Third Grade Science

*Habitats*	*Science Content*
Cluster 1: The Human Habitat	A habitat is a place where an organism meets all of its needs. A human’s habitat can extend much farther than his or her home.
Cluster 2: Animals and Their Habitats	Organisms share an environment and interact because their habitats overlap. Organisms have characteristics that make it possible for them to survive in their habitat. Birds’ behavioral and physical characteristics help them survive in a local habitat.
Cluster 3: Plants and Their Habitats	Many animals use the saguaro cactus as part of their habitat. A cactus plant’s thick shape and waxy outer coating help keep moisture in and allow it to survive in a desert habitat. Careful observations of the physical characteristics of local plants in one’s habitat can explain how they survive. Many animals are dependent on plants for their survival.
Cluster 4: Biomes	A biome is a large geographic area that contains many habitats.
Cluster 5: Design Project	Organisms have behavioral and physical characteristics that help them survive in their habitat. Having criteria is useful when creating a design. Design, evaluation and revision are all parts of product development. Models can represent ideas.

*Light*	*Science Content*
Cluster 1: Light is All Around Us	If you can see something, then light must be present.
Cluster 2: Light Travels in Straight Lines	Light travels in straight lines. It moves outward in all directions from a source until it hits something.
Cluster 3: Light Bounces	Light bounces off many materials. Light can bounce directly back (mirror-like reflection) or in many directions (scatter). We see because light bounces off objects and into the eye. The more light there is, the easier it is to see things.
Cluster 4: Opaque, Translucent, and Transparent Materials	Transparent, translucent and opaque materials let different amounts of light pass through them. Translucent materials allow some light to pass through them. Opaque materials do not allow any light to pass through them. The light is either absorbed, reflected, or a combination of both. Transparent materials allow most light to pass through them. Light can change direction as it passes through transparent materials.
Cluster 5: Summative Lessons	Light travels in straight lines. It moves outward in all directions from a source until it hits something. When light hits something, one or more of three things can happen: the light can bounce off it, go through it, or be absorbed by it. You see when light comes into your eye.

*Magnets*	*Science Content*
Magnetic Forces	Magnets cause a push or pull (a force). This force can work at a distance through air or other materials. Different magnets have different strengths. Magnets can attract or repel other magnets.
Magnetic Materials	Magnets are attracted to other magnets and some metal objects. Magnets are used in many useful ways.

*Electrical Circuits*	*Science Content*
Cluster 1: Static Electricity	Electrically charged objects attract or repel other objects.
Cluster 2: Current Electricity	For an electric current to flow, there must be a complete path or loop for it to follow around a circuit and return to its source. The flow of electric current can produce light, heat, sound, motion, or magnetic effects. Some materials allow electric current to flow more easily than others. It is important to avoid electrical hazards by using electricity safely.

*Our Solar System*	*Science Content*
Cluster 1: The Sun’s Daily Pattern	The sun appears to travel through the sky in a predictable daily pattern. This pattern can be explained by the rotation of Earth.
Cluster 2: The Sun’s Annual Pattern	The sun’s path across the sky appears to change throughout the year in a predictable pattern. The length of daylight changes throughout the year in a predictable pattern. Earth’s orbit around the sun causes the changes in the length of daylight and changes in the apparent path of the sun.
Cluster 3: Our Moon’s Cycle	Like the sun, the moon appears to move across the sky daily. Sometimes you can see the moon during the day. Wondering about the world leads to scientific investigations and research. The observable shape of the moon changes from day to day in a predictable pattern. The moon’s shape seems to change from day to day because we see different views of the moon’s sun-lit portion as the moon orbits around Earth. The moon’s cycle takes about a month, the time it takes for the moon to orbit Earth.
Cluster 4: Stars and Planets	The sun is a star like all other stars. The sun is the center of our solar system, and Earth is one of nine planets that orbit it. Wondering about the world leads to scientific investigations and research. Like the sun appears to move across a daytime sky, the stars appear to move across the nighttime sky because Earth rotates on its axis. Nine planets orbit around our sun. Each planet has unique characteristics that distinguish it from other planets.

Other Resources

State Science Grade Level Content Expectations for Third Grade

District Hands-On Elementary Science Brochure

Third Grade Skills Sheet 23kb PDF

Third Grade Report Form 408kb PDF

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