Pennsylvania Core and Academic Standards 3rd Grade Science Activities
Printable Third Grade Science Worksheets, Study Guides and Vocabulary Sets.
Changes on earthA glacier is a slow moving large body of ice. A volcano is an opening in the Earth’s crust from which hot, melted rock forcefully comes out when pressure is built up inside the Earth. An earthquake is a sudden shift in the Earth’s crust that causes the ground to shake and vibrate violently. Weathering is the process of rocks being changed over time by conditions such as rain, snow, ice, pressure.Read more...iWorksheets: 5Study Guides: 1Vocabulary Sets: 3 The solar systemThe Sun is a gigantic star that is made up of hot gases called plasma. The solar system includes the Sun, planets, the moons of each planet, as well as other objects that revolve around the Sun. Read more...iWorksheets: 5Study Guides: 1Vocabulary Sets: 1 What are Ecosystems?An ecosystem is a community made up of living organisms and nonliving components such as air, water, and mineral soil. Read more...iWorksheets: 2Vocabulary Sets: 4 Where plants and animals liveAn environment is everything that surrounds a living thing or person. Everything that lives on Earth lives in a certain environment. Living things get everything they need to survive from their environment. An environment also includes nonliving things. Read more...iWorksheets: 3Study Guides: 1Vocabulary Sets: 2 All About EnergyEnergy is the ability to do work. There are two types of energy. One type of energy is energy that is waiting to happen but has not happened yet. This is called potential energy. Another type of energy is called kinetic energy. This type of energy is energy that is happening now. Read more...iWorksheets: 6Study Guides: 1Vocabulary Sets: 4 SoundSound is energy that travels in a wave that is caused by vibrations. Vibrations are movements made rapidly back and forth. Vibrations travel through the air and into your ear. You hear sounds when vibrating air causes your eardrum to vibrate. Read more...iWorksheets: 3Study Guides: 1Vocabulary Sets: 1 Work and machinesWork is when you use force upon an object causing the object to move. The amount of work you do has to do with how much force you need to use. Simple machines make doing work easier but they never decrease the amount of work that needs to be done. Read more...iWorksheets: 5Study Guides: 1Vocabulary Sets: 1 Matter and its propertiesEverything around us is made out matter. Matter is anything that takes up space and has mass. All matter is made up of many different kinds of particles that are combined together in different ways. A property of matter is a feature, trait, or characteristic. Read more...iWorksheets: 6Study Guides: 1Vocabulary Sets: 2 Animals and their needsAll animals need certain things in order to survive. Animals need water, food, movement, protection, shelter, reproduction, and oxygen to survive, and they have many different body parts to get these things they need. Read more...iWorksheets: 3Study Guides: 1Vocabulary Sets: 1 Grouping of AnimalsAnimals can be classified, or grouped together, by the things they have in common, such as how they act, where they live, or how they look. Scientists separate animals into two main groups related to whether the animal has a backbone in its body or not. Those animals with backbones are part of the vertebrates group. Those animals without a central backbone are invertebrates. Read more...iWorksheets: 5Study Guides: 1Vocabulary Sets: 1 Grouping of PlantsPlants are often put into groups by the type of parts or structures they have. They can be grouped according to their types of leaves, stems, flowers, roots, and even seeds. Many plants have leaves that look similar while others have totally different kinds of leaves. Plant and tree leaves may be different in size, shape, and color. Read more...iWorksheets: 6Study Guides: 1 Life Cycles of Plants and AnimalsA life cycle describes the stages an animal or plant goes through from birth to death. Some vertebrates change their appearance a lot during their life cycle while others hardly change at all. Most plants begin as a seed. A seed is a tiny plant, an embryo, in a little package. A seed stays inactive and doesn’t start growing until the conditions surrounding it are just right for it to start growing. Read more...iWorksheets: 2Vocabulary Sets: 3 Math in ScienceNumbers, measuring, making graphs, calculating, adding, subtracting, and more…there is a lot of Math involved in Science. Whether you are studying plants, animals, or the solar system, you will use Math procedures during your investigations and data recording. Read more...iWorksheets: 3Study Guides: 1 Science in our world - 3rd gr.Everywhere we look, there are signs of SCIENCE! Science is all around us: Sounds We Hear, Energy We See and Feel, Work and Machines We Use and See, Forces, Motion, and How Things Move Around Us (gravity), Changes in Matter We See, Weather We See Outside, Water that We Use, Natural Resources We Use and Need to Conserve Everyday
(recycling). Read more...iWorksheets: 4Study Guides: 1 PA.SI. Science as Inquiry
SI.3. Understand that all scientific investigations involve asking and answering questions and comparing the answer with what is already known.
Hands-on Lab Skills/Science Inquiry - 3rd gradeScience Process Skills: Observing, Classifying, Estimating, Predicting/Hypothesis, Making Inferences, Models, Investigating, Collecting Data, Interpreting Data. Scientific Method: Ask a question, Write an Hypothesis, Create a control variable, Conduct an Experiment, Record Your Data, Decide Your Final Answer, State Your Final Answer. Science Tools. Safety in Science. Read more...iWorksheets :4Study Guides :1Vocabulary :2 SI.5. Use simple equipment (tools and other technologies) to gather data and understand that this allows scientists to collect more information than relying only on their senses to gather information.
Hands-on Lab Skills/Science Inquiry - 3rd gradeScience Process Skills: Observing, Classifying, Estimating, Predicting/Hypothesis, Making Inferences, Models, Investigating, Collecting Data, Interpreting Data. Scientific Method: Ask a question, Write an Hypothesis, Create a control variable, Conduct an Experiment, Record Your Data, Decide Your Final Answer, State Your Final Answer. Science Tools. Safety in Science. Read more...iWorksheets :4Study Guides :1Vocabulary :2 What is science?Science is the study of the world around us. Scientists study the world around us. When studying things like plants, animals, and rocks, scientists use their senses: Eyes - to see. Nose - to smell. Ears - to hear. Hands - to touch. Mouth - to taste. Scientists study many things – like the things YOU study in 2nd grade: plants, rocks, weather, fossils, solar system, animals. Read more...iWorksheets :3Study Guides :1Vocabulary :1 Hands-on lab skills/Science InquiryPredictions Based on Patterns. Scientists often make predictions based on all the things they already know are true. Predict means to tell what you think is going to
happen. Scientists then test their predictions to see if they are right! Scientists often compare and sort objects based on color, shape, texture, size and weight. Scientists use a METER STICK to measure the length of an object. Read more...iWorksheets :3Study Guides :1Vocabulary :1 Hands-on Lab Skills/Science InquiryWhen you conduct an investigation, you may make predictions, interpret your findings, draw conclusions, and justify your conclusions. When you conduct an experiment, you should collect data to help justify your conclusions. During an investigation, you may formulate and justify your predictions based on cause and effect relationships. A cause makes something else happen. An effect is what happens because of the cause. Read more...iWorksheets :3Study Guides :1 SI.6. Use data/evidence to construct explanations and understand that scientists develop explanations based on their evidence and compare them with their current scientific knowledge.
Hands-on Lab Skills/Science InquiryWhen you conduct an investigation, you may make predictions, interpret your findings, draw conclusions, and justify your conclusions. When you conduct an experiment, you should collect data to help justify your conclusions. During an investigation, you may formulate and justify your predictions based on cause and effect relationships. A cause makes something else happen. An effect is what happens because of the cause. Read more...iWorksheets :3Study Guides :1 PA.3.1. Biological Sciences
3.1.A. Organisms and Cells
Common Characteristics of Life
3.1.3.A1. Describe characteristics of living things that help to identify and classify them.
Energy Flow
3.1.3.A2. Describe the basic needs of living things and their dependence on light, food, air, water, and shelter.
How do plants grow?Plants need many essential things in order to grow, such as: water, air, nutrients, sunlight, and warm temperature. Plants need their space too! If a plant grows too close to other plants, it may not grow healthy and strong, because the plants may compete over the available water, nutrients, and space in the soil for their roots to grow. Read more...iWorksheets :4Study Guides :1Vocabulary :2 How animals grow and change and liveAnimals have certain traits which help them survive in their environment. These survival traits are called adaptations. Many adaptations are inherited, which means they are passed on from the parents of animal. Many animals have adaptations for eating such as the way a bird’s beak is shaped. Read more...iWorksheets :4Study Guides :1Vocabulary :2 Did you Know... 3rd gradeThere are so many amazing scientific facts out there, waiting to be discovered by you! Check out some of the incredible ‘Did You Know? facts that have to do with many of the science topics you learn about in 3rd Grade. Read more...iWorksheets :3Study Guides :1 AnimalsFreeThere are many different kinds of animals. The five main groups of animals are: Fish, birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians. Read more...iWorksheets :4Study Guides :1Vocabulary :1 How do plants and animals live together?Plants need air, water, sunlight, and room to grow in order to live.
Animals need air, water, food, and shelter in order to live. What is a Shelter? It’s a safe place for an animal! Read more...iWorksheets :3Study Guides :1 Form and Function
3.1.3.A5. Identify the structures in plants that are responsible for food production, support, water transport, reproduction, growth, and protection.
Main Parts of PlantsA plant has many important parts, such as its roots, stem, leaves, and flower. Each part of a plant has many functions that make it possible for a plant to live. Read more...iWorksheets :5Study Guides :1Vocabulary :2 How do plants grow?Plants need many essential things in order to grow, such as: water, air, nutrients, sunlight, and warm temperature. Plants need their space too! If a plant grows too close to other plants, it may not grow healthy and strong, because the plants may compete over the available water, nutrients, and space in the soil for their roots to grow. Read more...iWorksheets :4Study Guides :1Vocabulary :2 PlantsWhat are the Parts of a Plant? Let’s go from the bottom to the top: ROOTS, STEM, LEAVES, FLOWERS. Who Needs Plants? EVERYONE! Plants give off a gas called oxygen which is what we (and animals) need to breathe in to live. A plant's life cycle is how long a plant lives or how long it takes to grow, flower, and make seeds. All plants need water, air, and warm temperatures to grow. Read more...iWorksheets :4Study Guides :1Vocabulary :2 Plant Structure and functionPlants are living organisms made up of cells. Plants need sunlight and water to live and grow healthy. A plant has different parts that are all important in keeping the plant alive and healthy: Roots, Stem, Leaves. A plant’s roots collect water and minerals from soil for the rest of the plant. The main job of a plant’s stem is to carry water and minerals from the roots to the rest of the plant. Read more...iWorksheets :3Study Guides :1Vocabulary :4 Plant growth and reproductionProcess of Reproduction. Fertilization, Seeds. Lesson Checkpoints: What is one reason a plant has nectar? What do mosses and ferns produce instead of seeds? What is the female organ of a flower called? Read more...iWorksheets :3Study Guides :1Vocabulary :2 3.1.C. Evolution
Adaptation
3.1.3.C2. Describe animal characteristics that are necessary for survival.
How animals grow and change and liveAnimals have certain traits which help them survive in their environment. These survival traits are called adaptations. Many adaptations are inherited, which means they are passed on from the parents of animal. Many animals have adaptations for eating such as the way a bird’s beak is shaped. Read more...iWorksheets :4Study Guides :1Vocabulary :2 Introduction to animalsAnimals have particular body parts and structures to help them survive in their Earth environment. For instance, animals have certain body parts such as legs or wings that help them move, and mouths or trunks or beaks that help them drink water. Read more...iWorksheets :3Study Guides :1Vocabulary :4 Unifying Themes
3.1.3.C3. CONSTANCY AND CHANGE: Recognize that fossils provide us with information about living things that inhabited the Earth long ago.
Fossils and extinct animalsMany animals have become extinct over millions of years. Extinct means no longer living on Earth. Animas that are extinct include dinosaurs, saber-toothed tigers, and dodo birds. Read more...iWorksheets :3Study Guides :1Vocabulary :4 PA.3.2. Physical Sciences: Chemistry and Physics
3.2.A. Chemistry
Structure of Matter
3.2.3.A2. Recognize that all objects and materials in the world are made of matter.
Comparing matterWhat is matter? Matter is all around you. Matter is anything that takes up space. Mass is the amount of matter in an object. It is how much stuff an object is made of. Read more...iWorksheets :3Study Guides :1Vocabulary :1 MatterMatter is ALL Around Us! Matter is anything that takes up space and has mass. Matter is made up of atoms. Atoms are the basic building blocks of matter and
make up all objects. Matter change states from solid, liquid, or gas. Read more...iWorksheets :4Study Guides :1Vocabulary :2 Matter & Energy
3.2.3.A3. Demonstrate how heating and cooling may cause changes in the properties of materials including phase changes.
Comparing matterWhat is matter? Matter is all around you. Matter is anything that takes up space. Mass is the amount of matter in an object. It is how much stuff an object is made of. Read more...iWorksheets :3Study Guides :1Vocabulary :1 Reactions
3.2.3.A4. Use basic reactions to demonstrate observable changes in properties of matter (e.g., burning, cooking).
Changes in matterA physical change is when something changes its appearance without changing its makeup. An example of a physical change is chopping wood. An example of a chemical change is burning the wood. Read more...iWorksheets :3Study Guides :1Vocabulary :1 MatterMatter is ALL Around Us! Matter is anything that takes up space and has mass. Matter is made up of atoms. Atoms are the basic building blocks of matter and
make up all objects. Matter change states from solid, liquid, or gas. Read more...iWorksheets :4Study Guides :1Vocabulary :2 Unifying Themes
3.2.3.A5. CONSTANCY AND CHANGE: Recognize that everything is made of matter.
Comparing matterWhat is matter? Matter is all around you. Matter is anything that takes up space. Mass is the amount of matter in an object. It is how much stuff an object is made of. Read more...iWorksheets :3Study Guides :1Vocabulary :1 MatterMatter is ALL Around Us! Matter is anything that takes up space and has mass. Matter is made up of atoms. Atoms are the basic building blocks of matter and
make up all objects. Matter change states from solid, liquid, or gas. Read more...iWorksheets :4Study Guides :1Vocabulary :2 3.2.B. Physics
Force & Motion of Particles and Rigid Bodies
3.2.3.B1. Explain how movement can be described in many ways.
Forces and motion-how things moveMotion is the process of an object changing place or position. Position refers to an object's location. The position of an object all depends on how a person is looking at the object and what it us being compared to, which is known as an object's relative position. Read more...iWorksheets :3Study Guides :1Vocabulary :2 Force, motion and energyMotion is the process of an object changing place or position. A force is a push or pull upon an object. Speed refers to the rate an object changes position. To accelerate means to go faster; decelerate means to slow down. Read more...iWorksheets :4Study Guides :1Vocabulary :3 Nature of Waves (Sound and Light Energy)
3.2.3.B5. Recognize that light travels in a straight line until it strikes an object or travels from one material to another.
Light and SoundLight is a form of energy that travels in waves. A reflection occurs when light rays bounce off a surface, such as when you see your reflection in a mirror. Absorption is when an object takes in light wave. Refraction is when light bends moving from one medium to another. Sound is a type of energy that travels in waves that is caused by vibrations. Vibrations are movements made rapidly back and forth. Read more...iWorksheets :3Study Guides :1Vocabulary :3 PA.3.3. Earth and Space Sciences
3.3.A. Earth Structure, Processes and Cycles
Earth Features and the Processes that Change It
3.3.3.A1. Explain and give examples of the ways in which soil is formed.
Rocks, Minerals, and soilRocks are solid material found in nature made up of minerals. A mineral is a natural material usually found in the ground. A rock has physical properties like color and composition, or what exact minerals make up the rock. Read more...iWorksheets :4Study Guides :1Vocabulary :2 Rocks, Soil and waterWhat are Rocks? Rocks are solid objects found in nature. Rocks are made up of minerals. What is Soil? Soil is the loose material the covers much of the Earth. Soil is also nonliving. Soil can be made of clay, sand, and humus. All living things need WATER to survive and to grow. The movement and recycling of the Earth’s water is called the water cycle. Read more...iWorksheets :3Study Guides :1Vocabulary :2 Earth - Inside and OutLet's look at the Earth from the inside out...
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The Earth is made up three main layers called crust, mantle, and core. Read more...iWorksheets :4Study Guides :1Vocabulary :9 Earth’s Resources/Materials
3.3.3.A2. Identify the physical properties of minerals and demonstrate how minerals can be tested for these different physical properties.
Rocks, Minerals, and soilRocks are solid material found in nature made up of minerals. A mineral is a natural material usually found in the ground. A rock has physical properties like color and composition, or what exact minerals make up the rock. Read more...iWorksheets :4Study Guides :1Vocabulary :2 Rocks and mineralsFreeWhat is in a Rock? Rocks are made up of many tiny pieces of minerals. What are Minerals? Minerals are natural, nonliving crystals. They come in many sizes, shapes, and colors. Types of Rocks: Sedimentary Rocks, Igneous Rocks, Metamorphic Rocks. The Rock Cycle. Read more...iWorksheets :4Study Guides :1Vocabulary :4 Water
3.3.3.A4. Connect the various forms of precipitation to the weather in a particular place and time.
Science Worksheets: Water. All living things need water to survive and to grow. For example, plants need water to make their own food, while fish need to live in water. The human body is made up of about 2/3 water. Water comes in three forms: liquid, solid, and gas. Read more...iWorksheets :3Study Guides :1Vocabulary :1 Earth's weather and seasonsWhat is Weather? Weather is what it feels like outside right now: hot, cold, windy, wet... There are Four Seasons: Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall. Seasons always come in the same order every year. Each season brings different weather. Winter is the coldest season and summer is the warmest. Some Kinds of Bad Weather: A thunderstorm, A blizzard, A hurricane. Read more...iWorksheets :4Study Guides :1Vocabulary :2 Weather and Climate
3.3.3.A5. Explain how air temperature, moisture, wind speed and direction, and precipitation make up the weather in a particular place and time.
WeatherWhat is the weather like outside? Weather is the condition of the air outside. Weather involves many things, such as clouds, temperature, water in the air, and the wind. Read more...iWorksheets :3Study Guides :1Vocabulary :2 Earth's weather and seasonsWhat is Weather? Weather is what it feels like outside right now: hot, cold, windy, wet... There are Four Seasons: Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall. Seasons always come in the same order every year. Each season brings different weather. Winter is the coldest season and summer is the warmest. Some Kinds of Bad Weather: A thunderstorm, A blizzard, A hurricane. Read more...iWorksheets :4Study Guides :1Vocabulary :2 Weather and ClimateMany factors affect the weather such as the sun, atmosphere, temperature, water, and air pressure. When air moves from an area of high pressure to a place with low pressure, WIND is created. The movement and interaction of air masses cause most weather conditions. Climate: The word climate refers to the typical weather throughout the year in the same area. Read more...iWorksheets :4Study Guides :1Vocabulary :4 3.3.B. Origin and Evolution of the Universe
Composition and Structure
3.3.3.B1. Relate the rotation of the earth and day/night, to the apparent movement of the sun, moon, and stars across the sky. Describe the changes that occur in the observable shape of the moon over the course of a month.
Earth in spaceFreeThe Sun, which is a star, is Earth's source of heat and light. The earth travels in circles around the Sun. The Earth’s rotation every 24 hours results in day and night on Earth. Read more...iWorksheets :3Study Guides :1Vocabulary :1 Moon, star and planetsThe moon moves around the Earth. A star is a hot ball of gas, stars give off light. The Sun is a star. Read more...iWorksheets :3Study Guides :1Vocabulary :2 Our Solar system and beyondWhat Can Be Found in the Solar System? A planet is a large body that revolves around the Sun. Asteroids, comets and meteors are made of pieces of rock and ice. Asteroids are small pieces of rock which orbit around the Sun. Comets are made of ice and rock. The “tail” of a comet is made of vaporized gases and dust that flow behind them as they fly through space at a VERY fast pace! Read more...iWorksheets :3Study Guides :1Vocabulary :3 PA.3.4. Technology and Engineering Education
3.4.B. Technology and Society
Technology and Environment
3.4.3.B2. Explain how materials are reused or recycled.
Natural resourcesNatural resources are found on the Earth and are important to living things. Some natural resources come from below the Earth’s surface. Some natural resources are nonrenewable, which means that can not be replaced. Some natural resources are renewable. Three examples of natural resources we have in abundance on Earth are: sunlight, air, and water. Read more...iWorksheets :3Study Guides :1Vocabulary :1 Using and saving natural resourcesNatural resources are found on the Earth and are important to living things. People, plants, and animals need air to live. Air is a natural resource that never runs out! Water is another natural resource that people and animals use – they drink water in order to survive. Plants also need water to grow. Some natural resources are renewable. Read more...iWorksheets :3Study Guides :1Vocabulary :2 Technology and History
3.4.3.B4. Illustrate how people have made tools to provide food, clothing, and shelter.
Science in our worldWhat is Technology? Technology is using science in order to solve different problems. Technology uses things we know about science to make tools for people to make doing work easier. Technology can be as simple as a hammer. Technology keeps us safe (in our houses, our cars). Technology supplies us with the things we need to live. Read more...iWorksheets :3Study Guides :1Vocabulary :1 3.4.E. The Designed World
Medical Technologies
3.4.3.E1. Identify the technologies that support and improve quality of life.
Science in our worldWhat is Technology? Technology is using science in order to solve different problems. Technology uses things we know about science to make tools for people to make doing work easier. Technology can be as simple as a hammer. Technology keeps us safe (in our houses, our cars). Technology supplies us with the things we need to live. Read more...iWorksheets :3Study Guides :1Vocabulary :1 Standards
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