Specialized Support 3rd Grade Science Scope and Sequence
1st Nine Weeks Period
Units of Study: Investigation Design & Safety and Properties of Matter
Essential Questions / Desired Outcomes
1. Why are safe practices used during investigations in the classroom/lab?
2. How do the safe practices used in lab transfer to the kitchen?
3. What do you do when a peer is not using safe practices?
4. Why is it important to follow procedures when conducting an experiment?
5. Why do we recycle?
6. How do natural resources help us?
7. Why are the steps of scientific method important?
8. Why is matter important?
9. Why do certain things float?
10. What happens to the mass of an object if you change its shape?
11. How do you know if an object is floating?
12. How do you know if an object sinks?
13. What materials are attracted to magnets?
14. What happens to the shape of a solid when it is put into different containers?
15. Why is a solid able to keep its shape?
16. What happens to the shape of a liquid when it is put into different containers?
17. Why does a liquid change shape?
18. What happens to the shape of a gas when it is put into different containers?
19. Why does a gas change shape?
20. What causes matter to change state?
Group 1
Investigation Design & Safety
Classroom Elements
(part of every 3rd grade
SS Science classroom
district wide)
Use this timeline as a
guide. Implement the
elements on the chart by
the weeks indicated, but
• List safety considerations during
experiments.
• Identify recyclable and nonrecyclables.
• Identify the steps of the scientific
method.
• Explain each step of the scientific
method.
Group 2
Properties of Matter: Mass and
Floating & Sinking
•
•
•
Identify physical properties of matter.
Analyze the impact of conditions on
the states of matter (i.e. temperature)
Gather information including
temperature, magnetism, hardness,
and mass using appropriate tools to
identify physical properties of matter.
Group 3
Properties of Matter: Magnetism
and States of Matter
•
•
•
•
Compare the properties of
different states of matter.
Classify states of matter
Identify the states of matter
(solid, liquid, and gas).
Identify what causes the states
of matter to change state.
North East Independent School District
Specialized Support 3rd Grade Science Scope and Sequence
no later than. Your
students’ progress and
readiness should
determine if things can
begin sooner.
• Participate in science experiments.
• Gather and analyze data from an
experiment.
Key Vocabulary
Terms
experiment, recyclable, non-recyclable,
reuse, dispose, goggles, data,
conclusion, predict, describe, observe,
record, identify, investigate, evidence,
analyze
mass, matter, physical properties, float, sink
Stations
Procedures to teach, model & implement:
§ Visual tools/systems to organize student
rotation
§ Care and use of materials
§ Self-managing behaviors
§ How to request assistance
§ How to share materials
§ Clean-up and storage
§ Sharing of accomplishments
Key stations to implement:
§ Writing Station: journaling, graphing, webbing, illustrating, projects
§ Literacy Station: books, books on tape, vocabulary development, Book Worm, Step by Step,
Big Mack
§ Experiment Station: manipulative activities, lab,
§ Computer Station: web links, Start-to-Finish books, United Streaming Video, PowerPoint,
web quest
§ Independent Station: structured activities, extension activities
•
•
•
•
Measure, test, and record physical
properties of matter
Recognize patterns, relationships, and
cycles that exist in matter
Identify objects that float and sink
Discuss why different objects sink or
float.
•
•
Investigate the physical
properties of matter
Integrate the concepts of
physical properties of matter
such as temperature and mass in
relation to changes in the states
of matter
Attract, force, magnet, magnetic,
magnetism, pole, pull, push, repel, gas,
liquid, matter, physical properties, solid,
states of matter, temperature
Communication
Websites
Assessments
Data collection: work samples, anecdotal records, video tape, photographs, teacher made checklist
North East Independent School District