3rd Grade Science Topics Activities and Ideas

I think that the 3rd grade science standards are my favorite. Shh… don’t tell 2nd grade! By the time students are in 3rd, they’re ready to dive a little deeper and be a little more independent in STEM activities. They’ve (hopefully) learned foundational skills like how to create a diagram or complete a STEM challenge, and now they’re ready for something a little more challenging. In 3rd grade science (especially using the Next Generation Science Standards) there is so much opportunity for hands-on activities and experiments. 

For those more longtime blog readers, you probably already know how much I value integrating science with other content areas (like reading!) and allowing opportunities for inquiry and student-led learning. The topics in 3rd grade science are perfect for things like this! They’re interesting, and open-ended enough to allow you to choose subtopics that really interest your class.

do you use science worksheets?

I truly believe that science should be a hands-on experience. However… there is a place for print based activities (worksheets) in science. I usually start a new science unit with nonfiction reading that directly relates to the topic. I find that when students are given a chance to interact with nonfiction texts and reading comprehension that it gives them a solid foundation to move on to experiments and STEM challenges in that subject area. Each of the subjects below also includes a link to nonfiction reading about that topic, and it’s one of the ways we find success in science.

What do you teach in 3rd grade science?

There is SO much to learn in 3rd grade science, and it’s such a perfect mix of hands-on experiments, intriguing research and new ideas! If you’re using the 3rd Grade Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), then you’re studying…

  • Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes - The life cycles of different animals and flowering plants. Comparing and contrasting different life cycles.

  • Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics - How do some animals form groups to survive? 

  • Heredity: Inheritance and Variation of Traits - Plants and animals have traits inherited from their genetic parents. Some traits can be influenced by the environment. 

  • Biological Evolution: Unity and Diversity - Gathering information from fossils, animal characteristics can provide advantages for survival, surviving in a particular environment, how environmental changes affect animals and plants

  • Earth’s Systems - Using tables and graphs to display typical weather patterns, climates in different regions of the world

  • Earth and Human Activity - Reducing the impact of a weather-related hazard

  • Motion and Stability - the effects of balanced and unbalanced forces, predicting motion, magnets

STEM Activities and Nonfiction Reading for Every NGSS topic

The EASY button for your 3rd grade science lessons. Two paired passages about each topic, scripted instructions and a hands-on STEM activity.

Click and print. Planning is that easy.

Let’s dive in to some of the best science lessons for each 3rd grade NGSS topic!

Life Cycles of Living Things

There are so many ways to get hands-on when you are learning about life cycles. I always start by narrowing down this unit to one or two animals and/or plants. Once you look at one life cycle in depth, it’s easier to compare and contrast it to others.

In the past I’ve looked at butterflies (and hatched them!), salmon, penguins, beans (and grown them), sunflowers, and dolphins!

Ask your students which life cycles they are passionate about and go from there! Some of my favorite activities and projects for life cycles are here in this post.  

 

why do some animals live in grous?

So many animals survive in groups! This animal groups post breaks down ways to explore the animals that live in a group, and the advantages that this can provide. It also includes a free activity where students sort animals into two categories: ‘live in groups’ and ‘live solitary’. 

 

Teaching Kids About Inherited Traits

Why do animals look like their parents? Do plants even have parents? ‘Inherited Traits’ are traits passed down parent to offspring, and are traits an organism has from birth. There are so many fun ways to learn about inherited traits during 3rd grade science. The play-doh activity is one of my favorites!

This ‘teaching inherited traits’ post specifically looks at inherited traits in animals and plants, so it’s perfect for classrooms that don’t want to touch on inherited traits in humans (this can be a tricky topic when families are created in so many different ways!). 

 

Fossil Activities for Kids

Fossils are the preserved remains of plants and animals that turn into stone over a long period of time. But what information can we gather as we look at these fossils?

This post breaks down my four favorite activities when teaching 3rd grade students about fossils and includes a fossil making activity that is so much fun.  

https://www.poetprints.ca/blog/4-lessons-about-fossils-for-3rd-grade 

 

Animal Adaptations

Adaptations help animals to survive in their environment. Have you ever seen an animal that camouflages into their environment? This is an adaptation! Animals are uniquely adapted to their own environment.

Take a peek at this animal adaptations blog for some of the best videos, projects, experiments, and nonfiction reading all about how animals adapt to their environment. 

 

Changes in the Environment

Our environment is constantly changing, and it affects the plants and animals that live there. There are so many different topics you can look at when exploring changes in the environment: deforestation, urbanization, pollution, garbage collection, and more.

This post about changes in the environment specifically looks at how ocean pollution and litter negatively affect an environment… and what we can do to help!  

 

Weather Related Hazards

This 3rd grade science topic is broad because there are SO many different weather related hazards.

This topic can be taught  as an overview where you look at a variety of weather related hazards, or in a more narrow approach where you focus on a single hazard (like blizzards or hurricanes). Students will research and design a solution to weather-related hazards.

I suggest keeping this topic local. Which hazards can affect your community? Where do you students have real-life connections to a weather related hazard? Start there! 

I’ve rounded up some of the best videos, projects and ideas for teaching weather related hazards over here.

 

Weather vs. Climate

What’s the difference between weather and climate?

Climate is what you expect, and weather is what you get! Weather changes from day to day and climate is the long term patterns of weather in a particular area.

There are so many different ways to explore weather and climate, and this post breaks down the best ideas for teaching about weather and climate in 3rd grade science. Don’t miss the weather journal that asks students to track and graph the weather outside your classroom - no supplies required! 

 

Forces and Motion activites for kids

Force and motion is the ultimate hands-on unit in 3rd grade. The topics absolutely begs to be taught with experiments and STEM challenges… so we do!

I have found that the best way for students to understand push vs. pull, balanced and unbalanced forces, friction, static electricity (and more!) is to see them in action! The experiments in this post are designed to help students get familiar with forces and explore them firsthand.

This is the post you need to teach force and motion - don’t miss the magnet maze freebie!

 

lessons and experiments with magnets

Magnets are materials with a magnetic field that draws objects to the magnet itself.. and there are so many fun experiments that use magnets.

Lessons on magnets are a big part of our force and motion unit, but I’ve put it here separately because sometimes we teach them one after the other.

This post looks at magnets in real life, nonfiction reading, and hands on STEM challenges. 


 

Third grade science is a blast! It’s a great time to plan for science units that are full of experiments and STEM challenges. I try to limit the amount of worksheets we use during science time… but I do find that integrating science-based nonfiction reading and comprehension can give students the background knowledge they need to complete an experiment. 

Need print and go 3rd Grade Science lessons that include nonfiction reading and STEM extensions?

Back to School Science Lessons for Third Grade

Third grade science is SO much fun. The experiments, the hands-on activities… the LEARNING! Setting students up for success is so important in science. Students will have the skills necessary to make hands-on science SO successful with a few targeted lessons. These back to school science lessons are key for the beginning of Third Grade. 

What is a Scientist?

This is one of the first science questions we should be asking our students at the beginning of the year. A scientist is a person who conducts research to further knowledge in a particular area. I sometimes get the sense that our students might think scientists are people who only blow things up and only do science experiments.

So we teach them the importance of research when it comes to doing science. It’s not all “fun and games”(ie. Explosions and experiments). There is a research and observation component as well. 

I also like to touch on the idea of peer-review when it comes to scientific research. Peer review is the process that scientific discoveries and research go through. Other scientists check or recreate the experiments or research to see if they can verify the discoveries. I like teaching this aspect because it gives students a better idea of the entire research process.

In this post, I break down some of the most engaging ways to introduce students to the scientists behind the most important discoveries in the world. Plus, it has a FREE ‘Science Trading Card’ activity that’s just so much fun.

How to Label a Diagram

Diagrams are so helpful for illustrating things in science. And there are a few key components of a scientific diagram, such as a title, labels, and label lines. There are ways to do each of these things in order to meet the specifications of a scientific diagram. 

Diagram labeling will involve both quantitative and qualitative observations, so we will also have to teach students to distinguish between these two types of observations.

Explicitly teaching our students how to make observations and create a scientific diagram will set them up for success, both in third-grade science and upper-level science. Just think about how impressed their high school science teachers will be!

How to Successfully Complete a STEM Challenge

STEM Challenges are so fun to do in third grade and are a great way to challenge students to use their creative and critical thinking to solve problems! But, we can’t expect them to know exactly what to do without some explicit teaching. So at the beginning of third grade, I always teach students how to successfully complete a STEM challenge. 

I’ve outlined my process for teaching STEM Challenges here, and you can also read about my 4 favorite STEM activities that use few or inexpensive supplies.

 

Teaching the Scientific Method

Science experiments are such an important part of any science class, and any experiment or STEM challenge is rooted in the scientific method. It is so important that students understand the steps in the scientific method so that they are ready to conduct scientific inquiries in and out of the classroom.

Taking time to teach terminology like hypothesis, procedure, results, conclusion, etc. will give students the vocabulary they need in any science classroom.


Science has the ability to create wonder and excitement in the classroom. So let’s set our students up for success by teaching these introductory science lessons before delving into the curricular topics.

How To Complete a STEM Challenge

Have you ever stopped to think about all the things we explicitly teach our students throughout the school year? At the beginning of the year, we review classroom routines. We also teach academics like math and writing. We make sure our students have problem-solving strategies and interpersonal skills. There is so much that goes on in our classroom! One of the science lessons I always teach my students is HOW to complete a STEM Challenge. STEM challenges are such a big part of our classroom, but I want to make sure that students have the tools to complete them successfully.

Why do we have to teach kids to complete a STEM challenge?

Well, for starters, we need to teach our students this skill so they know the expectations of STEM activities. How many times have we given our students an activity that we think will take thirty minutes and two students come to you after thirty SECONDS saying they're done! 

I realized pretty quickly that stating my expectations goes a long way so students can complete activities more successfully. Also, I find teaching students this skill helps my more timid learners come out of their shells. They are able to picture what to do because they saw a demonstration, so they don’t feel as anxious about doing something “wrong” when doing a STEM challenge for themselves.

First: Model a Stem Challenge

A Force and Motion STEM challenge

The very first STEM challenge of each year is done as a teacher-led challenge that we complete as a group. (Then we move on to student-led learning!)

I model each step for the students and I verbalize my thinking so my students can get a better sense of my problem-solving and creativity as the STEM challenge unfolds.

Hmmm… what is this challenge asking me?

What materials do I have? Let’s be specific when I write them down

WAIT! I should stop and write down what I’m doing right now.

Yikes! This didn’t work, what should we try next?

It’s important to show students my thought process behind how I problem solve and critically think about the challenge. This is also a great time to model how to complete any reflection or worksheet pages that go along with your STEM challenges.

reading carefully

It’s important to teach students how to read instructions carefully. Are they sure they know what they are doing? Are they sure they know what the challenge is? What materials are being used? I model how to check back on the instructions periodically throughout the challenge. I want my students to feel comfortable with double-checking what they are to be doing.

Wow! I think this worked. Let’s check back to the instructions to make sure we didn’t miss anything.

take good notes

Teaching students to take good notes is essential. This means teaching students how to take notes as they go - not just taking notes at the beginning or at the end.

Okay, we have our materials out. Let’s write them down before we move on to the next step!

This includes writing in full sentences and making quantitative observations. Quantitative observations involve number measurements, like height, temperature, width, etc. Scientific notes should be specific enough that anyone can repeat the challenge just by reading our notes!

Hmm, I wrote down “add some water” but that isn’t specific enough. How will anyone know how much water to use! I’ll change it to ‘add 5mL of water’ so everyone knows exactly what to do.

Teach how to label a diagram

LINK to DIAGRAM BLOG and pic from diagram blog

We also need to model and teach our students how to correctly label a diagram. Again, this includes using quantitative AND qualitative observations. Qualitative observations use the five senses, so they might include things like texture, shape, and smell. Teaching how to label a diagram also includes explicitly teaching how to title, label and annotate, draw lines, and add a scale (if you want to get really fancy). You can read more about how to teach students to label a diagram here.

 

expect failure

A poster is held up. It has a rainbow at the top and reads "It's okay to not know. It's not okay to not try."

All of these above teaching points are important, but I also think we need to expect failure. And not only that, we need to teach our students to expect failure. Some of the greatest scientists failed all the time. Thomas Edison, maybe one of the most well-known inventors/scientists, had over a thousand failed attempts before successfully inventing the lightbulb! And one of his most famous sayings is “Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.”

The goal of a STEM challenge or science experiment is not to find the “right answer” every time. Students will OFTEN have to change something and try again. Having a growth mindset is incredibly important in science. 

growth mindset books that are perfect for science:

So, when it comes to teaching, there are many things that we aim to teach our students: critical thinking, problem-solving, organization, reading fluency….the list is always growing. And I’d venture to say that explicitly teaching our students how to complete STEM challenges is important as well. There are several things to teach when it comes to completing STEM challenges. So let’s set our students up for better success by modeling, demonstrating and explicitly teaching this skill.

How to Label a Scientific Diagram for Kids

In Science, we have the opportunity to teach our students many things: how to conduct an experiment using the scientific method, how to research, how to make hypotheses, and how to form scientific questions. Another thing we have the opportunity to teach is how to properly create and label a scientific diagram. There are many opportunities to use scientific diagrams in 2nd, 3rd and 4th grade, so let’s set our students up for success and teach them how to properly create a scientific diagram.

How To Label a Diagram is displayed over top of drawing supplies on a table

SO much of science needs a diagram to help illustrate an idea. You might need to create a proper diagram in situations like…

Creating a diagram is such an important skill to teach at the beginning of the year so that students are ready to add more details as the year progresses. 

Why do we need to teach students to create diagrams for science?

Explicitly teaching our students different skills in science is important because not everything will come intuitively. Science involves accurate observations and this can be tricky to capture in a diagram, so it’s best that we teach our students how to create diagrams so they know exactly what the expectations are.

What Should a Scientific Diagram Include?

There are a few key components of a scientific diagram. You will need:

  • A title at the top center of the page with a description of what is in the drawing. 

    • For example, if you are drawing a pumpkin seed, do not simply write “Seed”, write “Pumpkin Seed”. If you are drawing a picture of the Water Cycle, do not write “Water” write “Water Cycle”

  • A clear, colored picture of the item

  • Labels and annotations 

    • Generally, the labels go on the right-hand side of the diagram, but there can be exceptions to this rule

  • Label lines without arrows

    • Make sure to use a ruler when creating your label lines so all the lines are straight

    • The lines should not cross over each other

  • Scale

    • This is if you are drawing something larger than it is in real life (if you want to get really fancy with your elementary school students)

facts vs. opinions

Knowing the difference between a fact and an opinion can really help with creating a diagram.“The plant looks pretty” is an opinion. This isn’t something that we can measure and it might change from person to person.

qualitative vs. quantitative observations

A poster about Types of Observations, qualitative and quantitative, is displayed on a table

Types of Observations reference guide - available as a free download on this page.

One of the first steps is to teach our students the difference between qualitative and quantitative observations. Qualitative observations and things that we use our senses to observe.

  • The coffee feels hot. The coffee is dark brown. The coffee tastes bitter.

These are things we use the senses to observe.

Quantitative, on the other hand, are observations that include numerical measurements.

  • There are 10 ounces of coffee in the mug. The coffee is 195F degrees. 

Teaching Qualitative Observations

When teaching qualitative observations, it’s time to do a solid review of the five senses. I love making popcorn when reviewing the senses because making popcorn involves all the senses: smell, sight, hearing, touch and taste! But we also need to get more specific when teaching about qualitative observations. Here are some things we can teach:

  • Texture

  • Shape

  • Color

  • Temperature (If you are describing temperature using adjectives like hot and cold, and not describing it using a thermometer number)

Teaching Quantitative Observations (Numerical Measurements)

This is where measuring skills really come in handy. First, we need to give our students practice in how to measure things using a ruler. Then we should give them practice with how to weigh things on various types of scales. These two things lend themselves naturally to some great hands-on lessons! Who doesn’t love measuring and weighing classroom objects!

Teach students different types of quantitative measurements:

  • Height

  • Width

  • Weight/Mass

  • Number of specific parts (ie 2 eyes, 8 petals, 4 leaves, etc)

Labeling the Diagram

Now that our students know what kinds of things we should be observing for our scientific diagram, it’s time to start creating diagrams. Together, label an example and a non-example of the same object. This is a great way to teach students expectations for when they create their own diagrams. 

Next, have students practice their observation skills. They can create diagrams of classroom objects and toys! 


Science provides so many opportunities to create diagrams. Let’s set our students up for success by teaching them how to properly create and label these diagrams. Their upper grade teachers will be impressed when they come to class already having had ample practice with the concept!

Teach Students to How to Label a Diagram Scientifically
What Is a Scientist For Kids

Have you ever stopped to ask yourself or your students “What is a scientist? What characteristics and skills does a scientist need?” It’s an important conversation to have with our students. Why do we need to teach them the qualities of a scientist? All students can be scientists, but what do scientists do? Let’s take a closer look at what a scientist is and how we can create scientists in our classrooms.

in simple words, what is a scientist?

Nonfiction reading titled "What is a Scientist" is displayed next to reading comprehension questions.

Nonfiction reading: “What is a Scientist?” - available as a free download!

A scientist is a person who conducts research to gain more knowledge in a particular area.

There are scientists in a variety of fields: biology, physics, marine biology, zoology, you name it! Scientists are NOT someone who just “knows” things or “guesses” answers. Scientists research!

why is peer-review so important?

Scientific discoveries and research go through a process called peer-review. This is when other scientists check or recreate the experiments and research that was done. Peer-review is a great way to ensure that the discoveries and research are correct.

Imagine that you conducted an experiment where you roll a ball down the hallway to see the path it takes. Your ball curves towards the left. You determine that all balls curve to the left when they are rolled down hallways.

THIS is where the peer-review process will come in. A group of scientists will try to replicate your findings and poke holes in your method. Eventually, they will see that balls don’t only roll to the left…I think you get the picture.

Scientists play an important role when it comes to discoveries and research. Scientists discovered the concept of gravity, they investigated space, and they invented the internet. Scientists also discover new medications and healthcare technology. Scientists study animal behavior and research the best ways to care for the environment. Scientists are researching and making discoveries on a regular basis. They play an important role in our society.

Ideas for Teaching Students about Scientists

We should be teaching our students what a scientist is, so they don’t have misconceptions moving forward. Learning about scientists is also a great way to expose students to the different careers they could have in STEM fields. Maybe one of our students will make the next greatest scientific discovery when they get older!

So here are some ideas to help teach our students about scientists:

Brainstorm About Scientists

It’s always fun to brainstorm with students about what they already know. A classic KWL (Know, Wonder, Learn) chart is a great way to start. Have students discuss and brainstorm what they already know. Then look up what they think they know to make sure it’s correct. This will help to demonstrate the research and “peer-review” aspect of science!

Research a Scientist

Pages for researching famous scientists are laid out on a table.

Have students research famous scientists (both from history and current scientists). Each student can do a little research on a specific scientist and create a ‘Scientist Trading Card’ to share with the class. This is such a great way to expose students to the many different people who have made a BIG difference in our world.

 

Here are some ideas of scientists your students could research:

A list of famous scientists is displayed on a clipboard.
  • Isaac Newton

  • Thomas Edison

  • Albert Einstein

  • Marie Curie

  • Charles Darwin

  • Stephen Hawking

  • Rachel Carson

  • Jane Goodall 

  • Mary Anning 

  • Bill Gates

  • George Washington Carver 

These are just a few names of famous scientists. There are lists upon lists of famous scientists that can be found on the internet, just a short Google Search away.

Build on students’ curiosities

After doing some introductory work about what a scientist is, you can have your students put their new knowledge into practice. This might be a great time to introduce Genius Hour. Have students pick a topic they are interested in and let them research and explore the topic!


Learning about scientists and the characteristics of a scientist might just be a key to helping our students better connect with science. Maybe one of our students will be the next to uncover something amazing in the scientific world!

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Animals That Live in Groups - Third Grade Science

There is something about animals that fascinates children of all ages. Let’s be real, even adults are fascinated by animals! Whether it’s learning about why zebras have stripes or learning about how to classify animals, kids are drawn into the world of animals. Some animals survive by living in a group. Working together helps in so many ways. Take a peek at some of the best ways to learn about why some animals live in groups!

'Why Do Some Animals Form Groups to Survive' - A pride of lions is pictured at the bottom.

Why do animals live in groups?

Animals live in groups to help each other survive. Animals can hunt together, protect each other and help raise their young. A lone lion would have to do a lot of work in order to survive, but a pride can work together to thrive. One honeybee isn’t going to be able to survive alone, but a hive full of bees can thrive. 

What kinds of animals live in groups?

Some animals do thrive alone, like robins or polar bears. Other animals live in groups. Some of these animals include gorillas, bats, honey bees, deer, buffalo and lions. 

Teach About Animal Groups with One Click!

Looking for a FAST way to plan out your animal groups unit that already includes paired nonfiction passages? In just a few clicks you can grab all of the pieces you need: lesson plans, paired passages, reading comprehension, key reading skills, and a fun science project.

Click and print. Planning is really that easy.


teach the importance of animal groups with a video

When putting together any Science unit, I like to have a few good YouTube videos on hand. I find that videos are great for introducing concepts or reviewing concepts. They also help to break up the teaching time. So here are a couple youtube videos I found about Animal Groups:

  1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwH8xGmqGmo - I love a good SciShow Kids video and so do the students.

  2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2_npLl4Cyc - This video answers the question “Why do animals live in groups?”

Reading Passages

Reading passages about how bees and lions survive in groups

Reading Passages all about two animals who form groups to survive.

Combining science with reading is a great way to sprinkle in some informational text and reading comprehension. In these passages, we explore two different animals that form groups to survive. ‘Busy Bees in Action’ is a reading passage all about how honeybees work together and ‘Fierce Savanna Predators’ is a reading passage all about how lions work as a team to survive. While reading these passages, student get a good overview of the jobs each member of the pride or hive is responsible for.

 

Lone Lion Tag

A great way to demonstrate the power of teamwork is by playing a game of tag. In the first round, have one student (the “lone lion”) try to catch as many of their classmates (“the prey”) as possible. In the second round, have a group of students (“the pride”) try to catch as many students as possible. Your students will quickly see that working together as a team gives better results. In the same way, animals work together to get better results.

Animal Groups Science Project

Animal Group Spinners are fun to make with your students. Photocopy templates for your class so each student can choose the animal they would like to write about. Students then research either bees or lions. They can gather facts about their animals. They write these facts into the spinner template. This is a fun way to have students research and write. I especially like this activity because they don’t have to write in the traditional paragraph form.

animal groups sorting activity

If your students are extra interested and engaged in this topic, you can have students do some additional research about animals that live in groups. This sorting activity and research template is such a great way to help students discover which animals live in groups, and which prefer a more solitary life.


There are so many activities you can do to teach your students about animals. And I’m just scratching the surface! You’re probably already thinking of an idea or two. Teaching students about animals that live in groups can be exciting and engaging.

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Teaching Animal Adaptations - Science for Kids

There’s something about animals and plants that fascinates children (and adults). We love watching how things grow and change throughout their lives. So I’ve always enjoyed teaching about animal adaptations. Teaching children about how animals can survive because of their adaptations is engaging and fun for students. There are some great activities to help students learn about animal adaptations.

What are examples of animal adaptations?

An adaptation is a characteristic that helps animals survive in their environment. Some examples of adaptations would be camouflage to help animals high from predators. A specific diet and the amount of water the animal needs are also adaptations. For example, a camel has a hump to store water, but an amphibian would not survive without water. 

Animal Adaptation Videos

Having YouTube clips on hand during science is a must-have for me. So here are some good go-to clips about animal adaptations:

  1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2MibjJgyjs - This video explains what the term “adaptation” means in terms of a child’s life, such as adapting to a new time zone or adapting to a new house. Then the video goes on to explain the three types of animal adaptations: behavioral, physical and lifecycle.

  2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a85lHqFhyw4 - This is a short virtual field trip all about animal adaptations. Your students will get to see mammals, birds, reptiles and invertebrates. Each of the animals in the video has adaptations that help them survive. 

  3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOIRci0CKzg - Here’s a video all about camouflage!

There are a ton of great videos on animal adaptations. The ones listed above are just scratching the surface! 

adaptations science project

This adaptations science project is a part of these ‘Animal Adaptations’ lessons.

I love giving my students opportunities to use their creativity and critical thinking skills. Have students research an animal of their choice. Then they have to create a diorama to show how their animal adapts to its environment.

After creating their diorama, have them use critical thinking skills to examine if their animal would survive somewhere else. Have the student place their animal in another student’s diorama to think about how their animal would survive in a different environment. 

For example, if a student created a diorama for a clownfish, would that clownfish be able to survive in the ocean trench diorama? Would the amphibian be able to survive in the desert diorama?

Teach Animal Adaptations Today!

Looking for an easy way to plan out some animal adaptations lessons that already includes paired nonfiction passages and the science project seen above?

In just a few clicks you can grab all of the pieces you need: lesson plans, paired passages, reading comprehension, key reading skills, and a hands-on science project.

Click and print. Planning is really that easy.

explore local animals

Take a look at some local animals to explore how they are adapted to survive. There is also an amazing Magic School Bus episode all about how animals survive in the city. It’s called “In the City”. Here’s a link to it on YouTube! (please let me know if it stops working or the video gets pulled down).

Try taking a walk around your school ground to notice plants that are adapted to where you are right now!

Reading about Animal Adaptations

Informational text passages that focus on animal and plant adaptations in two distinct habitats.

There is a hilarious series by Sandra Markle and Howard McWilliam called “What if You had?” Each book deals with a different animal adaptation. For example, “What if you had an Animal Tongue?” or “What if you had Animal Hair?” The books delve into information about how these features help different animals around the world. Click here to see the books on amazon (it’s not an affiliate link, I’m not that cool!)

These passages about animal and plant adaptations are great if you’re looking for student-level informational text that you can print and use today. Each passage explores how plants and animals are uniquely adapted to their own environments.


Looking for more blogs about 3rd Grade Science? I have a post for every single 3rd Grade Next Generation Science Standard. See the whole 3rd grade science series here!

There are so many fun things to do while teaching our students about animal adaptations. Many children love learning about animals, so lessons about animal adaptations naturally lend themselves to wonder and curiosity.

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Changes in the Environment - Science Activities for Kids

It seems like everywhere you look, there is trash on the ground. Have you ever seen someone throw trash and it misses the garbage can, but they just walk away?! Litter is everywhere. It’s even in the oceans, and this causes changes in the environment. These science activities for kids specifically look at how changes in the environment can affect plants and animals.

How do you explain “environment” to a child?

One way to explain “environment” to a child is to go for a walk. Have them look around and notice the things they see like trees, grass, the sky, animals, etc. Essentially, the environment is everything around us, so letting the child make observations about what is around them will help them understand better. 

What are some examples of changes in the environment? 

The environment is constantly changing and people are causing many of these changes. Deforestation is a huge change. There is also pollution causing environmental changes. And as mentioned previously, litter on the ground and trash in the ocean is another big change to the environment.

Since there are several types of environmental change, you can either try to tackle them all at once, or you can break them down into smaller units. I like to break things down into smaller units so students get a more in depth look at a topic, but that’s just a personal preference.

For today, I’m to focus on environmental changes caused by trash and plastic waste. Let’s look at some learning activities to help our students engage in the learning.

YouTube Videos about environment changes

Here are some helpful YouTube clips that you might want to show your students as they learn about how trash changes the environment.

  1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKFV9IquMXA - This is a clip from National Geographic where kids explain how plastic pollution is affecting the ocean around Hawaii. 

  2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFPoIU5iiYQ - This video is a cartoon, so it might be more palatable for students to watch, instead of watching real life footage of animals struggling in the ocean because of plastic. While it is a cartoon with no words, it still gives good insight into the problems of trash in the ocean. Students can also use their inference-making skills while watching this video clip.

  3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrPBYS5zzF8 - This video also explains how plastic is causing environmental changes and focuses on the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

Make an Ocean- Cleaner Tool

Teaching materials for the ‘Design an Ocean-Cleaning Tool STEM Challenge

If your students love hands-on learning, they will be engaged during this activity. First, you’ll have to fill a kiddie pool or a water table with water. This will become your pretend ocean. Next, you need to add some garbage and plastic to the ocean. Now it’s time to introduce your students to the activity. 

Challenge the students to create a tool that they can use to clean the litter out of the ocean. Brainstorm together and then have students use their imaginations to create. They can use various materials like popsicle sticks, pipe cleaners, tape, string, etc.

This STEM Challenge is part of the ‘changes in the environment’ reading unit for grade 3 science.

Read about the Problem

In order to get a better understanding of the plastic problem, students need to be exposed to it. This means it’s a good idea to read passages about the problem of pollution. We can’t address a problem we don’t know about! So find some good reading passages that your students can read to expose them to the problem of plastic. 

the ‘less plastic challenge’

Once students have some information about the problem of pollution, give them a challenge to use less plastic. Especially single-use plastics.

  • Switch to a reusable straw

  • Use reusable lunch containers

  • Reuse plastic bags (even the single-use ones!)

  • Use a refillable water bottle

  • Swap plastic wrap for a reusable alternative or container

Are there any changes you can make in your classroom to create less waste?

We set up a chart to track the different ways we were trying to eliminate single-use plastics in our classroom.

Do a Plastic Pick Up

After exploring the harm of plastic, go on a field trip to pick up trash and plastic. If you live close to the ocean, go to the beach. If you live close to a forest, go collect garbage from the forest floor. This will help our students feel a sense of ownership in their environment and it will give them real life experience seeing the trash all around.


Teach about these environment changes TODAY!

Helping students understand the impact of garbage is easy with these lessons that combine SCIENCE and READING. You get two paired passages, reading comprehension activities, and a STEM challenge all about changes in the environment.

It’s hard to teach about how trash is changing the environment because it really pulls at the heartstrings. It’s heartbreaking to see animals struggling to survive because of the pollution that humans are creating. BUT it’s so important for us to teach our students. Like I said earlier, we can’t address a problem we don’t know about! So we need to teach about environmental changes so we can address the problem…both now and in generations to come.

Grade 4 Science - Lessons, Projects, Activities and Worksheets

Science can be exciting no matter what grade level you teach. In the early grades, students learn the five senses and how to be a scientist. In later years, students take a deep dive into topics like biology, physics and chemistry. Teaching grade 4 science can be a fun combination of worksheets, science projects and hands-on activities.

'Activities, Lessons, and Ideas to teach Grade 4 Science'

If you’ve been around here for any length of time, you’ve probably figured out that I love to teach science by doing hands-on projects, and also by integrating science into other curriculum areas: science and art, science and writing, science and comprehension. Grade 4 science is no different. There are some awesome grade 4 science projects and grade 4 science worksheets that you can use your students.

What are the topics in Grade 4 science? 

Here in BC, our science curriculum is guided by the BC Big Ideas. The BC Big Ideas for Grade 4 Science are…

  • All living things sense and respond to their environment

  • Matter has mass, takes up space and can change phase

  • Energy can be transformed

  • The motions of Earth and the moon cause observable patterns that affect living and non-living systems.

When teaching these big ideas, I teach four distinct topics: Biomes, Changing States of Matter, Energy and Motions of the Earth. To read an in-depth post on each topic, be sure to click through. 

A Grade 4 Space unit is displayed

Everything You Need to Teach Grade 4 Science

A complete (scripted) unit for every single grade 4 science unit in BC. Lesson plans, vocabulary, projects, experiments, activities, and more!

Click and print. Planning is really that easy.

Teaching about Biomes

In our biomes unit, I like to highlight how animals and plants have special traits that help them survive in their environment. A polar bear wouldn’t be able to survive in the desert, just like a lizard wouldn’t be able to survive in the tundra. Why? 

After learning about the biomes and characteristics of animals and plants in each biome, it’s time to start using imagination about what it would be like to live in each biome, what traits would they need to have in order to survive? 

Check out some of my favorite activities for teaching about the biomes of the world.

Teaching about Changing States of Matter

Matter is something that we return to again and again in the BC curriculum.

Students start learning about matter in Kindergarten and each year, the topic gets built on. So by the time students have reached grade 4, they generally have a good understanding of the states of matter and now it’s time to implement some more hands-on activities to help them engage with the topic in meaningful ways.

I also like to incorporate food when teaching about matter. When students can use all FIVE of their five senses during science, it’s always a good day! To check out some ideas, including ideas on how to incorporate food, check out this post.

This post breaks down my favorite activities and lessons for Grade 4 that teaches how matter changes state.

 

Teaching about Energy

When teaching about energy, I love to have a variety of hands-on learning activities. Energy is one of those topics that can naturally lead into exploration and discovery. Magnets, gravity, sound, light, push and pull….all these areas are great for hands-on experiments. Check out some of the fun ideas in this energy blog post

 

Teaching about Motions of the Earth

In our Motions of the Earth unit, students discover how the earth rotates, revolves and orbits. They also discover what causes eclipses and tides. Through a series of lessons, students will gain a better understanding of how the motions of the Earth affect, not only them, but the things around them. During this unit, they also get to put on their artistic hats to create comics about an eclipse. Read about everything you need to teach space science in grade 4.

 

What are some good science experiments for grade 4?

Grade 4 is a great age to dive deeper into science experiments. There are some awesome science experiments out there, and here are some of my favorites:

  1. Melting, Boiling and Freezing: To teach students about melting, boiling and freezing, I like to do an experiment using a transparent kettle and ice cubes. Drop an ice cube into the kettle and set it to boil. Have students observe what happens to the ice cube. Also have the students observe the steam as the water boils. 

  2. Energy Science Stations: Set up stations around the room so students can experiment with energy. Flick a marble into a group of other marbles to see what happens. Roll marbles down a track to see how height of the track affects the marble. Experiment with flashlights and glow sticks. Use a contactless thermometer to measure temperatures. You can check out even more station ideas here.

  3. STEM Challenges - I’ve rounded up some of my favorite STEM challenges that are easy to set up and use very few costly supplies (if any!)

Grade 4 is a fun age to really delve into project-based learning as well as do experiments. You’ll still have to do a bunch of scaffolding before diving into the experiments, but with the right scaffolding, your students will be ready to explore. Whether they are doing science worksheets, or science projects, there is always something to learn in grade 4 science. 

Changing States of Matter for Kids - Science Lessons in Elementary

Matter is all around us, as you might remember from your elementary school days, the states of matter can change. And when it comes to teaching kids about the changing states of matter, there are so many different activities we can do. Let’s take a look at some activities we can do to teach about the changing states of matter.

How does matter change states?

Matter is made up of atoms. And for the purpose of elementary school, there are three states of matter: solids, liquids and gases. Temperature has the ability to change the state of matter. When heat is added, the atoms move around and eventually break apart from each other. When matter is cooled, the atoms slow down and draw closer to each other.

The most common ways that temperature affects matter is through melting, boiling and freezing.

What is matter? Take a peek at this post that’s just about teaching the 3 states of matter!

We always start our unit with a set of reading passages on matter. I find that it helps to give students some background information before we dive into hands-on learning.

Changing States of Matter Videos

As always, I like to have some YouTube videos on hand in case we have a few extra minutes throughout the day. These are a couple videos I found that teach about the changing states of matter:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwCUqG7GA3Y

  • This video gives an overview of the states of matter and atoms. It also delves into the changing states of matter through melting and freezing. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZBt4_Ds3lI

  • Here’s a brief video that explains about boiling point. It also explains why popcorn pops because of the boiling. 

Make it Delicious with Chocolate

‘Gooey Chocolate Melt’ is the most delicious experiment to teach changing states of matter. Find it here!

This is a fun activity that explores melting and cooling using chocolate. So not only is this experiment educational, but it’s also tasty!

In a nutshell, this experiment has students using their problem-solving skills to turn solid chocolate into a liquid. Each students will get their own bag with some chocolate in it. They have to figure out how to melt the chocolate. Then students will have to make predictions about how they can change the melted chocolate back into a solid.

And of course, when the experiment is finished, each child can eat their chocolate!

 

matter + hot chocolate?

Another great way to explore the changing states of matter is to make hot chocolate. You can even have students write about whether they think whipped cream is a liquid or a solid….what do you think it is?

Show Melting, Boiling and Freezing

For this experiment, you’ll need an electric kettle with water. A transparent kettle is best because then students can see what’s happening inside. You’ll also need ice cubes. After reviewing the definitions of melting, boiling and freezing, pull out a kettle filled with water and also put ice cubes in a bowl. 

Drop an ice cube into the water and watch what happens. Then turn on the kettle and watch what happens. As the ice cube melts and the water heats up, steam will form. 

Throughout the whole process, explain to students what is happening and have students record their observations. 

'States of Matter' lesson worksheets are displayed

Plan Your Changing States of Matter Lessons with a CLICK

Looking for a FAST way to prep that Changing States of Matter unit that includes nonfiction text AND engaging experiments? In just a few clicks you can grab all of the pieces you need: scripted instructions, vocabulary, informational text, experiments, and more.

Click and print. Planning is really that easy.

matter game

If you want to do an extension of the above activity, have your students pretend to be molecules and act out the process of melting, boiling and freezing.

Have students stand close together to be the ice. Then have them move further apart to be liquid and far, far, far apart to be gas. When you say “freezing” students will stand close together. When you say “melting” students move further apart. When you say “boiling” students have to move furthest apart. 

Into Thin Air

If you have a few days to do an experiment, you can give each child or group of children a cup. Have them fill it with water and draw a line to mark the water level. Then have the students place their cups in a sunny place, like the window sill of the classroom. Over the next few days have students make observations about the water level. 


Hands-on activities work so well for learning about the changing states of matter! When our students can use their five senses (yes, I’m including taste!), science comes alive on a whole new level!

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'Activities and Experiments to Teach Changing States of Matter'
Activities to Teach Forms of Energy and Energy Transformation

Energy is a magnificent thing. It is something adults all wish we had more of and children seem to have an endless supply of. And yes, this is very true, but I’m talking about energy in terms of science. Teaching students about the forms of energy can lead to some pretty engaging lessons. So let’s check out four types of energy lessons.

What is the Law of Conservation of Energy?

The Law of Conservation of Energy is a law stating that energy can be changed, but it cannot be created or destroyed. Energy can change from one form to another, but energy is never lost during this transformation process.

What are the Types of Energy?

The exact number of energy types is a bit open for interpretation, but here are some of the most common types of energy:

  • kinetic energy

  • light energy

  • sound energy

  • thermal energy

  • elastic energy

  • nuclear energy

  • chemical energy

  • magnetic energy

  • gravitational energy

  • electrical energy. 

Energy is all around us and we use it every day.

Types of Energy Videos

I love introducing new concepts by showing video clips and here are some great videos about energy.

  1. Dr. Binocs is a classic science YouTube channel that many teachers use for introducing science topics. This short video goes over a few of the most common types of energy. It also delves into the concept of potential energy.

  2. This video also gives a good overview of energy. It categorizes energy into two main areas: potential energy and kinetic energy. Then the video delves into the different types of energy. 

  3. If you’re looking for a video that’s a little longer, you might love this Bill Nye the Science Guy video about energy. Did you watch Bill Nye as a kid? This video sure does bring back memories from my childhood!

Hands-On Energy Stations

These hands-on stations teach students all about how energy transfers from one form to another. (Bonus: they’re super easy to set up!)

Who doesn't love some good hands-on science stations? During this science lesson, students will complete four student-led stations. Each station will have an activity to determine the energy input and output. For example, students have to flick a marble into a group of other marbles to see what will happen. You can check out the other stations here.

 

Project-Based Learning: Energy Machines

I LOVE using project-based assessments to cap off a science unit. They’re a great way to check for student understanding without having them sit down for a timed test (that doesn’t always show understanding anyways!)

In this project, students will have the opportunity to design and build an ‘Energy machine’.

This machine will have the power to transform energy into different forms. As a simple example, some students might build a machine that uses a hair dryer to melt a piece of chocolate. (Electric energy to Heat Energy!)

Students will create a blueprint, gather materials and build a prototype to show their classmates! Not only is this project a fun way for students to demonstrate their learning, it is also a great way for them to use their creativity! 

The full instructions, planning pages, and assessment rubric are included in the Energy Unit.

A Complete Energy Unit is Here!

Learn all about Forms of Energy and Energy Transfer with this one hands-on unit that has everything you need.

Scripted lessons… check!
Reading Passages… check!
Hands-on projects and stations… check!
Vocabulary and Assessment… check check!

Take the planning off of your plate and grab all ten scripted lessons here…

Energy Experiments

There are SO many experiments that you could do with your class to demonstrate the various types of energy. So let’s take a look at a few types of energy activities:

  • Magnets: Give students magnets and have them locate things that are magnetic and things that are not. You can also find some other fun magnet activities in this blog post dedicated to Magnet Activities!

  • Shooting Rubber Bands: Give students different sized rubber bands and teach them how to stretch the rubber bands and shoot them across the classroom (or field outside) to see which bands fly the furthest. BUT make sure to teach them about safety so no one gets hurt.

  • Gravity: Have students drop various objects from the same high so they can see that all objects fall at the same speed.

  • Rubber Band Guitar: Students can experiment using rubber bands stretched over various objects to explore the sounds created when stretching different shaped elastics.

  • Egg Drop Experiment: Have students design a contraption that will protect a raw egg when it is dropped from a high place. How can you protect the egg from the kinetic energy it is about to experience?

As you can see, there are a plethora of experiments you can have students do while they are exploring the types of energy and energy transformation. Google has TONS of great ideas!

Motions of the Earth, Moon, and Sun - Space Science for Kids

“Ground control to Major Tom!” This song SO easily gets stuck in my head when I’m working on anything space related. And it’s not even the David Bowie version that gets stuck in my head, it’s the Chris Hadfield version, where he sings it from space. I love teaching students about the motions of the Earth, moon and Sun. There are so many awesome space science lessons for kids. So let’s check out a few!

Space Science For Kids - The Motions of the Earth, Moon, and Sun.

What’s the Motion of the Earth?

The Earth is constantly in motion. The Earth orbits around the Sun. An orbit is the path that an object takes when it revolves around another object. A revolution is the circular movement of an object around another object. The Earth also rotates on its axis. 

What causes day and night?

As the Earth orbits the Sun, it also rotates on its axis. It takes the Earth 24 hours to rotate. The side of Earth facing the Sun experiences day and the side of Earth facing away from the Sun experiences night.

Why does earth have seasons?

Top: Informational Text passages all about how the earth, sun and moon move in the sky.
Bottom: Informational text passages all about tides.

The earth’s orbit isn’t a perfect circle. This means that sometimes it is closer to the Sun and the weather is warmer, like in spring and summer. Sometimes the Earth is further away from the Sun and the weather is colder, like in the winter. The Earth’s revolution causes the changes in seasons.

What causes ocean tides on earth?

Tides are always changing and it is the moon’s gravitational pull that causes these changes. Tides rise and fall depending on where the moon is in the sky. 

Now that we have some background information about the motion of the Earth, moon and Sun, let’s take a look at some activities to get students excited about space!

Plan the Whole Unit in One Click!

Get ready to teach your ‘Motions of the Earth’ science unit in one step.

This engaging unit includes everything you need to teach students about how the earth, sun, and moon move.

Reading passages, scripted lessons, activities, and project-based learning are all included!

Make a Moon Board

Using this moon board, students can poke their heads through the middle and rotate the board to see why the moon appears to be different shapes at different times.

I love creating visuals that help my students learn. This Moon Board activity will help students identify why the moon appears differently in its separate phases. You’ll need a few things for this activity, including black foam board, 8 small white balls like ping pong balls, black paint, a print out of the Sun, Phases of the Moon labels, sharp scissors and hot glue.

Using these supplies, create a Moon Board that looks like this one. After creating the Moon Board, students can put their head inside and as they rotate the board around, they will observe each of the different moon phases! 

Detailed instructions and print-and-cut templates are available in this Motions of the Earth unit.

Want to watch me assemble this moon board? I made a Reel over on Instagram. You can check it out here.

Anchor Charts

Anchor charts are a great way to show how the Earth and moon move. I’m a huge believer that anchor charts should be made with students instead of ahead of time. I also love printing out labels and pictures so students don’t have to watch me try to draw things! Gluing labels and pictures into place is SO much easier than trying to draw and print neatly.

For example, I like to print out large cards of moon phases and put them on a chart paper to create an anchor chart. 

As another anchor chart idea, you can make a Venn Diagram anchor chart about the similarities and differences of solar and lunar eclipses. Have students come up with the ideas and you write them down as the ideas arise.

Act it Out

Head out to a place, like a field or the gym, where your students will have space to move. Then label kids as “Sun”, “moon”, “Earth”. Have your students rotate and revolve with their bodies to act out how the Sun, moon and Earth move. 

Create an Eclipse Comic

I love combining science with other curricular areas. In this activity, students will use their knowledge of comic strips and writing, as well as their artistic skills and creativity,  to create a comic about either a lunar eclipse or a solar eclipse. You will likely have to review characteristics of a comic and how to properly use speech bubbles.

Students can pick a comic template and begin to draw. Throughout the process, make sure to review and use checklists to ensure students know what criteria you are looking for in their comic. I love seeing what students come up with as they create their eclipse comics.

There are so many fun ways to teach about the motions of the Earth, moon and Sun. If you have any other awesome lessons, send them my way! I love seeing what other people do.