GRADE THREE/FOUR
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Science - Grade Three


FIRST TERM:

UNDERSTANDING LIFE SYSTEMS - GROWTH AND CHANGES IN PLANTS
This Science unit will encourage students to understand the Big Ideas:
Plants have distinct characteristics. There are similarities and differences among various types of plants. Plants are the primary source of food for humans. Humans need to protect plants and their habitats. Plants are important to the planet.

OVERALL EXPECTATIONS
By the end of Grade 3, students will:
1. assess ways in which plants have an impact on society and the environment, and ways in which human activity has an impact on plants and plant habitats;
2. investigate similarities and differences in the characteristics of various plants, and ways in which the characteristics of plants relate to the environment in which they grow;
3. demonstrate an understanding that plants grow and change and have distinct characteristics.

UNDERSTANDING EARTH AND SPACE SYSTEMS - SOILS IN THE ENVIRONMENT
This Science unit will encourage students to understand the Big Ideas:
Soil is made up of living and non-living things. The composition, characteristics, and condition of soil determine its capacity to sustain life. Soil is an essential source of life and nutrients for many living things. Living things, including humans, interact with soils and can cause positive or negative changes.

OVERALL EXPECTATIONS
By the end of Grade 3, students will:
1. assess the impact of soils on society and the environment, and of society and the environment on soils;
2. investigate the composition and characteristics of different soils;
3. demonstrate an understanding of the composition of soils, the types of soils, and the relationship between soils and other living things.




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Second Term

UNDERSTANDING STRUCTURES AND MECHANISMS - STRONG AND STABLE STRUCTURES
This Science unit will encourage students to understand the Big Ideas:
A structure has both form and function. Structures are affected by forces acting on them. Structures need to be strong and stable to be useful.

OVERALL EXPECTATIONS
By the end of Grade 3, students will:
1. assess the importance of form, function, strength, and stability in structures through time;
2. investigate strong and stable structures to determine how their design and materials enable them to perform their load-bearing function;
3. demonstrate an understanding of the concepts of structure, strength, and stability and the factors that affect them.

UNDERSTANDING MATTER AND ENERGY - FORCES CAUSING MOVEMENT
This Science unit will encourage students to understand the Big Ideas:
There are several types of forces that cause movement. Forces cause objects to speed up, slow down, or change direction through direct contact or through interaction at a distance. Forces in nature, such as high winds or water, can have a significant impact on humans and the environment, and need to be regarded with respect.

OVERALL EXPECTATIONS
By the end of Grade 3, students will:
1. assess the impact of various forces on society and the environment;
2. investigate devices that use forces to create controlled movement;
3. demonstrate an understanding of how forces cause movement and changes in movement.





Science Links
Structures:  Strong and Stable

Information about Structures

A story about structures:  Nanabush and the Bridge  

Read this book:  
We're Going to Be Engineers

Watch a video clip about structures:  Structures

Learn about structures in nature:  Bear Paw Trail

How Do Beavers Build Dams video clip

How beavers building dams affects the environment video clip

Video clip:  Subterranean structures

Amazing Animal Architects information

Animal Made Structures information

Video clip:  Soldier crabs on the beach

Video clip:  Soldier crabs

Strong and Stable Structures from Wikispaces

​Choosing building
materials

Bridge Construction Sites:
Building Big - The  Labs - from PBS - experiment with  Forces, Materials, Loads  and Shapes

http://www.diydoctor.org.uk/projects/forces.htm

Online Glossary 

Learn more about compression and tension with Wonderville's Strongman

Build a Tipi! In  this Science Alberta Foundation resource, a young First Nations girl explains  the steps involved in erecting a Cree tipi. With the girl’s coaching, students  select materials, place poles, and insert stakes leading to
the completion of  the tipi


http://www.fincher.org/CoinStacking/HowTo.shtml

http://www.fincher.org/Misc/Pennies/World6.shtml

http://www.projects.yrdsb.edu.on.ca/structures/

http://www.historicbridges.org/

http://www.cntower.ca/en-ca/home.html

Information about the CN Tower

http://www.great-towers.com/




Forces causing Movement

What is Force?  Watch this clip.

Learn more about forces and movement.

​What can't we see? Forces. We can measure them and see their effects.

Bitesize activities about forces

Forces  
Activity
Forces in Action

Forces in Nature

What Causes Flooding

Cool Facts and Tips on Flooding

Other Forces in Nature (click on a force in the menu)

Learn
more about forces in nature

​How
sand dunes are made

​Why we need to
save our sand dunes
Gravity, Forces, and Work - video



Growth and Changes in Plants
Click on the links to find activities and information related to Growth and Changes in Plants

Plants for Kids

Learn about Photosynthesis with this interactive activity

How Does Gravity Affect Root Growth?

From Link to Learning:
Growth and Changes in Plants

Plant Life Cycles     Activity     Fact Sheets      Quiz  

Helping Plants Grow Well    
Activity     Fact Sheets     Quiz     

Great Plant Escape  

How Plants Grow

Life Cycle of a Plant

Click on the links to find activities and information related to Soils in the Environment

Game about Rocks and Soil

Soil for Kids

From Link to Learning:
S.K. Worm Answers Your Questions About Soil and Stuff 

Soil School

Great Plant Escape 

The Dirt on Soil



Soils in the Environment
What is Soil Made Of?

Video clip about Weathering and Erosion

Video clip about Decomposition

Take an Eco-Lifestyle Quiz

Video clip about a Worm Farm

Video clip about a Worm Wrangler

Video clip Composting for Kids

Video clip Why We Should Compost

Video clip Orgaworld: London, Ontario facility for organic waste

Video clip
Orgaworld Compost:  From Table Top to Farmer's Field

Game about Rocks and Soil

Information about soil

Soil for Kids

From Link to Learning:
S.K. Worm Answers Your Questions About Soil and Stuff  from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Soil School - from Soil-Net.com, an environmental Internet resource providing teachers and students extensive curriculum-based information about soil
Great Plant Escape
The Dirt on Soil - from DiscoverySchool.com

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