Describe the unique relationship between science and technology, and how the natural world can contribute to the human-made world to foster innovation.
In 3rd grade, students ask questions and conduct experiments to explore the world around them. In this unit, students unpack the phenomena of tiny particles called atoms that make up all matter in the universe. This page showcases key parts of the first lesson in this unit.
In this unit, students explore the science phenomena of Earth systems by studying aquifers, comparing the ability of different Earth materials to hold water. In this lesson, they build on that knowledge to engineer permeable pavement that can solve the problems of urban flooding and water pollution. This page showcases key components of this lesson.
In this unit, students discover how the sun provides light and heat to Earth and how the water cycle influences weather and climate. Students analyze weather patterns in specific regions during a particular season. They then use that knowledge to study the effects of extreme weather on humans, evaluating solutions to protect against those effects.
In this unit, students are introduced to the scientific process as they analyze matter in the universe and Earth’s place in the solar system. For the first lesson in this unit, they conduct an experiment to compare the masses of two different substances, analyzing how matter is never created or destroyed. Students also discuss how all matter in the universe is made up of different combinations of atoms formed from chemical reactions. This page highlights key parts of this lesson.
In this unit, students explore the science phenomena of how energy is transferred in a circuit to do work. In this lesson, students figure out the phenomena affecting the left and right movement of an electric car. This page is a high-level extract of this lesson.
In this unit, students build on what they know about the science phenomena of energy transfer to focus on information transfer and how different technologies use patterns of sound, light, or numbers to transmit information. This page showcases key components of this lesson.
In this unit, students analyze the science phenomena of different forces that can act on all structures. They begin by exploring how forces act on different materials and shapes. They then use what they know about forces to design a skyscraper prototype in this lesson, evaluating how their design relates to the ability of the skyscraper to withstand the weight of the structure and the people on it, as well as the force of wind.
In this unit, students discuss the science phenomena of how matter has different properties depending on the number and kind of atoms that make it up. In this lesson, they observe how forces act on matter, focusing on how unbalanced forces cause objects to move. This page provides a high-level extract of this lesson.
In this unit, students figure out phenomena of Earth’s interacting systems, focusing on how the hydrosphere interacts with and is influenced by the other systems. In this lesson, students apply their scientific knowledge of Earth’s water system to engineer water filtration devices to figure out how to reduce the impacts of water pollution on the environment. This page provides an overview of key aspects of this lesson.
In this unit, students use sleds and roller coasters to explore the relationship between energy, forces, and motion. In this lesson, students apply what they know about energy and forces to engineer a roller coaster. This page is a high-level extract of this lesson.
In this unit, students focus on how sound energy is transferred from one place to another in waves. In this engineering lesson, students apply what they have learned about sound energy to design a sound absorbing wall. This page highlights each component of this lesson.
In this unit, students focus on light energy, investigating the science phenomena of how light moves when it interacts with different kinds of matter. Students use scientific knowledge about light to engineer a device that uses mirrors to redirect light. This page is a high-level extract of this lesson.
