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  • 3rd Grade

    Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems

Students who demonstrate understanding can:

Performance Expectations

  1. Construct an argument that some animals form groups that help members survive. 3-LS2-1

    Clarification Statement and Assessment Boundary

  2. Analyze and interpret data from fossils to provide evidence of the organisms and the environments in which they lived long ago. 3-LS4-1

    Clarification Statement and Assessment Boundary

  3. Construct an argument with evidence that in a particular habitat some organisms can survive well, some survive less well, and some cannot survive at all. 3-LS4-3

    Clarification Statement and Assessment Boundary

  4. Make a claim about the merit of a solution to a problem caused when the environment changes and the types of plants and animals that live there may change. 3-LS4-4

    Clarification Statement and Assessment Boundary

A Peformance Expectation (PE) is what a student should be able to do to show mastery of a concept. Some PEs include a Clarification Statement and/or an Assessment Boundary. These can be found by clicking the PE for "More Info." By hovering over a PE, its corresponding pieces from the Science and Engineering Practices, Disciplinary Core Ideas, and Crosscutting Concepts will be highlighted.

Science and Engineering Practices

Analyzing and Interpreting Data

Analyzing data in 3–5 builds on K–2 experiences and progresses to introducing quantitative approaches to collecting data and conducting multiple trials of qualitative observations. When possible and feasible, digital tools should be used.

Engaging in Argument from Evidence

Engaging in argument from evidence in 3–5 builds on K–2 experiences and progresses to critiquing the scientific explanations or solutions proposed by peers by citing relevant evidence about the natural and designed world(s).

Disciplinary Core Ideas

Crosscutting Concepts

By clicking on a specific Science and Engineering Practice, Disciplinary Core Idea, or Crosscutting Concept, you can find out more information on it. By hovering over one you can find its corresponding elements in the PEs.

Planning Curriculum

Common Core State Standards Connections

ELA/Literacy

  • RI.3.1 - Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text, referring explicitly to the text as the basis for the answers. (3-LS2-1), (3-LS4-1), (3-LS4-3), (3-LS4-4)
  • RI.3.2 - Determine the main idea of a text; recount the key details and explain how they support the main idea. (3-LS4-1), (3-LS4-3), (3-LS4-4)
  • RI.3.3 - Describe the relationship between a series of historical events, scientific ideas or concepts, or steps in technical procedures in a text, using language that pertains to time, sequence, and cause/effect. (3-LS2-1), (3-LS4-1), (3-LS4-3), (3-LS4-4)
  • SL.3.4 - Report on a topic or text, tell a story, or recount an experience with appropriate facts and relevant, descriptive details, speaking clearly at an understandable pace. (3-LS4-3), (3-LS4-4)
  • W.3.1 - Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons. (3-LS2-1), (3-LS4-1), (3-LS4-3), (3-LS4-4)
  • W.3.2 - Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly. (3-LS4-1), (3-LS4-3), (3-LS4-4)
  • W.3.8 - Recall information from experiences or gather information from print and digital sources; take brief notes on sources and sort evidence into provided categories. (3-LS4-1)

Mathematics

  • 3.MD.B.3 - Draw a scaled picture graph and a scaled bar graph to represent a data set with several categories. Solve one- and two-step "how many more" and "how many less" problems using information presented in scaled bar graphs. (3-LS4-3)
  • 3.MD.B.4 - Generate measurement data by measuring lengths using rulers marked with halves and fourths of an inch. Show the data by making a line plot, where the horizontal scale is marked off in appropriate units— whole numbers, halves, or quarters. (3-LS4-1)
  • 3.NBT - Number and Operations in Base Ten. (3-LS2-1)
  • MP.2 - Reason abstractly and quantitatively. (3-LS4-1), (3-LS4-3), (3-LS4-4)
  • MP.4 - Model with mathematics. (3-LS2-1), (3-LS4-1), (3-LS4-3), (3-LS4-4)
  • MP.5 - Use appropriate tools strategically. (3-LS4-1)

Model Course Mapping

First Time Visitors

Resources & Lesson Plans

  • More resources added each week!
    A team of teacher curators is working to find, review, and vet online resources that support the standards. Check back often, as NSTA continues to add more targeted resources.
  • Why Do Animals Go There? by Jonathan Rosen

    Students read or listen to an illustrated book that describes why animals migrate (to find warmer climates, find food and water, lay eggs, etc.). They learn about different types of animals that migrate, such as different types of birds, insects, mam ...

  • Food Fight

      This game can be played by one or two players. Each player chooses an animal and then has to build a habitat with an ecosystem that will let them survive and thrive. Food Fight has a feature called SnapThought ™  that allows the ...

  • Fossils 2: Uncovering the Facts

      This lesson is the second in a two-part series on fossils from ScienceNetLinks. Uncovering the Facts explores the types of information that can be learned by comparing fossils to living organisms. Students will come up with questions to use ...

  • Bird Beaks

    This lesson explores the relationship between the shape of a bird’s beak and it’s ability to pick up and open a food source. The resource includes a teacher lesson plan with background information, online pictures of birds' beaks ...

  • Animal Groups-Benefits and Disadvantages

    In this lesson students: 1) share what they think they know about why animals live in groups, 2) watch a Powerpoint to stimulate their thinking and engage their interest, 3) review what they’ve already studied about animal groups, 4)  ...

  • Dolphins Trick Fish with Mud "Nets"

    Video of dolphins working together to fish by creating a mud “net” around a school of fish to capture them for easy feeding by the dolphins. Students can watch this phenomenon to gather evidence of animal groups working together to help m ...

  • Ingenius Bubble Net Fishing Phenomenon

    Amazing BBC video of humpback whales in Alaska working together to fish for herring by blowing bubbles around a school of fish to capture them and synchronize the group's feeding. Students can watch this phenomenon to gather evidence of anim ...

  • Do Animals Work Together?

    Students can read this nonfiction text to learn about different ways that animals groups help each other to survive. Each page of the book includes simple text (appropriate for lower level readers) and an info box with more complex text (appropriate ...

  • What Can Fossil Footprints Tell Us?

    In this investigation based on real-life fossils found in Texas, students examine an image of multiple dinosaur fossil tracks. The students look at three panels, revealed one at a time, to try to construct an explanation for the events ...

  • Adaptations for Survival: Grades 3-5: I Live Where?

    This March, 2017 Science and Children article gives suggestions for using the book Beneath the Sun to create a 5E lesson where students research a particular habitat in order to identify (1) an animal that lives in the habitat and (2) ...

  • Habitat Change

    This article includes background knowledge and instructional strategies pertaining to the use of the "Habitat Change" probe from the "Uncovering Student Ideas in Science" series.  Students are asked to share their t ...

  • Missing Moths

    Students use a model illustrating the effects of camouflage on animal visibility in an environment, then create their own moth to blend within the classroom environment. Students complete an activitiy where they try to locate moths camoufla ...

  • Beaks!

    The book, Beaks! by Sneed B. Collard III is a beautifully illustrated guide to birds with different beaks adapted to gather food in their habitats by pecking, tearing, spearing, crushing, scooping, and more. The watercolor and cut paper collages ...

  • Bird Beaks (LSC)

    In this 5E inquiry lesson, students discover how the beaks of different birds are shaped to get food that is available in their environment in order to survive. Following a formative assessment, students share ideas about bird beaks and how they help ...

  • NatureWorks Adaptation Video

    In this 14-minute video, Junior Naturalist Patrice and Naturalist Dave Erier talk about and give examples of animal adaptations. Following an overview of structural and behavioral adaptations, they feature the adaptations of the opossum, beaver, ...

  • Ecosystems and Biological Evolution

    This unit includes five lessons that build student understanding on why certain organisms survive better than others in a specific habitat. The lessons include: 1) Lesson 1-Biomes (students learn what biomes are by gathering information and crea ...

  • Journey Into an Estuary (Biomes of North America)

    This nonfiction text describes the features and plants and animals of North American estuaries. It provides detailed information on how plants and animals adapt and survive there.

  • A Journey into the Ocean (Biomes of North America)

    This nonfiction text describes the organisms and features of the ocean environment. It provides detailed information on how plants and animals adapt and survive there.

  • A Walk in the Boreal Forest (Biomes of North America)

    This nonfiction text describes the climate, soil, plants and animals of the North American boreal forests. It provides detailed information on how plants and animals adapt and survive there.

  • A Walk in the Tundra (Biomes of North America)

    This nonfiction text describes the climate, soil, plants and animals of the North American tundra. It provides detailed information on how plants and animals adapt and survive there.

  • A Walk in the Prairie (Biomes of North America)

    This nonfiction text describes the climate, soil, plants and animals of the North American prairies. It provides detailed information on how plants and animals adapt and survive there.

  • A Walk in the Rain Forest (Biomes of North America)

    This nonfiction text describes the climate, soil, plants and animals of the North American rain forests. It provides detailed information on how plants and animals adapt and survive there.

  • A Walk in the Deciduous Forest (Biomes of North America)

    This nonfiction text describes the climate, soil, plants and animals of the North American deciduous forests. It provides detailed information on how plants and animals adapt and survive there.

  • A Walk in the Desert (Biomes of North America)

    This nonfiction text describes the climate, soil, plants and animals of the North American deserts. It provides detailed information on how plants and animals adapt and survive there.

  • Island: A Story of the Galapagos

    This picture book documents the history of the Galapagos Islands, from its volcanic beginnings six million years ago. It shows how the environment of the islands changed over time, resulting in changes in the types of plants and animals that live the ...

  • Wild Kratts Creaturepedia and Animal Adaptations

    Students use the Kratts' Creatures "Creaturepedia" to gather information about the adaptations of animals from different environments. Students are then prompted with a series of questions around how an animal's relocation ...

  • Fossilization and Adaptation: Activities in Paleontology

    Activity III: Adaptation focuses on the concept that organisms are adapted to specific environments. Students choose an organism and create a picture story of how that organism is adapted to its environment. Then, they create another picture story of ...

  • Fossils and Dinosaurs

    This lesson focuses on what we have learned and what we can learn from fossils about the organisms and the environments in which they lived. Initially, students investigate the story of Sue, the famous T. Rex on display at the Field Museum in Chicag ...

  • Ant Colonies: The Power of Cooperation

    In this lesson, students gather evidence from multiple sources to construct an argument that living in groups helps ants survive. They do this by synthesizing information from direct observation of live ants, videos of ants, and text resources. The l ...

  • Battle at Kruger: Water Buffalo Save Calf from Lions (Phenomenon)

    This short video captures student interest, elicits ideas, and provides evidence about how groups of organisms work together for survival. It contains real footage of a pack of lions attack on a water buffalo calf. The footage filmed by ame ...

  • Insects That Work Together

    This nonfiction book summarizes how some insects work together to increase their chances of survival. Details are provided on four types of insects: honeybees, hive wasps (hornets, yellow jackets, and paper wasps), termites, and ants. A short section ...

  • What's Inside the Termite Mound Video

    In this short video, scientists at the American Museum of Natural History explain the role of the different types of termites (queens, kings, workers, and soldiers) that work together to help the termites survive within the termite mound. The importa ...

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Planning Curriculum gives connections to other areas of study for easier curriculum creation.