3rd Grade Studies
the Earth’s Gifts of Land and Water
Long Island Sound Study
(September-October)
Heredity and Evolution — What processes are responsible for life’s unity and diversity?
During this study, students investigate the geographical features of a marine biome. Following their first field experience to Southport beach at low tide, students use their observations of different marine habitats to select and study a marine organism. After students begin to understand that plants and animals have structures and behaviors that help them survive in different environment they work collaboratively to design a hybrid marine organism that is suited for a particular habitat.
Essential Questions:
What are the geographical features of a marine biome?
Why is the Long Island Sound an important marine biome?
What gifts of land and water does the Long Island Sound offer?
What gifts do I have to offer the Long Island Sound?
Long Island Sound Field Experiences: Southport Beach; Maritime Aquarium; Animal Adaptations (Stamford Nature Enter)
Northeast Woodland Study
(November-December)
Heredity and Evolution — What processes are responsible for life’s unity and diversity?
During this study, students investigate the geographical features of a coniferous forest. Following their first field experience to Pequot Museum, students use their observations of different woodland habitats to select and study a woodland organism. After students begin to understand that plants and animals have structures and behaviors that help them survive in different environment they work collaboratively to design a hybrid woodland organism that is suited for a particular habitat.
Essential Questions:
What are the geographical features of a coniferous forest?
What gifts of land and water does the Northeast Woodland offer?
What gifts do I have to offer the Northeast Woodlands?
Northeast Woodland Field Experiences: Life of the Woodland Indian (Stamford Nature Enter), Pequot Museum
Rocks and Minerals Study
(January-February)
The Changing Earth — How do materials cycle through the earth's systems?
During this study, students transform into 3rd grade geologists and investigate the unique properties of rocks and minerals. Through observation and simple tests, students determine how different earth materials are best used.
Essential Questions:
What makes rocks and minerals special?
How are rocks and minerals Earth’s gifts of land and water?
How can I use the Earth’s gifts of rocks and minerals?
Rocks and Minerals Field Experiences: Rocks & Minerals (Stamford Nature Center In School)
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Replace
(March-April)
Science and Technology in Society — How do science and technology affect the quality of our lives?
During this study, students investigate Earth materials as natural resources that provide us with things we need to live. Students will differentiate between natural resources in their raw form and their modified form. Finally students will determine how to conserve natural resources by reducing, reusing, recycling, and replacing.
Essential Questions:
What earth materials can be conserved and preserved?
What is our global supply of resources?
How can the decisions I make affect the global supply of resources?
4 R’s Field Experiences: Children’s Garbage Museum
Properties of Matter
(May-June)
Properties of Matter — How does the structure of matter affect the properties and uses of materials?
During this study, students investigate how heating and cooling cause changes in some of the properties of materials. More specifically, students will conduct simple tests to sort and classify materials based on properties such as dissolving in water, sinking and floating, conducting heat and attracting to magnets. In addition, students will describe the effect of heating on the melting, evaporation, condensation, and freezing of water
Essential Questions:
Why are properties important?
What does a simple test investigate?
What simple tests can I design to investigate important properties related to water?