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3rd Grade Science

A Christ-centered exploration of God's creation through life science, physical science, and earth science. Students develop scientific inquiry skills through hands-on investigations, learning to observe, question, predict, and draw conclusions. The curriculum emphasizes God as Creator and Designer, fostering wonder at the intricacy and order built into the natural world while developing stewardship responsibility.

180Lessons
36Weeks
30Min/Day

Year-Long Goals

1

Develop scientific inquiry skills including identifying variables, designing controlled experiments, and constructing explanations from evidence

2

Understand life cycles, inheritance, and how organisms interact with their environments

3

Explore forces, motion, magnetism, and simple machines through hands-on investigation

4

Investigate weather patterns, climate, fossils, and rocks while recognizing God's design in Earth's systems

5

Cultivate wonder at God's creation and understand science as a way of studying what God has made

36-Week Scope & Sequence

Click any week to see daily lesson details.

Week 1From Seed to Flower: Plant Life CyclesBibleMouse 3rd Grade ScienceObservation and documentation of life cycle stages
Materials:
  • fast-growing seeds (bean, radish)
  • clear plastic cups
  • potting soil
  • water
  • science journals
  • rulers
  • magnifying glasses
Day 1

The Secret Inside a Seed

Students dissect soaked bean seeds to discover the tiny plant embryo inside and learn that God designed seeds with everything needed to grow a new plant.

Careful observation using magnifying toolshands-on
Day 2

Planting Day: Beginning Our Garden Experiment

Students plant seeds in clear cups to observe root and shoot development over the coming weeks, making predictions about what will happen first.

Making testable predictionshands-on
Day 3

The Four Stages of Plant Life

Students learn the complete plant life cycle from seed to mature plant to seed production, creating a circular diagram to show the continuous cycle.

Creating models to represent cyclesdiagram
Day 4

Fast Plants and Slow Plants

Students compare life cycle lengths of different plants, from fast-growing radishes to slow-growing oak trees, discovering God's variety in design.

Comparing and contrasting dataresearch
Day 5

Documenting Growth: Our First Observations

Students measure and draw their planted seeds, beginning a multi-week observation journal to track changes over time.

Accurate measurement and documentationobservation
Week 2How Plants ReproduceBibleMouse 3rd Grade ScienceUnderstanding plant reproduction mechanisms
Materials:
  • various flowers for dissection
  • tweezers
  • hand lenses
  • seed samples (maple, dandelion, coconut pictures)
  • cotton balls
  • tape
Day 6

Flower Power: Inside a Blossom

Students carefully dissect flowers to identify parts (petals, stamens, pistil) and learn how flowers produce seeds through pollination.

Identifying structures and their functionshands-on
Day 7

Pollen Detectives

Students collect pollen on cotton balls and observe it under magnification, learning how pollen travels from flower to flower to create seeds.

Using tools for detailed observationinvestigation
Day 8

God's Delivery Service: Pollinators at Work

Students explore how God designed bees, butterflies, birds, and bats to help plants reproduce by carrying pollen between flowers.

Understanding interdependence in creationvideo and discussion
Day 9

Seeds on the Move: Dispersal Strategies

Students examine different seed types (winged, hooked, floating, exploding) and discover the creative ways God designed seeds to travel.

Analyzing adaptations for functionhands-on exploration
Day 10

Design a Super Seed

Students apply their learning by designing and creating their own seed with a dispersal method, testing which designs travel farthest.

Applying knowledge to solve problemsengineering challenge
Week 3Animal Life Cycles: Diversity in DevelopmentBibleMouse 3rd Grade ScienceComparing diverse life cycle patterns
Materials:
  • life cycle cards for various animals
  • chart paper
  • markers
  • library books or videos on metamorphosis
  • science journals
Day 11

Born Ready: Animals That Look Like Their Parents

Students investigate animals like puppies, kittens, and deer that are born looking like miniature versions of their parents, growing larger but not changing form.

Categorizing life cycle typesresearch and sorting
Day 12

The Amazing Butterfly Transformation

Students learn the four stages of complete metamorphosis (egg, larva, pupa, adult) using butterflies as the primary example of dramatic change.

Sequencing stages in orderhands-on modeling
Day 13

Grasshopper Growing: Incomplete Metamorphosis

Students discover that some insects like grasshoppers hatch as nymphs that look like small adults, molting several times as they grow.

Comparing complete vs. incomplete metamorphosisdiagram and comparison
Day 14

From Water to Land: Frog Life Cycles

Students explore how frogs begin as aquatic eggs and tadpoles, then transform to live on land as adults, showing God's creative design.

Understanding habitat changes through life stagesvideo and discussion
Day 15

Life Cycle Comparison Challenge

Students compare and contrast life cycles of three different animals, creating a chart to show similarities and differences in development patterns.

Analyzing and synthesizing informationcomparison project
Week 4Traits: What We Inherit from Our ParentsBibleMouse 3rd Grade ScienceUnderstanding inherited characteristics
Materials:
  • family photos (optional)
  • trait survey sheets
  • mirrors
  • colored pencils
  • plant samples showing variation
Day 16

Family Resemblance: Traits We Inherit

Students learn that offspring inherit traits from parents through a survey of their own characteristics like eye color, hair color, and whether they can roll their tongue.

Collecting and recording datasurvey
Day 17

Plant Traits: Like Parent, Like Seedling

Students observe that plants grown from seeds have the same traits as their parent plants, such as leaf shape, flower color, and height.

Making observations and drawing conclusionsobservation
Day 18

Variation Within a Species

Students explore how members of the same species can look different while sharing basic traits, examining variation in dog breeds or flower colors.

Identifying patterns in variationresearch and discussion
Day 19

Traits That Help Survival

Students investigate how inherited traits like thick fur, sharp claws, or camouflage colors help animals survive in their environments.

Connecting traits to survival advantagescase studies
Day 20

God's Design in Diversity

Students reflect on how God created incredible variety within His creation while maintaining order through inheritance, celebrating diversity as part of His design.

Synthesizing concepts with biblical worldviewdiscussion and reflection
Week 5Organisms and Their EnvironmentsBibleMouse 3rd Grade ScienceUnderstanding organism-environment interactions
Materials:
  • local habitat pictures
  • organism cards
  • chart paper
  • science journals
  • nature observation tools
Day 21

What Do Living Things Need?

Students identify the basic needs all organisms share: food, water, air, shelter, and space, discussing how environments provide these needs.

Identifying essential requirements for lifediscussion and brainstorming
Day 22

When Environments Change

Students explore how seasonal changes, droughts, floods, or temperature shifts affect the organisms living in an environment.

Predicting effects of environmental changescenarios and predictions
Day 23

Adaptations for Survival

Students investigate how organisms have special features that help them survive environmental challenges, from cactus water storage to arctic fox fur.

Connecting adaptations to environmentsmatching game
Day 24

Fossils: Evidence of Past Environments

Students learn that fossils show us organisms that lived long ago and help us understand how environments have changed over time.

Using evidence to understand the pastfossil observation
Day 25

Extinction: When Species Disappear

Students explore what extinction means and how environmental changes can lead to species disappearing, discussing both natural and human-caused factors.

Understanding cause and effect relationshipscase study discussion
Week 6Humans and the EnvironmentBibleMouse 3rd Grade ScienceUnderstanding stewardship responsibility
Materials:
  • pictures of environmental impacts
  • recycling materials
  • chart paper
  • stewardship project supplies
Day 26

How Humans Change Environments

Students examine both positive and negative ways humans impact environments, from building cities to creating wildlife preserves.

Analyzing human impact on ecosystemscase studies
Day 27

Pollution Problems and Solutions

Students investigate different types of pollution (air, water, land) and brainstorm solutions that individuals and communities can implement.

Problem-solving for environmental issuesinvestigation and brainstorming
Day 28

Conservation Heroes

Students learn about people who work to protect environments and species, discussing how Christians are called to care for God's creation.

Understanding stewardship as biblical mandateresearch and discussion
Day 29

Our Stewardship Action Plan

Students develop a practical plan for how they can care for creation in their daily lives, from reducing waste to protecting local habitats.

Applying learning to personal actionplanning project
Day 30

Celebrating God's Creation

Students reflect on all they've learned about life science, creating a celebration project that shows the wonder of God's design in living things.

Synthesizing and communicating learningcreative project
Week 7Understanding ForcesBibleMouse 3rd Grade ScienceIdentifying and describing forces
Materials:
  • toy cars
  • ramps
  • various surfaces (sandpaper, carpet, smooth wood)
  • spring scales
  • rubber bands
  • science journals
Day 31

What Is a Force?

Students learn that forces are pushes and pulls that can make objects move, stop, or change direction, exploring forces in everyday life.

Defining and identifying forceshands-on exploration
Day 32

Measuring Force Strength

Students use spring scales to measure the strength of different forces, discovering that forces can be measured in units called newtons.

Measuring and recording force datameasurement activity
Day 33

Balanced vs. Unbalanced Forces

Students investigate how balanced forces result in no motion while unbalanced forces cause objects to start moving, stop, or change direction.

Distinguishing between force typeshands-on experiments
Day 34

The Invisible Force of Gravity

Students explore gravity as the force that pulls objects toward Earth, testing how gravity affects objects of different masses.

Understanding gravity's constant pullinvestigation
Day 35

Forces All Around Us

Students identify forces in action throughout their day, from opening doors to riding bikes, recognizing God's design in the laws of motion.

Applying force concepts to real lifeobservation and discussion
Week 8Motion and PatternsBibleMouse 3rd Grade SciencePredicting and describing motion patterns
Materials:
  • toy cars
  • ramps of different heights
  • stopwatches
  • measuring tapes
  • graph paper
  • marbles
  • tracks
Day 36

Ramp Races: Height and Speed

Students test how ramp height affects the speed of rolling cars, collecting data to identify patterns between starting height and distance traveled.

Designing controlled experimentshands-on investigation
Day 37

Graphing Our Motion Data

Students create bar graphs to display their ramp experiment results, learning to represent data visually to identify patterns more easily.

Representing data in graphsdata analysis
Day 38

Predicting Motion Outcomes

Students use patterns from their experiments to make predictions about new scenarios, testing whether their predictions are accurate.

Making evidence-based predictionsprediction and testing
Day 39

Friction: The Force That Slows Things Down

Students investigate how different surfaces create different amounts of friction, affecting how far objects can travel.

Identifying variables that affect motioncomparative testing
Day 40

Motion Challenge: Design the Perfect Track

Students apply their understanding of forces and motion to design a marble track that meets specific criteria for speed and distance.

Engineering design using scientific principlesengineering challenge
Week 9The Power of MagnetismBibleMouse 3rd Grade ScienceExploring magnetic properties and interactions
Materials:
  • bar magnets
  • horseshoe magnets
  • ring magnets
  • iron filings
  • paper clips
  • various objects to test
  • magnetic field viewers
  • compasses
Day 41

Magnetic or Not? Testing Materials

Students test various materials to determine which are attracted to magnets, discovering that magnets attract iron and a few other metals but not all materials.

Classifying materials by propertieshands-on testing
Day 42

North and South: Magnetic Poles

Students explore how every magnet has two poles and learn that opposite poles attract while like poles repel each other.

Observing and describing interactionshands-on exploration
Day 43

Invisible Lines: Magnetic Fields

Students use iron filings and magnetic field viewers to visualize the invisible magnetic field around magnets, seeing God's design in invisible forces.

Making invisible forces visibledemonstration and observation
Day 44

Magnets at Work: Real-World Uses

Students investigate how magnets are used in everyday life, from refrigerator magnets to compasses to MRI machines in hospitals.

Connecting science to practical applicationsresearch and discussion
Day 45

Building an Electromagnet

Students create simple electromagnets using batteries, wire, and nails, discovering that electricity can create magnetic forces.

Following procedures to create technologyhands-on building
Week 10Simple Machines: Tools That Help Us WorkBibleMouse 3rd Grade ScienceUnderstanding mechanical advantage
Materials:
  • lever materials (rulers, fulcrums, weights)
  • pulleys and rope
  • inclined planes
  • screws and bolts
  • wedges
  • wheel and axle models
Day 46

What Are Simple Machines?

Students learn that simple machines are tools that make work easier by changing the amount or direction of force needed to move objects.

Defining and categorizing machinesintroduction and exploration
Day 47

Levers: The Power of Position

Students experiment with levers to discover how changing the fulcrum position affects the force needed to lift objects, finding the best mechanical advantage.

Investigating variables in lever systemshands-on testing
Day 48

Pulleys: Lifting Made Easier

Students build pulley systems to lift objects, comparing the force needed with fixed pulleys versus movable pulleys.

Comparing simple machine efficiencyhands-on building and testing
Day 49

Ramps, Wedges, and Screws: Inclined Planes in Disguise

Students discover that inclined planes, wedges, and screws are all related simple machines that reduce the force needed by increasing distance.

Recognizing relationships between machinesexploration and demonstration
Day 50

Simple Machine Scavenger Hunt

Students identify simple machines in their homes and communities, recognizing that God gave humans creativity to design tools for work.

Applying learning to identify machines in contextscavenger hunt and discussion
Week 11Compound Machines and EngineeringBibleMouse 3rd Grade ScienceUnderstanding how simple machines combine
Materials:
  • bicycle or pictures
  • can opener
  • scissors
  • simple machine kits
  • craft supplies for building
  • science journals
Day 51

When Simple Machines Team Up

Students learn that compound machines combine two or more simple machines to accomplish complex tasks, examining everyday examples like scissors and bicycles.

Analyzing complex systemsobservation and analysis
Day 52

Deconstructing a Bicycle

Students identify all the simple machines in a bicycle (wheels and axles, levers, pulleys, screws) and explain how they work together.

Breaking complex machines into componentsdiagram and analysis
Day 53

Design Challenge: Build a Crane

Students design and build a simple crane using multiple simple machines to lift and move objects, testing which designs work best.

Engineering design processengineering challenge
Day 54

Testing and Improving Our Designs

Students test their cranes, identify problems, and make improvements, learning that engineering involves testing and revision.

Iterative design and problem-solvingtesting and revision
Day 55

Machines Through History

Students explore how humans have used simple machines throughout history, from ancient pyramids to modern construction, recognizing human ingenuity as a gift from God.

Understanding technology development over timeresearch and discussion
Week 12Weather Watching: Tools and ObservationsBibleMouse 3rd Grade ScienceCollecting and recording weather data
Materials:
  • thermometers
  • rain gauges
  • wind vanes
  • anemometers (or materials to make them)
  • weather journals
  • cloud identification charts
Day 56

Becoming Weather Scientists

Students learn that meteorologists study weather patterns by collecting data over time, beginning their own daily weather observations.

Understanding the role of data collectionintroduction and setup
Day 57

Temperature: Measuring Heat in the Air

Students learn to read thermometers accurately and take temperature measurements at different times of day, recording data in weather journals.

Accurate measurement and recordinghands-on measurement
Day 58

Rainfall: Measuring Precipitation

Students create or use rain gauges to measure rainfall, learning how meteorologists track precipitation patterns over time.

Creating and using measurement toolshands-on creation and use
Day 59

Wind: Direction and Speed

Students make wind vanes and simple anemometers to measure wind direction and estimate wind speed, adding this data to their weather journals.

Building and using scientific instrumentshands-on building and measuring
Day 60

Cloud Watching: Types and What They Tell Us

Students learn to identify cumulus, stratus, and cirrus clouds, understanding that cloud types give clues about upcoming weather.

Observation and classificationobservation and identification
Week 13Weather vs. ClimateBibleMouse 3rd Grade ScienceDistinguishing between weather and climate patterns
Materials:
  • weather data from previous week
  • climate maps
  • graph paper
  • world map or globe
  • temperature data from different locations
Day 61

What's the Difference? Weather and Climate

Students learn that weather is the day-to-day conditions while climate is the average pattern over many years in a location.

Distinguishing between related conceptsdiscussion and examples
Day 62

Analyzing Our Weather Data

Students graph their week of weather data to look for patterns, calculating averages and identifying trends in temperature and precipitation.

Analyzing data for patternsdata analysis
Day 63

Climate Zones Around the World

Students explore Earth's major climate zones (tropical, temperate, polar, desert) and learn how location affects long-term weather patterns.

Understanding global patternsmap study and research
Day 64

Why Do Climate Zones Exist?

Students investigate how the sun's energy hits different parts of Earth at different angles, creating climate zones based on latitude.

Understanding cause and effect in Earth systemsdemonstration and discussion
Day 65

Climate and Life: How Organisms Adapt

Students connect climate to the organisms that can live in different zones, understanding that God designed creatures for specific environments.

Connecting climate to life science conceptsresearch and discussion
Week 14Predicting Weather PatternsBibleMouse 3rd Grade ScienceUsing data to make weather predictions
Materials:
  • weather maps
  • weather data charts
  • access to weather forecasts
  • science journals
  • colored pencils
Day 66

Reading Weather Maps

Students learn to interpret weather maps with symbols for fronts, high and low pressure, and precipitation, understanding how meteorologists display data.

Reading and interpreting scientific representationsmap reading practice
Day 67

Fronts: When Air Masses Meet

Students learn about warm and cold fronts, discovering how the meeting of different air masses creates weather changes and storms.

Understanding interactions in systemsdemonstration and modeling
Day 68

Making Our Own Predictions

Students use weather data and maps to make their own weather predictions for the next day, then check their accuracy.

Making evidence-based predictionsprediction exercise
Day 69

How Accurate Are Forecasts?

Students compare their predictions to actual weather and professional forecasts, learning that predictions become less accurate further into the future.

Evaluating prediction accuracycomparison and analysis
Day 70

God's Control Over Weather

Students reflect on biblical accounts of God controlling weather and discuss how studying weather helps us appreciate God's power while understanding His creation.

Integrating science with biblical worldviewdiscussion and reflection
Week 15Fossils: Windows to the PastBibleMouse 3rd Grade ScienceUsing fossils as evidence of past life
Materials:
  • fossil specimens or pictures
  • clay or plaster for fossil making
  • leaves or shells
  • magnifying glasses
  • science journals
Day 71

What Are Fossils?

Students learn that fossils are preserved remains or traces of organisms that lived long ago, examining different types of fossils.

Defining and categorizing fossilsobservation and discussion
Day 72

How Fossils Form

Students explore the process of fossilization, learning that specific conditions are needed to preserve organisms as fossils over time.

Understanding processes over timedemonstration and modeling
Day 73

Making Model Fossils

Students create imprint and cast fossils using clay or plaster and natural objects, simulating how trace fossils form.

Creating models of natural processeshands-on creation
Day 74

What Fossils Tell Us

Students learn how fossils provide evidence about past organisms, environments, and how life has changed over time.

Using evidence to draw conclusionsanalysis and inference
Day 75

Fossil Detectives: Solving Ancient Mysteries

Students act as paleontologists, using fossil clues to determine what ancient environments were like and what organisms lived there.

Making inferences from evidenceproblem-solving activity
Week 16Rocks: Earth's Building BlocksBibleMouse 3rd Grade ScienceClassifying rocks by properties and formation
Materials:
  • rock collection with igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic samples
  • hand lenses
  • vinegar for testing
  • hardness testing tools
  • classification charts
Day 76

Rock Properties: How to Describe Rocks

Students learn to describe rocks using properties like color, texture, hardness, and whether they have layers or crystals.

Observing and describing propertieshands-on observation
Day 77

Igneous Rocks: Born from Fire

Students learn that igneous rocks form from cooled magma or lava, examining samples and learning about their crystal structures.

Connecting formation process to propertiesobservation and research
Day 78

Sedimentary Rocks: Layers of History

Students discover that sedimentary rocks form from layers of sediment pressed together over time, often containing fossils.

Understanding layering and compressionobservation and modeling
Day 79

Metamorphic Rocks: Changed by Heat and Pressure

Students learn that metamorphic rocks form when existing rocks are changed by intense heat and pressure deep in the Earth.

Understanding transformation processesdemonstration and observation
Day 80

Rock Classification Challenge

Students practice classifying unknown rock samples as igneous, sedimentary, or metamorphic based on their properties and characteristics.

Applying classification knowledgehands-on classification
Week 17The Rock CycleBibleMouse 3rd Grade ScienceUnderstanding cyclical processes in Earth systems
Materials:
  • rock cycle diagram materials
  • crayons for melting demonstration
  • modeling clay in different colors
  • science journals
Day 81

Rocks Are Always Changing

Students learn that rocks continually change from one type to another through the rock cycle, driven by Earth's internal heat and surface processes.

Understanding cyclical processesintroduction and diagram
Day 82

Weathering and Erosion: Breaking Down Rocks

Students investigate how rocks break down into sediment through weathering and how erosion transports sediment to new locations.

Understanding breakdown and transporthands-on experiments
Day 83

From Sediment to Sedimentary Rock

Students model how sediment layers compress and cement together over time to form sedimentary rocks.

Modeling geological processeshands-on modeling
Day 84

Heat and Pressure Transform Rocks

Students use a crayon melting demonstration to understand how heat and pressure deep in Earth can transform rocks into metamorphic rocks.

Understanding transformation through energydemonstration
Day 85

The Rock Cycle Never Stops

Students create their own rock cycle diagrams showing how any rock type can become any other type, recognizing God's design in Earth's recycling system.

Synthesizing understanding of cyclesdiagram creation
Week 18Minerals: Earth's Crystal TreasuresBibleMouse 3rd Grade ScienceTesting and identifying mineral properties
Materials:
  • mineral samples
  • streak plates
  • hardness testing tools
  • magnifying glasses
  • penny, nail, glass for hardness tests
  • mineral identification charts
Day 86

What Makes a Mineral?

Students learn that minerals are naturally occurring, solid, inorganic substances with specific chemical compositions and crystal structures.

Defining minerals and their characteristicsdiscussion and observation
Day 87

Testing Mineral Hardness

Students use Mohs hardness scale to test mineral samples, learning that hardness is a key property for mineral identification.

Conducting standardized testshands-on testing
Day 88

Streak, Luster, and Color

Students test minerals for streak color, observe their luster (metallic or non-metallic), and learn why color alone isn't reliable for identification.

Using multiple properties for identificationhands-on testing
Day 89

Crystal Shapes and Cleavage

Students examine crystal shapes and learn how minerals break along specific planes, discovering the orderly structure God built into minerals.

Observing structural propertiesobservation and analysis
Day 90

Mineral Identification Challenge

Students use all the properties they've learned to identify unknown mineral samples, following a systematic identification process.

Systematic identification using multiple criteriaidentification challenge
Week 19Review and Celebrate: Life ScienceBibleMouse 3rd Grade ScienceSynthesizing and demonstrating life science learning
Materials:
  • review game materials
  • project supplies
  • science journals
  • presentation materials
Day 91

Life Cycle Gallery Walk

Students create visual displays of different life cycles studied, then participate in a gallery walk to review plant and animal development.

Communicating scientific understandingproject and presentation
Day 92

Inheritance and Variation Challenge

Students play a review game about inherited traits and variation, demonstrating their understanding through fun competition.

Applying knowledge in game formatreview game
Day 93

Environment and Organism Connections

Students create concept maps showing relationships between organisms and their environments, including adaptations and environmental changes.

Showing relationships between conceptsconcept mapping
Day 94

Stewardship Showcase

Students share their stewardship action plans and discuss progress, celebrating ways they're caring for God's creation.

Reflecting on application of learningsharing and discussion
Day 95

Life Science Celebration

Students participate in a celebration activity that reviews key life science concepts while having fun, such as a nature scavenger hunt or living things trivia.

Demonstrating comprehensive understandingcelebration activity
Week 20Review and Celebrate: Physical ScienceBibleMouse 3rd Grade ScienceSynthesizing and demonstrating physical science learning
Materials:
  • review game materials
  • simple machine models
  • force demonstration materials
  • magnet supplies
  • project materials
Day 96

Forces and Motion Olympics

Students participate in stations that review forces and motion concepts through hands-on challenges like ramp races and friction tests.

Applying force and motion conceptshands-on stations
Day 97

Magnetic Magic Show

Students demonstrate magnetic principles through demonstrations and tricks, explaining the science behind each magnetic phenomenon.

Explaining scientific principlesdemonstration
Day 98

Simple Machine Invention Fair

Students present their simple machine inventions or compound machines, explaining which simple machines they used and how they provide mechanical advantage.

Communicating engineering designpresentation
Day 99

Physical Science Challenge Bowl

Students compete in teams to answer questions about forces, motion, magnetism, and simple machines, reviewing key concepts through friendly competition.

Recalling and applying knowledgereview game
Day 100

Celebrating God's Physical Laws

Students reflect on how the consistent laws of physics show God's orderly design and participate in a celebration activity reviewing physical science.

Integrating faith and science understandingreflection and celebration
Week 21Review and Celebrate: Earth ScienceBibleMouse 3rd Grade ScienceSynthesizing and demonstrating earth science learning
Materials:
  • review materials
  • rock and mineral samples
  • weather instruments
  • project supplies
  • science journals
Day 101

Weather Wisdom: Forecasting Review

Students review weather concepts by analyzing weather data and maps, making predictions, and discussing what they've learned about climate patterns.

Analyzing weather data and patternsdata analysis activity
Day 102

Rock and Mineral Museum

Students create museum-style displays of rocks and minerals with labels explaining their properties, formation, and uses.

Organizing and presenting scientific informationmuseum creation
Day 103

The Rock Cycle in Action

Students participate in a kinesthetic activity where they move through stations representing rock cycle processes, reviewing how rocks change.

Understanding cyclical processeskinesthetic activity
Day 104

Fossil Detective Review

Students solve fossil mysteries using what they've learned about fossils, past environments, and how scientists use evidence from the past.

Using evidence to draw conclusionsproblem-solving
Day 105

Earth Science Celebration

Students celebrate their earth science learning with a culminating activity that reviews weather, rocks, minerals, and fossils in a fun format.

Demonstrating comprehensive understandingcelebration activity
Week 22Introduction to MatterBibleMouse 3rd Grade ScienceObserving and describing properties of matter
Materials:
  • variety of objects with different properties
  • balance scales
  • measuring tools
  • science journals
  • sorting trays
Day 106

What Is Matter?

Students learn that matter is anything that has mass and takes up space, exploring how all physical objects around us are made of matter.

Defining matter and identifying examplesdiscussion and exploration
Day 107

Properties We Can Observe

Students identify observable properties of matter including color, shape, size, texture, and odor, describing objects using multiple properties.

Detailed observation and descriptionhands-on observation
Day 108

Properties We Can Measure

Students learn to measure properties like mass, volume, and temperature, understanding that some properties require tools to determine.

Using tools for measurementmeasurement activity
Day 109

Sorting Matter by Properties

Students sort objects into groups based on similar properties, learning that scientists classify matter to organize information.

Classification using multiple criteriasorting activity
Day 110

Mystery Matter: Using Properties to Identify

Students use property clues to identify mystery objects, understanding that unique combinations of properties help us identify specific materials.

Using properties for identificationproblem-solving game
Week 23States of MatterBibleMouse 3rd Grade ScienceUnderstanding and comparing states of matter
Materials:
  • ice cubes
  • water
  • balloons
  • various containers
  • thermometers
  • hot plate or heat source (adult supervision)
  • science journals
Day 111

Solid, Liquid, Gas: Three States

Students learn that matter exists in three main states with different properties: solids have definite shape, liquids take container shape, gases spread out.

Comparing and contrasting statesdemonstration and observation
Day 112

Solids: Definite Shape and Volume

Students investigate solid objects, discovering that solids maintain their shape regardless of container and have particles packed tightly together.

Observing properties of solidshands-on exploration
Day 113

Liquids: Taking the Shape of Containers

Students pour liquids into various containers, observing how liquids flow and take the shape of their containers while maintaining constant volume.

Observing properties of liquidshands-on exploration
Day 114

Gases: Filling Available Space

Students explore gases by observing air in balloons and bubbles, learning that gases expand to fill their containers and are often invisible.

Observing properties of gaseshands-on exploration
Day 115

Water: A Special Example

Students observe water in all three states (ice, liquid water, water vapor), recognizing that the same substance can exist in different states.

Understanding state changes in one substancedemonstration and observation
Week 24Changing States of MatterBibleMouse 3rd Grade ScienceObserving and explaining state changes
Materials:
  • ice cubes
  • hot plate or heat source
  • thermometers
  • containers
  • plastic bags
  • science journals
  • graph paper
Day 116

Melting: From Solid to Liquid

Students observe ice melting, measuring temperature changes and learning that adding heat energy causes solids to become liquids.

Observing and measuring changeshands-on experiment
Day 117

Freezing: From Liquid to Solid

Students observe water freezing, learning that removing heat energy causes liquids to become solids and that freezing is the reverse of melting.

Understanding reversible changesobservation over time
Day 118

Evaporation: Liquid Becomes Gas

Students investigate evaporation by observing water disappearing from open containers, learning that liquids become gases when heated.

Making observations over timeinvestigation
Day 119

Condensation: Gas Becomes Liquid

Students observe condensation on cold surfaces, learning that cooling causes water vapor to change back into liquid water droplets.

Connecting observations to explanationsdemonstration and observation
Day 120

The Water Cycle: States Changing in Nature

Students connect state changes to the water cycle, understanding that water continuously changes states as it moves through Earth's systems.

Applying state change concepts to natural systemsdiagram and discussion
Week 25Mixtures and SolutionsBibleMouse 3rd Grade ScienceCreating and separating mixtures
Materials:
  • various materials to mix (sand, salt, water, oil, beans, paper clips)
  • filters
  • magnets
  • containers
  • stirring tools
  • science journals
Day 121

What Is a Mixture?

Students learn that mixtures combine two or more substances that keep their individual properties and can usually be separated.

Creating and observing mixtureshands-on exploration
Day 122

Separating Mixtures: Physical Methods

Students use filtering, magnetic separation, and hand-picking to separate different mixtures, learning that separation methods depend on properties.

Choosing appropriate separation methodshands-on investigation
Day 123

Solutions: Special Mixtures

Students create solutions by dissolving substances in water, learning that solutions are mixtures where one substance completely dissolves in another.

Distinguishing solutions from other mixtureshands-on exploration
Day 124

What Dissolves in Water?

Students test various substances to determine which dissolve in water and which don't, discovering patterns about solubility.

Testing and recording resultsinvestigation
Day 125

Evaporation: Getting Solids Back from Solutions

Students evaporate water from salt solutions to recover dissolved salt, learning that physical changes in mixtures are reversible.

Understanding reversible processesexperiment
Week 26Heat and TemperatureBibleMouse 3rd Grade ScienceMeasuring and understanding thermal energy
Materials:
  • thermometers
  • ice water
  • hot water
  • room temperature water
  • various materials
  • insulating materials
  • science journals
Day 126

Temperature: Measuring How Hot or Cold

Students learn that temperature measures how hot or cold something is and practice reading thermometers accurately in Fahrenheit and Celsius.

Accurate temperature measurementmeasurement practice
Day 127

Heat Moves: Conduction Investigation

Students test how heat moves through different materials by touching, learning that some materials conduct heat better than others.

Testing materials for propertieshands-on testing
Day 128

Conductors and Insulators

Students classify materials as conductors (allow heat to pass through) or insulators (slow heat transfer), testing various materials.

Classification based on thermal propertiesinvestigation and classification
Day 129

Keeping Things Hot or Cold

Students design and test insulated containers to keep ice from melting, applying their understanding of insulators to solve a problem.

Engineering design using scientific principlesdesign challenge
Day 130

Heat in Our Lives

Students identify how people use conductors and insulators in daily life, from cooking pots to winter coats, recognizing God's provision of materials.

Applying science to everyday contextsresearch and discussion
Week 27Sound: Vibrations We Can HearBibleMouse 3rd Grade ScienceUnderstanding sound production and properties
Materials:
  • tuning forks
  • rubber bands
  • drums or containers with plastic wrap
  • rulers
  • water
  • string
  • various materials
Day 131

Sound Comes from Vibrations

Students discover that all sounds are produced by vibrations, feeling and observing vibrations in tuning forks, drums, and rubber bands.

Connecting cause and effecthands-on exploration
Day 132

How Sound Travels

Students investigate how sound travels through solids, liquids, and gases, learning that sound needs matter to travel through.

Testing sound transmissioninvestigation
Day 133

Pitch: High and Low Sounds

Students explore pitch by changing the speed of vibrations, discovering that faster vibrations create higher pitches and slower vibrations create lower pitches.

Manipulating variables to change outcomeshands-on exploration
Day 134

Volume: Loud and Soft Sounds

Students investigate volume by changing the strength of vibrations, learning that stronger vibrations create louder sounds.

Controlling variables in experimentsinvestigation
Day 135

Making Musical Instruments

Students design and create simple instruments using their understanding of pitch and volume, testing and adjusting their designs.

Applying scientific understanding to engineeringengineering project
Week 28Light: Energy We Can SeeBibleMouse 3rd Grade ScienceUnderstanding light properties and behavior
Materials:
  • flashlights
  • prisms
  • mirrors
  • various transparent, translucent, and opaque objects
  • white paper
  • colored filters
Day 136

Light Sources: Natural and Artificial

Students identify light sources, distinguishing between objects that produce light and objects that reflect light, recognizing the sun as our primary light source.

Categorizing by light productionobservation and sorting
Day 137

Light Travels in Straight Lines

Students investigate how light travels in straight lines using flashlights and obstacles, understanding why we see shadows.

Observing patterns in light behaviorhands-on investigation
Day 138

Transparent, Translucent, and Opaque

Students test materials to classify them based on how much light passes through, from transparent (all light) to opaque (no light).

Classification based on light transmissionhands-on testing
Day 139

Reflection: Bouncing Light

Students explore how light reflects off surfaces, especially mirrors, investigating angles and creating reflection patterns.

Observing and predicting reflection patternsinvestigation
Day 140

Refraction: Bending Light

Students observe light bending as it passes through water and prisms, creating rainbows and exploring how lenses work.

Observing light behavior in different mediademonstration and exploration
Week 29Electricity BasicsBibleMouse 3rd Grade ScienceUnderstanding electrical circuits
Materials:
  • batteries
  • wires with alligator clips
  • small light bulbs and holders
  • switches
  • various materials to test conductivity
  • circuit diagrams
Day 141

What Is Electricity?

Students learn that electricity is a form of energy involving the movement of electrons, exploring static electricity and current electricity.

Understanding energy formsdemonstration and discussion
Day 142

Building Simple Circuits

Students build complete circuits with batteries, wires, and bulbs, learning that electricity needs a complete path to flow.

Following procedures to build circuitshands-on building
Day 143

Conductors and Insulators for Electricity

Students test various materials to determine which conduct electricity and which insulate, discovering patterns in material properties.

Testing and classifying materialsinvestigation
Day 144

Switches: Controlling the Flow

Students add switches to their circuits, learning how switches control electricity by opening and closing the circuit path.

Understanding circuit controlhands-on exploration
Day 145

Series and Parallel Circuits

Students build and compare series circuits (one path) with parallel circuits (multiple paths), observing differences in brightness and function.

Comparing circuit configurationshands-on investigation
Week 30Energy: Forms and TransformationsBibleMouse 3rd Grade ScienceIdentifying energy forms and transformations
Materials:
  • various objects demonstrating energy
  • thermometers
  • batteries
  • solar panels
  • wind-up toys
  • pictures of energy sources
Day 146

What Is Energy?

Students learn that energy is the ability to do work or cause change, exploring how energy makes things happen all around us.

Defining and identifying energydiscussion and observation
Day 147

Forms of Energy

Students identify different forms of energy including light, heat, sound, electrical, mechanical, and chemical energy in everyday situations.

Categorizing energy formsobservation and sorting
Day 148

Energy Transformations All Around

Students discover that energy changes from one form to another, such as chemical energy in batteries becoming light and heat in a flashlight.

Identifying energy transformationsinvestigation
Day 149

Energy Sources: Renewable and Nonrenewable

Students learn about different energy sources, comparing renewable sources like solar and wind with nonrenewable sources like coal and oil.

Comparing and contrasting energy sourcesresearch and discussion
Day 150

Conservation: Using Energy Wisely

Students explore ways to conserve energy at home and school, understanding stewardship of God's resources and caring for creation.

Applying learning to responsible actionplanning and discussion
Week 31The Solar System: Our Place in SpaceBibleMouse 3rd Grade ScienceUnderstanding Earth's place in the solar system
Materials:
  • solar system model materials
  • flashlight
  • balls of different sizes
  • pictures of planets
  • space books or videos
Day 151

Our Star: The Sun

Students learn that the sun is a star that provides light and heat to Earth, understanding its central role in our solar system.

Understanding the sun's importanceresearch and discussion
Day 152

The Eight Planets

Students learn about the eight planets in order from the sun, comparing their sizes, compositions, and distances from the sun.

Organizing information about planetsresearch and modeling
Day 153

Earth's Rotation: Day and Night

Students model Earth's rotation using a globe and flashlight, understanding that Earth spinning creates day and night.

Using models to explain phenomenahands-on modeling
Day 154

Earth's Revolution: Seasons and Years

Students learn that Earth revolves around the sun in one year and that Earth's tilt causes seasons as we orbit.

Understanding orbital motion and seasonsdemonstration and modeling
Day 155

The Moon: Earth's Natural Satellite

Students explore the moon's orbit around Earth, learning about moon phases and how the moon affects Earth through tides.

Understanding moon-Earth relationshipsobservation and modeling
Week 32Exploring SpaceBibleMouse 3rd Grade ScienceUnderstanding space exploration and technology
Materials:
  • pictures of space technology
  • telescope (if available)
  • star charts
  • space exploration videos
  • craft materials for projects
Day 156

Tools for Studying Space

Students learn about telescopes, satellites, and space probes that help scientists study objects in space from Earth and beyond.

Understanding how technology extends observationresearch and discussion
Day 157

Astronauts: Exploring Beyond Earth

Students explore what astronauts do, the challenges of living in space, and famous space missions that expanded human knowledge.

Understanding human space explorationresearch and video
Day 158

Stars and Constellations

Students learn that stars are distant suns and explore constellations that people have used for navigation and storytelling throughout history.

Identifying patterns in the night skyobservation and research
Day 159

The Vastness of Space

Students explore the incredible distances in space, learning about light years and the scale of the universe, marveling at God's creation.

Understanding scale and distancediscussion and scale modeling
Day 160

The Heavens Declare God's Glory

Students reflect on how studying space reveals God's power and creativity, discussing Psalm 19 and how science helps us worship the Creator.

Integrating faith and scientific wonderdiscussion and reflection
Week 33Scientific Method: Putting It All TogetherBibleMouse 3rd Grade ScienceConducting complete scientific investigations
Materials:
  • various experiment supplies based on student questions
  • science journals
  • graph paper
  • presentation materials
Day 161

Asking Scientific Questions

Students learn to ask testable questions and distinguish between questions that can be investigated scientifically and those that cannot.

Formulating testable questionsbrainstorming and discussion
Day 162

Planning Our Investigation

Students design complete experiments including identifying variables, planning procedures, and determining what data to collect.

Experimental designplanning activity
Day 163

Conducting the Investigation

Students carry out their planned experiments, carefully collecting data and making observations, practicing scientific procedures.

Following procedures and collecting datahands-on investigation
Day 164

Analyzing Our Results

Students organize their data in tables and graphs, looking for patterns and determining what their evidence shows.

Data analysis and interpretationdata analysis
Day 165

Drawing Conclusions and Sharing

Students write conclusions based on evidence and prepare presentations to share their findings with others.

Communicating scientific findingswriting and preparing presentations
Week 34Science Fair: Student InvestigationsBibleMouse 3rd Grade ScienceIndependent scientific inquiry and communication
Materials:
  • presentation boards
  • project materials
  • display supplies
  • science fair rubric
Day 166

Presenting Our Investigations

Students present their scientific investigations to classmates or family, explaining their questions, procedures, results, and conclusions.

Oral communication of scientific workpresentations
Day 167

Science Fair Day

Students participate in a science fair where they display their work and answer questions from visitors about their investigations.

Explaining and defending scientific workscience fair
Day 168

Learning from Others

Students visit other science fair projects, asking questions and learning about different investigations their peers conducted.

Evaluating others' scientific workobservation and discussion
Day 169

Reflecting on the Scientific Process

Students reflect on what they learned through conducting their own investigations, discussing challenges and successes in the scientific process.

Metacognition about scientific inquiryreflection and discussion
Day 170

Celebrating Young Scientists

Students celebrate their growth as scientists throughout the year, recognizing that curiosity and investigation honor God as we study His creation.

Recognizing growth and developmentcelebration
Week 35Year in Review: Life and Earth ScienceBibleMouse 3rd Grade ScienceSynthesizing year-long learning
Materials:
  • review games
  • science journals from the year
  • project materials
  • quiz materials
Day 171

Life Cycles and Inheritance Review

Students review key concepts about plant and animal life cycles, reproduction, and inheritance through games and activities.

Recalling and applying life science conceptsreview games
Day 172

Organisms and Environments Review

Students review how organisms interact with their environments, including adaptations, environmental changes, and stewardship.

Synthesizing ecosystem conceptsreview activities
Day 173

Weather, Climate, and Earth Materials Review

Students review weather patterns, climate zones, and Earth materials including rocks, minerals, and fossils through interactive activities.

Recalling and applying earth science conceptsreview stations
Day 174

Life and Earth Science Challenge

Students participate in a comprehensive challenge or game that reviews all life and earth science concepts from the year.

Demonstrating comprehensive understandingchallenge game
Day 175

Creating Concept Connections

Students create concept maps or diagrams showing connections between different life and earth science topics studied throughout the year.

Showing relationships between conceptsconcept mapping
Week 36Year in Review: Physical Science and CelebrationBibleMouse 3rd Grade ScienceCelebrating year-long growth and achievement
Materials:
  • review materials
  • celebration supplies
  • certificates
  • science journals
  • project displays
Day 176

Forces, Motion, and Machines Review

Students review forces, motion, magnetism, and simple machines through hands-on challenges that apply their understanding.

Applying physical science conceptsreview challenges
Day 177

Matter, Energy, and Electricity Review

Students review properties of matter, states of matter, energy forms, and electricity through interactive stations and games.

Demonstrating physical science understandingreview stations
Day 178

Light, Sound, and Space Review

Students review light, sound, and space science concepts through demonstrations, activities, and discussions of key ideas.

Recalling and explaining conceptsreview activities
Day 179

Science Showcase: Year in Review

Students create displays or presentations showcasing their favorite learning from the year, sharing highlights with family or classmates.

Communicating year-long learningshowcase presentations
Day 180

Celebrating God's Creation and Our Growth

Students celebrate their growth as scientists, reflecting on how studying God's creation has increased their wonder and worship of the Creator.

Reflecting on growth and faith integrationcelebration and reflection

Ready to Begin?

Start with Day 1 and work through at your own pace. Each lesson builds on the last!