• "Children are born investigators, studying, thinking, and building internal models of the world around them. Science is an extension of this natural curiosity to systematic investigation of the material world and the development of a body of knowledge and practices. Science is more than just a body of knowledge-it's a method of acquiring scientific concepts and principles. Is also includes developing the ability to use tools, ranging from microscopes and rulers to computers and test tubes, and the ability to build and explain models, make predictions, and conduct scientific inquiry. Just a reading, writing, and mathematics involve the performance of complex practices, so does science."

     

     

    In third grade, science emphasis is placed on the inquiry process, developing investigative skills and understanding the nature of science.

     

    Scientific Investigation: Students will learn the process of scientific investigation. Lessons will focus on the use of instruments to collect and analyze data, as well as comparing and contrasting observations, and using reference materials to obtain information.

     

    Effects on the Shape of the Earth: Students learn about processes that shape the earth. Lessons include factors of surface change, origins of small rocks, importance of the earth's water and recycling.

     

    Astronomy: Students will be taught astronomy through interactive lessons that cover the universe, galaxies, planetary motion, gravity, space rocks, and space exploration.

     

    Energy, Force and Motion: Students learn about energy, force and motion. Lessons will focus on forms of energy, sources of heat, natural resources, renewable/nonrenewable resources, simple machines, and the idea that force causes change.

     

    Ecology: Students will gain a basic understanding of ecology through lessons that cover habitat, nature, the food chain, ecosystems, environmental threats and extinction.

     

    Life/Environment Interact: Students will learn about living organisms and how they interact with their environment through lessons that cover the link between animals and plants, how plants and animals react to the changing environment, vertebrates, invertebrates, and classifications.

     

    The Science Curriculum provides the students opportunities for hands on exploration and activities to enable students to gain a well rounded knowledge of the science content. Students learn by doing. The hands on experiments and explorations will help to develop a deeper understanding of the science topics through such activities as observing, recording, predicting, and drawing conclusions.