Course Standards
General Course Information and Notes
General Notes
Special Notes:
Instructional Practices
Teaching from a range of complex text is optimized when teachers in all subject areas implement the following strategies on a routine basis:
- Ensuring wide reading from complex text that varies in length.
- Making close reading and rereading of texts central to lessons.
- Emphasizing text-specific complex questions, and cognitively complex tasks, reinforce focus on the text and cultivate independence.
- Emphasizing students supporting answers based upon evidence from the text.
- Providing extensive research and writing opportunities (claims and evidence).
Science and Engineering Practices (NRC Framework for K-12 Science Education, 2010)
- Asking questions (for science) and defining problems (for engineering).
- Developing and using models.
- Planning and carrying out investigations.
- Analyzing and interpreting data.
- Using mathematics, information and computer technology, and computational thinking.
- Constructing explanations (for science) and designing solutions (for engineering).
- Engaging in argument from evidence.
- Obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information.
English Language Development ELD Standards Special Notes Section:
Teachers are required to provide listening, speaking, reading and writing instruction that allows English language learners (ELL) to communicate information, ideas and concepts for academic success in the content area of Science. For the given level of English language proficiency and with visual, graphic, or interactive support, students will interact with grade level words, expressions, sentences and discourse to process or produce language necessary for academic success The ELD standard should specify a relevant content area concept or topic of study chosen by curriculum developers and teachers which maximizes an ELL's need for communication and social skills. To access an ELL supporting document which delineates performance definitions and descriptors, please click on the following link: https://cpalmsmediaprod.blob.core.windows.net/uploads/docs/standards/eld/sc.pdf
General Information
- Class Size Core Required
Educator Certifications
Student Resources
Original Student Tutorials
Learn how to measure the mass of liquids (and some solids) using containers while Devin helps Chef Kyle in the bakery with this interactive tutorial.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Learn to measure and compare the mass of solids as Devin helps Chef Kyle in the bakery with this interactive tutorial.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Explore how friction from rubbing objects produces heat with this interactive tutorial.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Help Simone create a science notebook using words, pictures, charts, and graphs to record and organize information from her investigations with this interactive tutorial.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Come a long on this exploration of objects that give off light and heat, in this interactive tutorial.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
In this SaM-1 video, students will learn how to measure the mass of solids and liquids using a balance. Students will learn that they need to subtract the mass of the container the solid or liquid is in to determine the mass of only the solid or liquid. Students will then make observations and sort items based on mass.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Discover how radiant energy from the Sun can heat objects and how heat may be lost when the Sun is not present.
This interactive tutorial is part 2 of 2. Click to open Part 1.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Learn how scientific models are one of the most important and central elements of scientific research with this interactive tutorial.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Discover how radiant energy from the Sun is the light and heat that lights and warms the Earth.
This interactive tutorial is part 1 of 2. Click to open Part 2.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
This SaM-1 video provides the students with the optional "twist" for Lesson 17 and the Model Eliciting Activity (MEA) they have been working on in the Grade 3 Physical Science Unit: Water Beach Vacation.
To see all the lessons in the unit please visit https://www.cpalms.org/page818.aspx.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
This video introduces the students to a Model Eliciting Activity (MEA) and concepts related to conducting experiments so they can apply what they learned about the changes water undergoes when it changes state. This MEA provides students with an opportunity to develop a procedure based on evidence for selecting the most effective cooler.
This SaM-1 video is to be used with lesson 14 in the Grade 3 Physical Science Unit: Water Beach Vacation. To see all the lessons in the unit please visit https://www.cpalms.org/page818.aspx.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
In this video, students will be introduced to an engineering design challenge to apply what they learned about the changes water undergoes when it changes state through heating and cooling by designing their own cooler. Students will be asked to use the engineering design process to design a cooler.
This SaM-1 video is to be used with lesson 10 in the Grade 3 Physical Science Unit: Water Beach Vacation. To see all the lessons in the unit please visit https://www.cpalms.org/page818.aspx.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
In this video students learn water can change its physical state through the addition or removal of heat. They will learn that water can condense, melt and evaporate.
This SaM-1 video is to be used with lesson 3 in the Grade 3 Physical Science Unit: Water Beach Vacation. To see all the lessons in the unit please visit https://www.cpalms.org/page818.aspx.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
In this video students learn that water can change its physical state through the addition or removal of heat. Students will learn the boiling and freezing points of water at standard pressure. They will also review how data can be used to create line graphs and these graphs can show patterns and changes to temperature over time.
This SaM-1 video is to be used with lesson 2 in the Grade 3 Physical Science Unit: Water Beach Vacation. To see all the lessons in the unit please visit https://www.cpalms.org/page818.aspx.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Learn how scientific models are similar to the natural world but can never depict it perfectly with this interactive tutorial.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Explore the process of photosynthesis and the role the Sun, air and water all play in the process with this interactive tutorial.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Discover what a virus is, actions that cause viruses like the flu to spread from one person to another, and strategies to decrease the spread of viruses to others.
This interactive tutorial is part 2 in a two-part series. Click to open part 1.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Discover what a virus is, actions that cause viruses like the flu to spread from one person to another, and strategies to decrease the spread of viruses to others.
This interactive tutorial is part 1 in a two-part series. Click to open part 2.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Learn how science and research use words differently from everyday speech with this interactive tutorial.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Come explore the various ways plants respond to seasonal changes in this interactive tutorial.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Dormancy, migration, molting. Come explore how animals respond to the changing seasons in this interactive tutorial!
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Enter the fascinating world of plants by identifying examples and traits of flowering and non-flowering plants. Since this interactive tutorial is part 3 of a 3-part series, we will also summarize the information from the series.
Click below to open other tutorials in this series.
- Part 2: Seeds or Spores
- Part 3: Flowering or Non-flowering Plants
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Join us as Breanna learns to use a line plot to examine measurement data she needs to create bracelets for her friends, in this interactive tutorial.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Measure and compare temperatures of various things in this interactive tutorial. Then determine if temperature impacts the melting rate of ice cream.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
In this video Sam-1 introduces a Model Eliciting Activity (MEA) challenge. Students will take their prior experiences from the properties unit and apply their knowledge of investigating sea turtle nesting temperatures.
Students will develop a hypothesis, design an experiment, and support their reasoning to determine how to best study different methods for cooling sea turtle nesting areas.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
In this video, SaM-1 introduces a part 2 twist to the Model Eliciting Activity (MEA). In the optional twist, students will need to modify their original diet for a senior chimpanzee. The first video provided meal planning information to add to the knowledge students gained throughout the unit to start the challenge.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
In this video, SaM-1 introduces a Model Eliciting Activity (MEA) challenge for the students. This video provides meal planning information to add to the knowledge students gained throughout the unit. Students will be asked to develop a varied diet for a chimpanzee at the CPALMS Rehabilitation and Conservation Center based on the color, shape, texture, and hardness of the food.
In the optional twist, students will need to modify their original diet for a senior chimpanzee. The optional twist also has a SaM-1 video to introduce the twist challenge.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
In this video, SaM-1 introduces a part 2 twist to the Model Eliciting Activity (MEA) challenge. In the optional twist, students will need to design a prototype toy suitable for a Florida panther with an injured leg. This first video provides background information on why and how animals need to be entertained.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
In this video, SaM-1 introduces a Model Eliciting Activity (MEA) challenge for the students. This video provides background information on why and how animals need to be entertained. Students will have the opportunity to apply what they learned about physical properties and measuring linear lengths as they are asked to design a prototype toy for Florida panthers housed at the CPALMS Rehabilitation and Conservation Center.
In the optional twist, students will need to design a prototype toy suitable for a Florida panther with an injured leg. The optional twist also has a SaM-1 video to introduce the twist challenge.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
In this video, SaM-1 introduces a part 2 twist to the Model Eliciting Activity (MEA) challenge. In the first video, students were asked to design a habitat for an elephant or gorilla that will be housed at the CPALMS Rehabilitation and Conservation Center. In this twist, students will need to modify their design to accommodate a senior elephant or gorilla.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
In this video, SaM-1 introduces a Model Eliciting Activity (MEA) challenge for the students. This video provides habitat information to help the students use the knowledge they gained throughout the unit. Students are asked to design a habitat for an elephant or gorilla that will be housed at the CPALMS Rehabilitation and Conservation Center. Students will need to describe the physical properties (color, shape, texture, hardness) of the features they selected for the habitat while explaining the rationale behind their design choices.
In the optional twist, students will need to modify their design to accommodate a senior elephant or gorilla. The optional twist also has a SaM-1 video to introduce the twist challenge.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
In this SaM-1 video, students will use their listening and writing skills to watch a video to learn about the affects temperature has on sea turtles' nests, preparing them for an investigation in subsequent lessons within the unit.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
In this SaM-1 video, students will learn how to make observations based on the property of temperature using thermometers, while representing the data in line graphs.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
In this SaM-1 video, students will use their listening and writing skills to learn about sea turtles, preparing them for subsequent lessons in the unit.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
In this SaM-1 Video, students will learn how to find the volume of irregular objects using a graduated cylinder and the displacement method.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
In this SaM-1 video, students will learn how to use a graduated cylinder to make observations based on the volume of liquids.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Help SaM-1 make observations and sort items based on the mass of materials using a triple-beam balance and equal-arm balance. In this video, you will also become familiar with metric units for measuring mass: gram and kilogram.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
In this video, students will make observations based on the property of size, specifically length. Students will learn about the metric and customary measurement systems and use line plots to organize and sort data.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
This SaM-1 video begins the Grade 3 Animals: Rehabilitation and Conservation Center Unit on Physical Properties. Students learn that making observations is an important aspect of scientific study. Students will observe different properties and use these properties throughout the unit.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Enter the fascinating world of plant reproduction as we discover more about seed-producing and spore-producing plants.
This is part 2 in a 3-part series. Click below to open other tutorials in this series.
- Part 2: Seeds or Spores
- Part 3: Flowering or Non-flowering Plants
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Enter the fascinating world of plants as we learn about vascular tissue and how to classify plants based on whether or not they have this tissue.
This is part 2 in a 3-part series on plant classification. Click below to open other tutorials in this series.
- Part 1: Vascular or Non-vascular Plants
- Part 3: Flowering or Non-flowering Plants
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Learn how water changes states between liquid an gas in part two of this interactive science tutorial.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Learn how water changes states from liquid to solid in this interactive tutorial.
This tutorial is part 1 in a multi-part series.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Help Detective Pup investigate how different types of animals reproduce in this interactive tutorial.
This is the third in a 3-part series. Click below to open the other tutorials in the series.
- Part 2, Animal Classification: Vertebrates and Invertebrates
- Part 3, Animal Classification: Ways That Animals Are Produced
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Learn how to identify explicit evidence and understand the meaning of heat, light and sound energy around the campfire in this interactive tutorial.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Help Detective Pup compare and contrast animals that are classified as vertebrates and invertebrates in this interactive tutorial.
This is the second in a 3-part series. Click below to open the other tutorials in the series.
- Part 2, Animal Classification: Vertebrates and Invertebrates
- Part 3, Animal Classification: Ways That Animals Are Produced
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Investigate 11 different groups of animals with Detective Pup and the traits that make each group unique in this interactive tutorial.
This is the first in a 3-part series. Click below to open the other tutorials in the series.
- Part 1, Animal Classification: Groups
- Part 3, Animal Classification: Ways That Animals Are Produced
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Explore how plants respond to stimuli in the world as you complete this interactive tutorial.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Explore the parts that make up many of the plants around you in this interactive tutorial.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Learn to estimate and measure the masses of objects in grams and kilograms in this interactive tutorial with an animal hospital theme.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Explore how gravity can be overcome in this interactive tutorial.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Explore how your view of the stars changes when using a telescope in this interactive tutorial.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Educational Games
The students will be presented with two shapes and must estimate how many times the smaller will fit in the larger. They will be surprised at some of the results but will quickly learn and make adjustments.
Type: Educational Game
This is a website for those who are teaching the water cycle that allows students to test their knowledge.
Type: Educational Game
Image/Photograph
Presentation/Slideshow
This is a power point presentation my students and I created together to explore some of the things a scientist can be. I started with a list of the things my students thought a scientist was and then we researched it. The headings of the slides are the students ideas and written in their words. It includes helpful teacher and student links embedded in the presentation, the teacher can choose to utilize these or not. The images within the PowerPoint are courtesy of creative commons licensing and are meant to emphasize the topics of each slide. The teacher can simply ask students how they believe the images connect, this can stimulate interesting discussions.
Type: Presentation/Slideshow
Text Resources
This resource provides information about plant parts and their function with an interactive graphic that assists with identifying the parts of many plants we eat and a simulation about how seeds develop into fruit.
Type: Text Resource
This resource provides basic information about electricity, most importantly that electricity is neither a renewable or non-renewable resource.
Type: Text Resource
Tutorial
In this tutorial video from Khan Academy, explore questions such as: What is the volume of a jar of milk? How about a spoon? A swimming pool?
Type: Tutorial
Video/Audio/Animations
This video shows three years of the sun as captured by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory.
Type: Video/Audio/Animation
The process that moves water around Earth is known as the water cycle. I this ZOOM-adapted video clip, the cast uses a homemade solar still to separate pure water from a saltwater mixture, mimicing this natural process.
Type: Video/Audio/Animation
Virtual Manipulatives
This resource provides a fun and engaging way for you to learn about the world's smallest particle, the quark. A poem accompanies each page in the downloadable coloring book.
Type: Virtual Manipulative
Star Light, Star Bright explores the nature of the electromagnetic spectrum. In a series of four mini-lessons, the different properties of waves and the relationship that exists between energy, wavelength, and frequency will be covered. Activities are "Catch the Waves", "Making Waves", "Heating Up", and "Stellar Encounters." Be sure to view the brain teasers and light facts on each page.
Type: Virtual Manipulative
WebQuest
The website gives great information on the different biomes and ecosystems of the world.
Type: WebQuest