BL: Energy
Online Science Reader OL: All About Energy
Online Science Reader AL: Catch the Sun!
Social Studies: Show Me the Money
Forces:
Literacy Department, revised 10/15/13
Mini Lesson/Activity
CURRICULUM FRAMEWORK FOR AN INQUIRY-BASED, INTERDISCIPLINARY UNIT OF STUDY
http://sciencenetlinks.com/afterschool-resources/fun-forces/
Force/Energy:
http://pbskids.org/designsquad/parentseducators/resources/index.html?category=for
ceenergy
Forces and Magnets:
http://resources.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/revision/science/physical.htm
Solar Energy:
http://www.kids.esdb.bg/solar.html
Sun:
http://science.nationalgeographic.com/science/space/solar-system/sun-article/
Solar Energy:
http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/solarpower-profile/
Solar Heating:
http://www.kidsgeo.com/geography-for-kids/0055-solar-heating.php
Economics:
http://www.pppst.com/economics.html
Economics:
http://www.vrml.k12.la.us/cc/economics/economics.htm
Economics and Money:
http://kids.usa.gov/money
Close Analytical Reading of Complex Texts (Paired Genres)
Text #1: Title and Author of Text; Genre of Text
Text #2: Title and Author of Text; Genre of Text
Extended-Hour Correlations
Quarter 1, Weeks 5 - 6: Properties of Matter
Literacy Department, revised 10/15/13
CURRICULUM FRAMEWORK FOR AN INQUIRY-BASED, INTERDISCIPLINARY UNIT OF STUDY
Quarter 1, Weeks 9-10: Forms of Energy
Literacy Department, revised 10/15/13
CURRICULUM FRAMEWORK FOR AN INQUIRY-BASED, INTERDISCIPLINARY UNIT OF STUDY
GRADE 3 - CONCEPTUAL TOPIC: PLANTS, ANIMALS, AND THEIR ENVIRONMENT
Overarching questions for the unit of study.
Essential Question for the Unit of Study
Science Content Focus Standards
Next Generation National Standards (NGSS)
 How are plants, animals and environments of the past
similar or different to current plants, animals and
environments (fossil record)?
 What happens to organisms when their environment
changes?
 Organism life cycles, inherited traits, environmental
influence on traits.
Next Generation Sunshine State Standards (NGSSS)
 Plant structure and response to stimulus and to changing
seasons
 Gravity (plants response to gravity)
 Classify plants and animals
 SC.3.E.5.4, SC.3.L.14.1, SC.3.L.14.2, SC.3.L.14.3, SC.3.L.15.1,
SC.3.L.15.2, SC.3.L.17.1, SC.3.L.17.2
Social Studies Content Focus Standards
Next Generation Sunshine State Standards (NGSSS)
 Economics of agriculture/horticulture
 Geography – where is best for plants, what type of plants
grow in each environment.
 Culture relation to the plants and animals (food and
cooking)
 Settlement patterns – agriculture
 Culture of US, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean
 Ethnic heritage (including African American history)
 Tolerance and the Holocaust
 SS.3.E.1.1, SS.3.E.1.3, SS.3.G.3.1, SS.3.G.3.2, SS.3.G.4.1,
SS.3.G.4.2, SS.3.G.4.3, SS.3.G.4.4
Literacy and Content Area (Science, Social Studies, Mathematics) Integration
Identify the big idea performance task.
Big Idea Performance Task
Print or Digital Resource
Delta Science Reader: Food Chains and Webs
Online Science Reader BL: Types of Living Things
Online Science Reader BL: Living Things Depend on One Another
Online Science Reader BL: Types of Plants, Types of Animals
Online Science Reader BL: Where Living Things Are Found
Online Science Reader OL: Living Things Are All Around Us
Literacy Department, revised 10/15/13
Mini Lesson/Activity
CURRICULUM FRAMEWORK FOR AN INQUIRY-BASED, INTERDISCIPLINARY UNIT OF STUDY
Online Science Reader OL: Understanding the Food Chain
Online Science Reader OL: Living Things Grow and Change
Online Science Reader OL: The Wonderful World of Plants
Online Science Reader OL: What Kind of Animal?
Online Science Reader AL: Amazing Plants, Turtle Story
Online Science Reader AL: Could a Polar Bear Survive in the Desert?
Social Studies: The Caribbean
Social Studies: Canada
Writing Institute: Actual Size
Writing Institute: Animal Dads
Writing Institute: Animals in Flight
Writing Institute: Bat Loves the Night
Writing Institute: Big Blue Whale
Writing Institute: Chameleons Are Cool
Writing Institute: Elephants Swim
Writing Institute: Every Living Thing
Writing Institute: Families of the Deep Blue Sea
Writing Institute: Salamander Rain- A Lake and Pond Journal
Writing Institute: Silver Seeds-A Book of Nature Poems
Writing Institute: Walk in the Rainforest
Writing Institute: What’s in the Pond?
Writing Institute: Wolves
Animals:
http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/animals/creaturefeature/
Literacy Department, revised 10/15/13
CURRICULUM FRAMEWORK FOR AN INQUIRY-BASED, INTERDISCIPLINARY UNIT OF STUDY
Habitats:
http://www.everyschool.co.uk/science-key-stage-2-habitats.html
Habitats:
http://resources.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/revision/science/living/habitats.html
Plants:
http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/kids/green-kids/plants-kids/
Animals:
http://www.teachervision.fen.com/animals/teacher-resources/6596.html
Animals:
http://www.internet4classrooms.com/science_elem_animals.htm
African American History:
http://urbanext.illinois.edu/bhm/historyforkids.html
African American History:
http://www.timeforkids.com/minisite/black-history-month
Holocaust:
http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2009/04/19/the-best-sites-for-learning-about-theholocaust/
Holocaust:
http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/classroom_solutions/2011/03/children-of-theholocaust
Close Analytical Reading of Complex Texts (Paired Genres)
Text #1: Title and Author of Text; Genre of Text
Text #2: Title and Author of Text; Genre of Text
Extended-Hour Correlations
Quarter 2, Weeks 17-18: Earth and Space and Time
Literacy Department, revised 10/15/13
CURRICULUM FRAMEWORK FOR AN INQUIRY-BASED, INTERDISCIPLINARY UNIT OF STUDY
Quarter 2, Weeks 19-20:
Quarter 3, Weeks 21-22:
Quarter 3, Weeks 25-26:
Quarter 4, Weeks 29-30:
Quarter 4, Weeks 35-36:
African American History
Organization and Development of a Plant
Plants respond to stimuli
Animal Classification
Character Education
Literacy Department, revised 10/15/13
CURRICULUM FRAMEWORK FOR AN INQUIRY-BASED, INTERDISCIPLINARY UNIT OF STUDY
GRADE 3 - CONCEPTUAL TOPIC: GOVERNMENTS AND CULTURES
Overarching questions for the unit of study.
Essential Question for the Unit of Study
Science Content Focus Standards
Next Generation National Standards (NGSS)
 NA
Next Generation Sunshine State Standards (NGSSS)
 Properties and characteristics of currency
 SC.3.P.8.3
Social Studies Content Focus Standards
Next Generation Sunshine State Standards (NGSSS)
 Structure and Function of government
 Economics
 Perception of places
 SS.3.C.1.1, SS.3.C.1.2, SS.3.C.1.3, SS.3.C.2.1, SS.3.C.3.1,
SS.3.C.3.2, SS.3.C.3.3, SS.3.C.3.4, SS.3.E.1.2, SS.3.E.1.3,
SS.3.E.1.4, SS.3.G.2.6
Literacy and Content Area (Science, Social Studies, Mathematics) Integration
Identify the big idea performance task.
Big Idea Performance Task
Print or Digital Resource
Social Studies: Aunt Flossie’s Hats
Social Studies: America the Beautiful
Social Studies: We the Kids: The Preamble to the Constitution of the United States
Writing Institute: Hottest, Coldest, Highest, Deepest
Writing Institute: Supermarket
Writing Institute: The Writing of the Star Spangled Banner
Currency:
http://www.wisestockbuyer.com/a-kids-guide-to-money-and-currency/
Currency:
http://www.usmint.gov/kids/
Government:
http://bensguide.gpo.gov/3-5/government/branches.html
Literacy Department, revised 10/15/13
Mini Lesson/Activity
CURRICULUM FRAMEWORK FOR AN INQUIRY-BASED, INTERDISCIPLINARY UNIT OF STUDY
Government:
http://kids.usa.gov/government/index.shtml
Government:
http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/usa_game/government/branches_government.htm
Government:
http://www.usmint.gov/kids/games/branchesofpower/
Perceptions of Places:
http://education.nationalgeographic.com/education/standards/national-geographystandards/06/?ar_a=1
Economics:
http://www.scholastic.com/browse/collection.jsp?id=455
Economics:
http://www.kathimitchell.com/econ.htm
Close Analytical Reading of Complex Texts (Paired Genres)
Text #1: Title and Author of Text; Genre of Text
Text #2: Title and Author of Text; Genre of Text
Extended-Hour Correlations
Quarter 1, Weeks 3-4: The Constitution, Bill of Rights, The Signing of the Constitution
Quarter 1, Weeks 7-8: Casting Your Vote and The Election
Quarter 2, Weeks 11-12: Native Americans
Quarter 2, Weeks 15-16: Bill of Rights
Quarter 3, Weeks 23-24: American Presidents
Quarter 3, Weeks 27-28: Women’s Contributions
Literacy Department, revised 10/15/13
CURRICULUM FRAMEWORK FOR AN INQUIRY-BASED, INTERDISCIPLINARY UNIT OF STUDY
GRADE 3 - CONCEPTUAL TOPIC: ENGINEERING WITH SOUND AND LIGHT
Overarching questions for the unit of study.
Essential Question for the Unit of Study
Science Content Focus Standards
Next Generation National Standards (NGSS)
 Engineering design processes
Next Generation Sunshine State Standards (NGSSS)
 Energy transformations (heat and light) -> motion (e.g.,
photovoltaics – solar car, solar toy)
 Sun as source of heat and light
 Compare materials and objects according to properties
such as size, shape, color, texture and hardness (relate to
building materials).
 SC.3.E.5.1, SC.3.E.5.2, SC.3.E.5.3, SC.3.E.5.5, SC.3.E.6.1,
SC.3.P.8.1, SC.3.P.8.3, SC.3.P.10.1, SC.3.P.10.2, SC.3.P.10.3,
SC.3.P.10.4, SC.3.P.11.1, SC.3.P.11.2
Social Studies Content Focus Standards
Next Generation Sunshine State Standards (NGSSS)
 Economics
 Geography (location best for solar energy usage)
 SS.3.E.1.1, SS.3.E.1.3, SS.3.G.1.5
Literacy and Content Area (Science, Social Studies, Mathematics) Integration
Identify the big idea performance task.
Big Idea Performance Task
Print or Digital Resource
Social Studies: Show Me the Money
Online Science Reader BL: Heat, Light, and Sound
Online Science Reader OL: Learning About Heat, Light and Sound
Online Science Reader AL: Amazing Colors
Writing Institute: Picture This: How Pictures Work
Sound and Light:
http://www.engineeringinteract.org/resources.htm
Literacy Department, revised 10/15/13
Mini Lesson/Activity
CURRICULUM FRAMEWORK FOR AN INQUIRY-BASED, INTERDISCIPLINARY UNIT OF STUDY
Light:
http://www.optics4kids.org/home.aspx/
Sound:
http://www.teachingideas.co.uk/science/contents_sound.htm
Light and Sound Engineering:
http://www.engineeringinteract.org/
Sound and Light:
http://www.bnl.gov/slc/interactivewebsites.asp
Economics:
http://www.scholastic.com/browse/collection.jsp?id=455
Economics:
http://www.kathimitchell.com/econ.htm
Economics:
http://www.socialstudiesforkids.com/subjects/economics.htm
Economics:
http://www.choiceliteracy.com/articles-detail-view.php?id=390
Economics:
http://kids.usa.gov/money
Close Analytical Reading of Complex Texts (Paired Genres)
Text #1: Title and Author of Text; Genre of Text
Text #2: Title and Author of Text; Genre of Text
Extended-Hour Correlations
Quarter 1, Weeks 1-2: Observe, Infer, and Predict
Quarter 2, Weeks 13-14: Forms of Energy
Quarter 4, Weeks 37-38: How do plants and animals get energy?
Literacy Department, revised 10/15/13
CURRICULUM FRAMEWORK FOR AN INQUIRY-BASED, INTERDISCIPLINARY UNIT OF STUDY
*** Analyze primary and secondary sources throughout all units of study SS.3.A.1.1
*** Utilize technology resources to gather information from primary and secondary sources throughout all units of study SS.3.A.1.2
*** Define terms related to the social sciences throughout all units of study SS.3.A.1.3.
*** The nature of science needs to be taught throughout all units of studies SC.3.N.1.1, SC.3.N.1.2, SC3.N.1.3, SC.3.N.1.4, SC.3.N.1.5,
SC.3.N.1.6, SC.3.N.1.7, SC.3.N.3.1, SC.3.N.3.2 and SC.3.N.3.3.
Literacy Department, revised 10/15/13