Download Science COS-Grade 3-2011-2012

Grade Three
2011-2012
Science Course of Study
Observations of the Environment
Earth and Space Science
TOPIC: Earth’s Resources
CONTENT STATEMENT
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Earth's nonliving resources have specific properties.
CONCEPTS
VOCABUALRY
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Soil is composed of pieces of rock, organic
material, water and air and has
characteristics that can be measured and
observed.
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Rocks have unique characteristics that
allow them to be sorted and classified.
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Rocks form in different ways.
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Air and water are nonliving resources.
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Characteristics
Minerals
Properties
Field Guide
Coarse Grained
Fine Grained
Luster
Composition
Organic
Sediment
Sedimentary
Metamorphic
Igneous
PERFORMANCE SKILLS:
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Compare properties of rocks.
Observe rocks and describe similarities and differences.
Sort rocks according to the different properties.
Describe the process that forms the three major groups of rocks.
Discover that how a rock was formed affects some of its properties.
Recognize that soil can have different texture, composition, or color depending on the
environment in which it formed.
 Design an investigation to test specific properties of different types of soil, such as ability to
absorb (hold) water, matching/designating soil color, the ability for water to pass through the
soil, the filtering properties of soil.
Resources for soil properties:
http://www.globe.gov/tctg/sectionAndChildren.jsp?sectionId=428
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Grade Three
2011-2012
Science Course of Study
Observations of the Environment
Earth and Space Science
TOPIC: Earth’s Resources
CONTENT STATEMENT
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Earth's resources can be used for energy.
CONCEPTS
VOCABULARY
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Many of Earth’s resources can be used for
the energy they contain.
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Renewable energy is an energy resource,
such as wind, water or solar energy that is
replenished within a short amount of time
by natural processes.
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Nonrenewable energy is an energy
resource, such as coal or oil that is a finite
energy source that cannot be replenished in
a short amount of time.
Renewable
Nonrenewable
Energy
Resources
PERFORMANCE SKILLS:
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List the differences between renewable and nonrenewable energy. Be able to provide
examples of each.
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Grade Three
2011-2012
Science Course of Study
Observations of the Environment
Earth and Space Science
TOPIC: Earth’s Resources
CONTENT STATEMENT
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Some of Earth’s resources are limited.
CONCEPTS
VOCABULARY
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Some of Earth’s resources become limited
due to overuse and/or contamination.
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Reducing resource use, decreasing waste
and/or pollution, recycling and reusing can
help conserve these resources.
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Conservation
Reducing
Reusing
Recycling
Contamination
Pollution
PERFORMANCE SKILLS:
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Research different types of recycling (paper, plastics, metals, glass) and make a table to
document methods, effectiveness, recycling rates, benefits, and/or problems.
Recognize that some of Earth’s resources are limited and need to be conserved.
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Grade Three
2011-2012
Science Course of Study
Observations of the Environment
Life Science
TOPIC: Behavior, Growth and Changes
CONTENT STATEMENT
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Offspring resemble their parents and each other.
CONCEPTS
VOCABULARY
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Individual organisms inherit many traits
from their parents indicating a reliable way
to transfer information from one generation
to the next.
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Some behavioral traits are learned through
interactions with the environment and are
not inherited.
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Organism
Generation
Traits
Environment
Inherited
Physical Adaptations/Characteristics
Hibernation
Migration
Mimicry
Behavioral Adaptation/Characteristics
PERFORMANCE SKILLS:
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Conduct a real-time observational study of a familial grouping of organisms. Use web cams
to view animals in their natural habitat or simulated environments to observe and record
physical characteristics of the animals as well as behavioral traits that are taught from parent
to offspring. (Example: Falcon cams are used by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources
and can be used for this study. http://ohiodnr.com/wildlife/dow/falcons/Default.aspx )
Identify physical characteristics using pictures.
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Grade Three
2011-2012
Science Course of Study
Observations of the Environment
Life Science
TOPIC: Behavior, Growth and Changes
CONTENT STATEMENT
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Individuals of the same kind differ in their traits and sometimes the differences give
individuals an advantage in surviving and reproducing.
CONCEPTS
VOCABULARY
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Animals have physical features that are
associated with the environments where
they live.
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Animals have certain physical or
behavioral characteristics that improve
their chances of surviving in particular
environments.
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Individuals of the same kind have different
characteristics that they have inherited.
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Sometimes these different characteristics
give individuals an advantage in surviving
and reproducing.
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Organism
Generation
Traits
Environment
Inherited
Physical Adaptations/Characteristics
Hibernation
Migration
Mimicry
Behavioral Adaptation/Characteristics
PERFORMANCE SKILLS:
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Identify physical characteristics that are inherited but serve a different function for each
animal. (example: bird beaks)
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Grade Three
2011-2012
Science Course of Study
Observations of the Environment
Life Science
TOPIC: Interactions within Habitats
CONTENT STATEMENT
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Living things cause changes on Earth.
CONCEPTS
VOCABULARY
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Living things function and interact with
their physical environments.
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Living things cause changes in the
environments where they live; the changes
can be very noticeable or slightly
noticeable, fast or slow.
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Erosion
Environment
Ecosystem
Biome
Climate
PERFORMANCE SKILLS:
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Recognize scientifically accurate facts in stories about environmental change caused by
living things.
Develop a chart, table, graph to record changes in environmental factors (both living and
nonliving) using data obtained from classroom investigations, or real world examples.
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Grade Three
2011-2012
Science Course of Study
Observations of the Environment
Life Science
TOPIC: Interactions within Habitats
CONTENT STATEMENT

Some kinds of individuals that once lived on Earth have completely disappeared, although
they were something like others that are alive today.
CONCEPTS
VOCABULARY
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Living things that once lived on Earth no
longer exist; their basic needs were no
longer met.
Extinct
Paleontologist
Fossils
PERFORMANCE SKILLS:
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Name an organism that was once abundant that is now extinct.
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