Science concepts assessed in 3rd grade include

(note: not all areas are assessed in a single semester)

 

Life Science Core Ideas

Variation in traits; inherited traits; environmental effects on traits; climate’s effect an an organism’s environment; common patterns in life cycles

 

Earth and Space Science Core Ideas

Weather and climate; predicting weather

 

Physical Science Core Ideas

Balanced and unbalanced forces; non-contact forces; use of magnets and electromagnets

 

Engineering Design Core Ideas

Human threats; effect of population size

 

Science and Engineering Practices

Asking questions (science) and defining problems (engineering); Developing and using models; Planning and carrying out investigations; Analyzing and interpreting data; Using mathematics and computational thinking; Constructing explanations (science) and designing solutions (engineering); Engaging in argument from evidence; Obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information. 

 

Crosscutting Concepts

Patterns; Cause and effect; Scale, proportion, and quantity; Systems and systems models; Energy and matter; Structure and function; Stability and change.