Big Idea 1 : The Practice of Science



This document was generated on CPALMS - www.cpalms.org

A: Scientific inquiry is a multifaceted activity; The processes of science include the formulation of scientifically investigable questions, construction of investigations into those questions, the collection of appropriate data, the evaluation of the meaning of those data, and the communication of this evaluation.

B: The processes of science frequently do not correspond to the traditional portrayal of "the scientific method."

C: Scientific argumentation is a necessary part of scientific inquiry and plays an important role in the generation and validation of scientific knowledge.

D: Scientific knowledge is based on observation and inference; it is important to recognize that these are very different things. Not only does science require creativity in its methods and processes, but also in its questions and explanations.

General Information

Number: SC.3.N.1
Title: The Practice of Science
Type: Big Idea
Subject: Science
Grade: 3
Body of Knowledge: Nature of Science

Related Benchmarks

This cluster includes the following benchmarks
Code Description
SC.3.N.1.1: Raise questions about the natural world, investigate them individually and in teams through free exploration and systematic investigations, and generate appropriate explanations based on those explorations.
SC.3.N.1.2: Compare the observations made by different groups using the same tools and seek reasons to explain the differences across groups.
SC.3.N.1.3: Keep records as appropriate, such as pictorial, written, or simple charts and graphs, of investigations conducted.
SC.3.N.1.4: Recognize the importance of communication among scientists.
SC.3.N.1.5: Recognize that scientists question, discuss, and check each other's evidence and explanations.
SC.3.N.1.6: Infer based on observation.
SC.3.N.1.7: Explain that empirical evidence is information, such as observations or measurements, that is used to help validate explanations of natural phenomena.


Related Access Points

This cluster includes the following access points.

Independent

Access Point Number Access Point Title
SC.3.N.1.In.1: Ask questions, explore, observe, and identify outcomes.
SC.3.N.1.In.2: Work with a group to make observations and identify results.
SC.3.N.1.In.3: Record observations to describe findings using written or visual formats, such as picture stories.
SC.3.N.1.In.4: Recognize that scientists share their knowledge and results with each other.

Supported

Access Point Number Access Point Title
SC.3.N.1.Su.1: Ask literal questions, explore, observe, and share information.
SC.3.N.1.Su.2: Work with a partner to make observations.
SC.3.N.1.Su.3: Record observations to describe findings using dictated words and phrases and pictures.
SC.3.N.1.Su.4: Recognize that people work in different kinds of jobs related to science.

Participatory

Access Point Number Access Point Title
SC.3.N.1.Pa.1: Explore, observe, and recognize common objects in the natural world.
SC.3.N.1.Pa.2: Assist with investigations with a partner.
SC.3.N.1.Pa.3: Recognize that people share information.


Related Resources

Vetted resources educators can use to teach the concepts and skills in this topic.

Original Student Tutorials

Name Description
Keeping A Record of Investigations in a Science Notebook:

Help Simone create a science notebook using words, pictures, charts, and graphs to record and organize information from her investigations with this interactive tutorial.

Lessons 8 and 9 Video: Mass: Solids and Liquids:

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.

The Flu and You: Part 2:

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.

The Flu and You: Part 1:

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.

Lesson 23 Video: MEA Researching Sea Turtle Nesting Temperatures:

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.

Lesson 20 Video MEA Animal Habitats Part 2:

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.

Lesson 20 Video: MEA Animal Habitats:

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.

Lesson 17 Video: Sea Turtle Expert Interview :

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.  

Lesson 16 Video: Reading & Recording Temperature:

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.

Lesson 15 Video: Observing Sea Turtles:

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.

Lesson 13 Video: Introduction to Displacement :

In this SaM-1 Video, students will learn how to find the volume of irregular objects using a graduated cylinder and the displacement method.

Lesson 11 Video: Introduction to Volume:

In this SaM-1 video, students will learn how to use a graduated cylinder to make observations based on the volume of liquids.

Lesson 7 Video: Measuring Mass:

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.

Assessment

Name Description
Let's Go to a Party Puzzles:

This is a set of questions about famous inventions/scientific concepts and the scientists who discovered/researched them. It contains a short biography of each scientist as well.

Lesson Plans

Name Description
Ultimate Building Miami:

Students will explore how climate change impacts Miami by examining issues such as sea level rise, intensified hurricanes, and extreme heat. Students will be given a scenario directing them to design a building in Miami that can withstand an issue exacerbated by climate change. They will then work together as a class to create the ultimate building in Miami, one that can withstand multiple impacts of climate change.

Drifting Science:

Students will explore global ocean surface currents by completing an investigation using real-world ocean drifter data. Students will analyze maps of ocean drifters to make observations about why they appear in some places more than others. Using the resources provided, they will then select a specific ocean drifter from an interactive map and predict where it may drift to, what currents it might be carried by, and where it might end up in a specific amount of time.

Using Machine Learning and Computational Thinking to Train an AI Model:

Students will explore Artificial Intelligence (AI) and use computational thinking and Machine Learning (ML) to pretrain a model to recognize and identify objects, including geometric shapes and aircraft. They will used unplugged activities to mimic sorting and classification of the objects using their prior knowledge and then make connections to human learning and Machine Learning. Students will then problem solve and propose solutions using computational thinking to improve the ML model to better recognize the objects. This lesson is an integrated Computer Science, Science and Math lesson designed for students in grades 3-5 to apply math and science content knowledge while exploring and using computational thinking as they think like Computer Engineers and reflect on potential career paths.

Physical Science Unit: Water Beach Vacation Lesson 1 Observations:

Students learn that making observations is an important aspect of scientific study. Students will review concepts about water by making observations based on different properties and states of matter of water. Students will also review how to measure volume, mass and temperature as they will use these skills throughout the unit.

This is a lesson in the Grade 3 Physical Science Unit on Water. This is a themed unit of SaM-1's adventures while on a Beach Vacation.  To see all the lessons in the unit please visit  https://www.cpalms.org/page818.aspx.

Physical Science Unit: Water Beach Vacation Lesson 12 Engineering Design Problem: Beat the Heat Part 3: Testing a Cooler:

In this engineering design problem, students will have the opportunity 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 that will reduce the melting of frozen water in hot temperatures
at the beach. Students will need to design and build their cooler, test their materials, and
justify their design decisions. In this lesson students will test their cooler’s effectiveness in
keeping ice from melting. In subsequent lessons students will improve their designs.

This is a lesson in the Grade 3 Physical Science Unit on Water. This is a themed unit of SaM-1's adventures while on a Beach Vacation.  To see all the lessons in the unit please visit https://www.cpalms.org/page818.aspx.

 

Physical Science Unit: Water Beach Vacation Lesson 13 Engineering Design Problem: Beat the Heat Part 4: Improve a Cooler:

In this engineering design problem, students will have the opportunity 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 that will reduce the melting of frozen water in hot temperatures
at the beach. Students will need to design and build their cooler, test their materials, and
justify their design decisions. In this lesson students will improve their cooler designs.

This is a lesson in the Grade 3 Physical Science Unit on Water. This is a themed unit of SaM-1's adventures while on a Beach Vacation.  To see all the lessons in the unit please visit https://www.cpalms.org/page818.aspx.

Physical Science Unit: Water Beach Vacation Lesson 10 Engineering Design Problem: Beat the Heat Part 1: Design a Cooler:

In this engineering design problem, students will have the opportunity 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 that will reduce the melting of frozen water in hot temperatures at the beach. Students will need to design and build their cooler, test their materials, and justify their design decisions. This lesson is the first of several lessons based on engineering design; in subsequent lessons, students will build and test their designs with ice.

This is a lesson in the Grade 3 Physical Science Unit on Water. This is a themed unit of SaM-1's adventures while on a Beach Vacation.  To see all the lessons in the unit please visit https://www.cpalms.org/page818.aspx.

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Physical Science Unit: Water Beach Vacation Lesson 6 Condensation Experiment:

Students set up an experiment and gather data to investigate the condensation of water.

This is a lesson in the Grade 3 Physical Science Unit on Water. This is a themed unit of SaM-1's adventures while on a Beach Vacation.  To see all the lessons in the unit please visit https://www.cpalms.org/page818.aspx.

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Physical Science Unit: Water Beach Vacation Lesson 5 Evaporation Experiment:

Students set up an experiment and gather data to investigate the evaporation of water.

This is a lesson in the Grade 3 Physical Science Unit on Water. This is a themed unit ofSaM-1's adventures while on a Beach Vacation.  To see all the lessons in the unit please visit https://www.cpalms.org/page818.aspx.

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Physical Science Unit: Water Beach Vacation Lesson 4 Melting Experiment:

Students set up an experiment and gather data to investigate the melting of solid water.

This is a lesson in the Grade 3 Physical Science Unit on Water. This is a themed unit ofSaM-1's adventures while on a Beach Vacation.  To see all the lessons in the unit please visit https://www.cpalms.org/page818.aspx.

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Physical Science Unit: Water Beach Vacation Lesson 3 Changes to Water: Condensation, Melting & Evaporation:

Students learn water can change state of matter through the addition or removal of heat. Students will learn that water can condense, melt and evaporate.

This is a lesson in the Grade 3 Physical Science Unit on Water. This is a themed unit ofSaM-1's adventures while on a Beach Vacation.  To see all the lessons in the unit please visit https://www.cpalms.org/page818.aspx.

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Physical Science Unit: Water Beach Vacation Lesson 2 Changes to Water: Boiling and Freezing:

Students learn water can change state of matter through the addition or removal of heat.
Students will learn the boiling and freezing points of water at standard pressure. Students
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 is a lesson in the Grade 3 Physical Science Unit on Water. This is a themed unit of SaM-1's adventures while on a Beach Vacation.  To see all the lessons in the unit please visit  https://www.cpalms.org/page818.aspx.

Physical Science Unit: Water Beach Vacation Lesson 11 Engineering Design Problem: Beat the Heat Part 2: Build a Cooler:

In this engineering design problem, students will have the opportunity 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 that will reduce the melting of frozen water in hot temperatures
at the beach. Students will need to design and build their cooler, test their materials, and
justify their design decisions. In this lesson students will build their cooler. In subsequent
lessons students will test their designs with ice and improve their designs.

This is a lesson in the Grade 3 Physical Science Unit on Water. This is a themed unit of SaM-1's adventures while on a Beach Vacation.  To see all the lessons in the unit please visit https://www.cpalms.org/page818.aspx.

 .

Physical Science Unit: Properties Lesson 10 Grouping by Mass:

Students will make objects of given masses based on identified animal needs using a balance.  This lesson could also be taught using mathematics instructional time. 

This is a lesson in the Grade 3 Physical Science Unit on Properties. This is a themed unit of SaM-1's adventures at the CPALMS Rehabilitation and Conservation Center.  To see all the lessons in the unit please visit https://www.cpalms.org/page818.aspx .

Physical Science Unit: Properties Lesson 19 Sand Temperature Lab Investigation: Graphing Data for Evidence:

Students will create line graphs from the collected data on the temperature of shaded and non-shaded sand from the previous lesson. Students will use the data and graphs as evidence to make conclusions on if the shading had an impact on sand temperature. This lesson could also be taught using Math instructional time.

This is a lesson in the Grade 3 Physical Science Unit on Properties. This is a themed unit of SaM-1's adventures at the CPALMS Rehabilitation and Conservation Center.  To see all the lessons in the unit please visit https://www.cpalms.org/page818.aspx .

Physical Science Unit: Properties Lesson 18 Sand Temperature Lab Investigation: Data Collection:

Students will set up the lab investigation that they planned in the previous lesson and collect data on the temperature of shaded and non-shaded sand. This lesson could also be taught using Math instructional time. 

This is a lesson in the Grade 3 Physical Science Unit on Properties. This is a themed unit of SaM-1's adventures at the CPALMS Rehabilitation and Conservation Center.  To see all the lessons in the unit please visit https://www.cpalms.org/page818.aspx .

Physical Science Unit: Properties Lesson 17 Sea Turtle Expert Interview:

Students will use their listening and writing skills to watch a video to learn about sea turtles, preparing them for an investigation in subsequent lessons. This lesson could also be taught using ELA instructional time. 

This is a lesson in the Grade 3 Physical Science Unit on Properties. This is a themed unit of SaM-1's adventures at the CPALMS Rehabilitation and Conservation Center.  To see all the lessons in the unit please visit https://www.cpalms.org/page818.aspx .

Physical Science Unit: Properties Lesson 15 Observing Sea Turtles:

Students will use their listening and writing skills to watch a video to learn about sea turtles, preparing them for subsequent lessons in the unit. This lesson could also be taught using ELA instructional time. 

This is a lesson in the Grade 3 Physical Science Unit on Properties. This is a themed unit of SaM-1's adventures at the CPALMS Rehabilitation and Conservation Center.  To see all the lessons in the unit please visit https://www.cpalms.org/page818.aspx .

Physical Science Unit: Properties Lesson 14 Volume: Solids Displacement:

Students will make learn how to find the volume of irregular objects using a graduated cylinder. Students will solve problems based on the volume of irregular objects and determine the volumes of given objects. This lesson could also be taught using mathematics instructional time. 

This is a lesson in the Grade 3 Physical Science Unit on Properties. This is a themed unit of SaM-1's adventures at the CPALMS Rehabilitation and Conservation Center.  To see all the lessons in the unit please visit https://www.cpalms.org/page818.aspx .

Physical Science Unit: Properties Lesson 13 Introduction to Displacement:

Students will make learn how to find the volume of irregular objects using a graduated cylinder. Students will solve problems based on the volume of irregular objects and determine the volumes of given objects. This lesson could also be taught using mathematics instructional time. 

This is a lesson in the Grade 3 Physical Science Unit on Properties. This is a themed unit of SaM-1's adventures at the CPALMS Rehabilitation and Conservation Center.  To see all the lessons in the unit please visit https://www.cpalms.org/page818.aspx .

Physical Science Unit: Properties Lesson 12 Volume: Liquids:

Students will learn how to use a graduated cylinder to make observations based on the volume of liquids. Students will solve word problems based on volume and measure out given liquid volumes. This lesson could also be taught using mathematics instructional time.

This is a lesson in the Grade 3 Physical Science Unit on Properties. This is a themed unit of SaM-1's adventures at the CPALMS Rehabilitation and Conservation Center.  To see all the lessons in the unit please visit https://www.cpalms.org/page818.aspx .

Physical Science Unit: Properties Lesson 11 Introduction to Volume:

Students will learn how to use a graduated cylinder to make observations based on the volume of liquids.  This lesson could also be taught using mathematics instructional time.

This is a lesson in the Grade 3 Physical Science Unit on Properties. This is a themed unit of SaM-1's adventures at the CPALMS Rehabilitation and Conservation Center.  To see all the lessons in the unit please visit https://www.cpalms.org/page818.aspx .

 

Physical Science Unit: Properties Lesson 7 Measuring Mass:

Students will make observations and sort items based on the mass of materials using a balance.  This lesson could also be taught using mathematics instructional time. 

This is a lesson in the Grade 3 Physical Science Unit on Properties. This is a themed unit of SaM-1's adventures at the CPALMS Rehabilitation and Conservation Center.  To see all the lessons in the unit please visit  https://www.cpalms.org/page818.aspx.

Physical Science Unit: Properties Lesson 8 Mass Solids:

Students will make observations and sort items based on the mass of materials using a balance. This lesson could also be taught using mathematics instructional time.

This is a lesson in the Grade 3 Physical Science Unit on Properties. This is a themed unit of SaM-1's adventures at the CPALMS Rehabilitation and Conservation Center.  To see all the lessons in the unit please visit https://www.cpalms.org/page818.aspx .

Physical Science Unit: Properties Lesson 9 Mass: Liquids:

Students will make observations and sort liquid items based on the mass of materials using a balance.  This lesson could also be taught using mathematics instructional time. 

This is a lesson in the Grade 3 Physical Science Unit on Properties. This is a themed unit of SaM-1's adventures at the CPALMS Rehabilitation and Conservation Center.  To see all the lessons in the unit please visit https://www.cpalms.org/page818.aspx .

 

Gr. 3 Lesson 3-Hurry for a Habitat!:

Students will use a relay race activity to reinforce knowledge gained in Lesson One. They will demonstrate understanding of the different habitats of the Everglades and the flora and fauna found in each one.

Gr. 3 Lesson 1-Classifying Everglades Animals and Their Habitats:

Students will learn about and become familiar with the different habitats of the Everglades and the flora and fauna found in each one.

"This is InTENTS!":

This STEM challenge will engage the students in the ways to create different rectangles that have the same area, but different perimeters. They will also explore how to use scientific processes to test their designs with hypothesis, records, data, and a conclusion. This STEM challenge combines architectural engineering with life science and measurement skills for math.

Watch Me Sprout...Watch Me Grow, Grow!:

During this engineering design challenge, students will create a container to help a local nursery grow sunflowers efficiently. Students will use their knowledge of plant growth to develop a strategy and choose which materials would be best for their sunflower's growth.

No Cracks Allowed: An EGG-cellent STEM Design Challenge with Surface Area and Gravity:

STEM design! EGG-cellent! Students will use hands-on inquiry to find out more about gravity and how surface area can oppose it. Through trial and error based on collected data, students will design, create, and drop a vehicle carrying precious "cargo" from a ten-foot ladder, using a parachute to ensure a safe landing. When completed, students should have a better understanding of how gravity interacts with falling objects and how the surface area of a parachute can oppose those interactions.

Max Mass Movers:

In this design challenge, students will explore the measurement of mass and properties of matter as they design a container that can hold the most mass.

If You Build It, It Will Grow!:

In this project students are challenged to build a greenhouse and plant seeds using the Engineering Design Process. They will measure plant growth over time and assess the quality of their greenhouses according to the results. Through this process students will gain an understanding of how plants respond to stimuli (heat, light, gravity) and will understand that plants need energy from the sun to make their own food. By designing and testing their greenhouses students will understand that using different materials can result in different outcomes. Students will observe different plant growth patterns and record their results. By doing this, students will see the importance of accurate note taking and be able to participate in group discussions by providing their evidence organized in graphs and tables.

Terrarium:

In this lesson plan students are challenged with building a self-sufficient terrarium.

Response to the Cues:

This is a design challenge that requires students to cooperatively create a plant terrarium through the process of asking questions, imagining what the design would look like, planning the design, creating the design, testing the design, improving the design, and finally testing their redesign.

Classification of Vertebrates:

Students will classify vertebrates into groups based on their characteristics. Students will begin with a galley walk of vertebrates in which they examine images of animals and identify characteristics of each type. Once they determine the characteristics of each type, they will sort new animals into their groups based on the characteristics they identified.

Animal Habitat Diorama:

Students will complete a research project on an animal using the provided research guide and rubric. Students will create a diorama of their animal within their habitat. The diorama will include other animals and plants that might be found within that habitat in order to demonstrate an understanding of animal habitats and environmental adaptations.

 

Zoom, Zoom, Vroom Vroom!:

In this lesson, students will explore forces, mechanical energy by engineering their own vehicles utilizing via the engineering design process.

Blowin' Around the House:

In this engineering design challenge, student teams will design a house that will withstand high winds.

Rampin' It Up:

Students will use their knowledge of properties of materials and measurement of length to determine how the properties of different surfaces affect the distance traveled by a toy car.

DOLO - Dinosaurs Only Live Once?:

During this activity, students will create an incubator to save the last dinosaur eggs. Students will use their knowledge of energy to develop a strategy and choose which materials would be best for their dinosaur egg incubator.

Let's Go, H2O!:

This STEM challenge will engage 3rd grade students in thinking about the ways that a drought can affect a region or nation and how to find a solution to this problem. Students will construct a pipeline to transport water from point A to point B while overcoming gravity and will measure the volume of liquid before and after it travels through the pipeline. This STEM challenge combines architectural engineering with life science and mathematical measurement skills.

Measuring Matters!:

This lesson allows students to generate measurement data by measuring lengths using rulers marked with halves and fourths of an inch. The lesson promotes the understanding of units of measure that will provide the foundation for further study in math and science.

Paper Airplanes Away!:

In this lesson, students will design and fly their own paper airplane and analyze their flight data to determine the best designs for getting planes to travel the farthest distance. Students will organize class flight data into a line plot and calculate the mean, median, mode, and range for the data set.

Kick The Can Man:

Students are asked to compare group observations, measure and estimate content of liquids, and prepare and participate in a range of conversations in order to design a method for choosing the healthiest beverage to supply to school children.

Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, are open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that are meant to reveal students’ thinking about the concepts embedded in realistic situations. Click here to learn more about MEAs and how they can transform your classroom.

Mass and Volume, They Matter!:

In this lesson students will investigate what mass and volume are and how they are measured. Students will practice measuring the masses of solids and volumes of liquids. Students will have a chance to work cooperatively with their peers and apply their knowledge to a real-world problem.

Parts of a Plant:

In this lesson, third grade students learn the basic functions of a plant and recognize their importance (flower, stem, seed, leaf, and roots). The lesson will provide students the opportunity to review parts of a plant with a five flap activity.

Plant Cycles: Photosynthesis and Transpiration: Students examine the effects of light and air on green plants, learning the processes of photosynthesis and transpiration.
Baseball Dilemma MEA:

In this Model-Eliciting Activity, students will work in teams to determine a procedure for selecting a company from which to purchase baseball helmets. Students will make decisions based on a table that includes company, cost per helmet, material helmet are made of, framework, and comfort. Students will determine procedure for company selection with provided information, and write a letter to the client providing evidence for their decisions.


Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, are open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that are meant to reveal students’ thinking about the concepts embedded in realistic situations. MEAs resemble engineering problems and encourage students to create solutions in the form of mathematical and scientific models. Students work in teams to apply their knowledge of science and mathematics to solve an open-ended problem while considering constraints and tradeoffs. Students integrate their ELA skills into MEAs as they are asked to clearly document their thought processes. MEAs follow a problem-based, student-centered approach to learning, where students are encouraged to grapple with the problem while the teacher acts as a facilitator. To learn more about MEAs visit: https://www.cpalms.org/cpalms/mea.aspx

Nail It with Great Nail Polish!:

In this Model-Eliciting Activity (MEA), students will determine which nail polish works the best for your money. The criteria they will look at will be cost per bottle, strength (chip resistance), and safety (DBP and Toluene Free).

Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, are open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that are meant to reveal students’ thinking about the concepts embedded in realistic situations. MEAs resemble engineering problems and encourage students to create solutions in the form of mathematical and scientific models. Students work in teams to apply their knowledge of science and mathematics to solve an open-ended problem while considering constraints and tradeoffs. Students integrate their ELA skills into MEAs as they are asked to clearly document their thought processes. MEAs follow a problem-based, student-centered approach to learning, where students are encouraged to grapple with the problem while the teacher acts as a facilitator. To learn more about MEAs visit: https://www.cpalms.org/cpalms/mea.aspx

Water Woes - An Engineering Design Challenge:

This Engineering Design Challenge is intended to help students apply the concepts of evaporation and condensation as they build devices to evaporate salt water and collect the condensation for drinking water. It is not intended as an initial introduction to these concepts.

Stop the Drop - An Engineering Design Challenge:

This Engineering Design Challenge is intended to help students apply the concept that gravity is a force that can be overcome as they build devices to "Stop the Drop." This challenge includes concepts beyond the benchmark.

Dream Skates:

In this Model-Eliciting Activity (MEA), a student engineering team is asked by a wheel manufacturer to investigate and develop a plan to select the best model of roller blades.

Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, are open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that are meant to reveal students’ thinking about the concepts embedded in realistic situations. MEAs resemble engineering problems and encourage students to create solutions in the form of mathematical and scientific models. Students work in teams to apply their knowledge of science and mathematics to solve an open-ended problem while considering constraints and tradeoffs. Students integrate their ELA skills into MEAs as they are asked to clearly document their thought processes. MEAs follow a problem-based, student-centered approach to learning, where students are encouraged to grapple with the problem while the teacher acts as a facilitator. To learn more about MEAs visit: https://www.cpalms.org/cpalms/mea.aspx

Changing the State of Water: From Liquid to Vapor:

Students will discover the cycle water goes through as the temperature is raised from cold to hot. They will discover the processes water takes from the solid form to the vapor form.

A-maze-ing Plants:

This Engineering Design Challenge is intended to help students apply the concepts of flowering plants, plant structures, and plant responses to stimuli as they build mazes to demonstrate a plant"s response to light. It is not intended as an initial introduction to this benchmark.

Is It Hot In The Light?: In this activity, students will make observations that things in direct sunlight are warmer than things that are not in as much sunlight. Also, they may notice that there may be more heat near asphalt, brick, or cement because heat can be stored and radiated from these materials.
Classifying Candy 1: Students will develop two binary classification systems using concrete objects. The classification systems will be based on two different properties of the concrete objects.

The task assesses students' abilities to make simple observations and apply their understanding to classification.

This task is designed to take students approximately 10-15 minutes to complete.
Overcoming Gravity:

In this lesson, students learn about the pull of gravity and see how stretch from a Slinky (a spring scale) is a way to measure resistance to gravity.

How the Seasons Affect Plants:

In this long-term lesson, students will put observation spots in a designated area at the school to observe how it changes throughout the school year.

Exploring Gravity:

In this lesson, students engage in the engineering design process and explore gravity by designing and creating a parachute.

Discovering Dinosaurs: Students will examine evidence of dinosaurs, from which students will write a theory. Their theory must be supported by evidence. Students will then present their theory for a class discussion.
Changing the State of Water: Freezing:

This lesson plan provides students with real life and hands on experience to the freezing process. Students learn what temperature water freezes at and how freezing can affect the environment.

Follow the Water Lesson 1: Filtration Station:

Water is essential for human health, but it can sometimes be contaminated. Water filtration can filter out contaminants and impurities making water much safer to consume. But what is the best way to filter water? Students will participate in a water filtration engineering challenge to try out different combinations of materials to find which works best. This lesson was developed by the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science with support from the Weo Foundation.

Follow the Water Lesson 2: Mission: Lunar Water:

The search is on to locate water on the Moon! Modeled after NASA’s PRIME-1 mission to drill for water ice on the moon, students will create a simulated lunar crust that they will take cores from to search for water ice below the surface. They will then create a map to show others where their discoveries lie. This lesson was developed by the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science with support from the Weo Foundation.

Thumb Wrestling:

Activity: You will measure thumb length, wrist circumference, and thumb circumference to determine which factor plays a bigger part in determining our class thumb-wrestling champion. You will develop a hypothesis based on physical data collected from classmates. You will then test your hypothesis by conducting a thumb wrestling championship. After making observations and analyzing the results, you will form a conclusion to answer the challenge question.

Wild Wind: Students will learn the difference between global, prevailing and local winds. In this activity, students will make a wind vane out of paper, a straw and a soda bottle and use it to measure wind direction over time. Finally, they will analyze their data to draw conclusions about the prevailing winds in their area.

Model Eliciting Activity (MEA) STEM Lessons

Name Description
Physical Science Unit: Water Beach Vacation Lesson 15 Beat the Heat MEA Part 2: Cooler Experiment:

In this MEA, students will have the opportunity to apply what they learned about describing
the changes water undergoes when it changes state through heating and cooling. This MEA
is divided into four parts. In part 1, students will develop their hypothesis and receive
information on how to set up the cooler experiment. In part 2, students will use ice to test
the coolers they designed in Beat the Heat Engineering Design Lessons. Students will take
measurements and collect data on their cooler. In part 3, students will analyze the data
they collected. Finally, in part 4 they will develop a procedure for selecting the most
effective cooler to keep water frozen the longest at the beach. In the optional twist,
students will need to take the mass of the cooler into account.

This is a lesson in the Grade 3 Physical Science Unit on Water. This is a themed unit of SaM-1's adventures while on a Beach Vacation.  To see all the lessons in the unit please visit https://www.cpalms.org/page818.aspx.

Physical Science Unit: Water Beach Vacation Lesson 16 Beat the Heat MEA Part 3: Analyzing Cooler Data:

In this MEA, students will have the opportunity to apply what they learned about describing
the changes water undergoes when it changes state through heating and cooling. This MEA
is divided into four parts. In part 1, students will develop their hypothesis and receive
information on how to set up the cooler experiment. In part 2, students will be asked to use
ice to test the coolers they designed in Beat the Heat Engineering Design Lessons.
Students will take measurements and collect data on their cooler. In Part 3 of this activity,
students will analyze the data they collected in Part 2 by drawing and interpreting a scaled
bar graph and line graph. Students will participate in a discussion about how to interpret the
data that was collected. Finally, in part 4 they will develop a procedure for selecting the best
cooler to keep water frozen the longest at the beach. In the optional twist, students will
need to take the mass of the cooler into account.

This is a lesson in the Grade 3 Physical Science Unit on Water. This is a themed unit of SaM-1's adventures while on a Beach Vacation.  To see all the lessons in the unit please visit https://www.cpalms.org/page818.aspx.

Physical Science Unit: Water Beach Vacation Lesson 17 Beat the Heat MEA Part 4: Ranking Procedure:

In this MEA, students will have the opportunity to apply what they learned about describing
the changes water undergoes when it changes state through heating and cooling. This MEA
is divided into four parts. In part 1, students will develop their hypothesis and receive
information on how to set up the cooler experiment. In part 2, students will be asked to use
ice to test the coolers they designed in Beat the Heat Engineering Design Lessons.
Students will take measurements and collect data on their cooler. In part 3, students will
analyze the data they collected. Finally, in part 4 they will develop a procedure for selecting
the best cooler to keep water frozen the longest at the beach. They will communicate their
findings and procedure via a letter to next year’s class. In the optional twist, students will
need to take the mass of the cooler into account.

This is a lesson in the Grade 3 Physical Science Unit on Water. This is a themed unit of SaM-1's adventures while on a Beach Vacation.  To see all the lessons in the unit please visit https://www.cpalms.org/page818.aspx.

Physical Science Unit: Water Beach Vacation Lesson 9 Cool Cooler Design Model-Eliciting Activity (MEA):

In this MEA, students will have the opportunity to apply what they learned about describing
the changes water undergoes when it changes state through heating and cooling. Students
will be asked to rank coolers based on data to solve an open-ended, realistic problem, while
considering constraints and tradeoffs. In the optional twist, students will need to take the
mass of the cooler into account.

This is a lesson in the Grade 3 Physical Science Unit on Water. This is a themed unit ofSaM-1's adventures while on a Beach Vacation.  To see all the lessons in the unit please visit https://www.cpalms.org/page818.aspx.

 

Physical Science Unit: Properties Lesson 23 Model Eliciting Activity: Researching Sea Turtle Nesting Temperatures:

In this MEA, students will have the opportunity to apply their knowledge of investigating the natural world, sources of energy, measuring, keeping records, graphing, and communicating information. 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. In the optional part 2, students will carry out the experiment that they designed in part 1 and collect data to determine if their hypotheses are supported. 

This is a lesson in the Grade 3 Physical Science Unit on Properties. This is a themed unit of SaM-1's adventures at the CPALMS Rehabilitation and Conservation Center.  To see all the lessons in the unit please visit https://www.cpalms.org/page818.aspx .

Physical Science Unit: Properties Lesson 20 Model Eliciting Activity: Animal Habitats:

In this MEA, students will have the opportunity to apply what they learned about physical properties to a realistic problem. Students will be 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. 

This is a lesson in the Grade 3 Physical Science Unit on Properties. This is a themed unit of SaM-1's adventures at the CPALMS Rehabilitation and Conservation Center.  To see all the lessons in the unit please visit https://www.cpalms.org/page818.aspx .

Presentation/Slideshow

Name Description
What is a Scientist?:

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.

Resource Collection

Name Description
Variables-FOSS Module: Some of the most important scientific concepts students learn are the result of their ability to see relationships between objects and events. Relationships always involve interactions, dependencies, and cause and effect. The Variables Module has four investigations that help students discover relationships through controlled experimentation. Students will fling, float, fly, and flip objects as they discover relationships in each investigation.

Teaching Ideas

Name Description
Earth, Wind and Fire:

This teaching idea describes a project completed after an investigation on natural disasters. Each student researched and wrote a descriptive summary on a natural event. Students used colored pencils and oil pastels to create drawings of each disaster, and the summaries and artwork were made into trading cards using the Comic Life computer program.

The Occurrence of Water In Living Things: Students will have the opportunity to practice some of the steps of the scientific method while learning how much water is found in natural plant items.
A Shrimpy Home-SeaWorld Classroom Activity: In this activity, students will demonstrate how changes in an environment can affect the survival of an animal.
A Slick Operation: Oil Spill Lab-SeaWorld Classroom Activity: In this activity, given selected materials, the students will be able to demonstrate and discuss the effects of oil on a bird's feathers and discuss a variety of ways humans might be able to remove it.
Here Comes The Sun:

This activity will have students predict, measure and record temperatures and provide evidence showing that the sun is the source of heat and light for Earth.

How Degrading-SeaWorld Classroom Activity: In this activity, given examples of trash generated by a family over a 24-hour period, the student will be able to demonstrate how some materials degrade in salt water better than others. They will be able to generate ideas for ways to reduce plastic pollution.
Invertebrate "Heads Up 7 Up"-SeaWorld Classroom Activity: In this activity, the student will identify biographical information about various tidepool animals.
Investigating Matter: Identifying Properties and States of Matter: This activity is a classroom lab in which students investigate and observe three types of balloons to help identify the states of matter and their properties. Students investigate the three states of matter by participating in a small group lab. Students will observe, question, and investigate the properties of solids, liquids, and gasses.
Plants and Gravity: How do plants respond to gravity? See how gravity affects plant root growth using plant seeds, plastic zip-lock bags, paper towels, and a large cardboard box or dark closet.
Seal Scientists-SeaWorld Classroom Activity: In this activity, students will review their knowledge of time and clocks during imaginary seal watching.
Teaching The Scientific Method Through Thumb Wars: Students will have an opportunity to go through the entire process of the scientific method using the game "Thumb Wars".
The Hold of the Cold-SeaWorld Classroom Activity: In this activity, students will investigate the effects of temperature on growing plants.
Watch and Learn-SeaWorld Classroom Activity: In this activity, the students will practice observation skills as they document an animal's behavior.
Webcams: Animal Inquiry and Observation:

Observe animal habits and habitats using one of the many webcams broadcasting from zoos and aquariums around the United States and the world in this inquiry-based activity that focuses on observation logs, class discussion, questioning, and research.

Text Resource

Name Description
Can You Read a Tree?:

This informational text resource is intended to support reading in the content area. The article explains how tree rings are used to determine the Earth's climate many years ago.

Unit/Lesson Sequences

Name Description
Light Energy:

In this unit, students first explore the different forms of energy using their senses. In the next two lessons, emphasis is placed on light energy and how light interacts with other objects.

Major Plant Structures and Their Functions:

In this series of lessons, students learn about the major plant structures and explore their functions.

States of Matter | Inquiry in Action: In the first activity of this unit, students consider how heating and cooling affect molecular motion. The subsequent activities extend this idea to explore the relationship between temperature and the state changes of water. After considering their own experiences with evaporation and condensation, students discover that adding heat to water increases the rate of evaporation and cooling water vapor increases the rate of condensation. Students then investigate what causes moisture to form on the outside of a cold cup. As an extension, students see that at even lower temperatures water vapor can condense on the outside of a container and then freeze to form ice.
Physical properties and physical change in liquids | Inquiry in Action: In this investigation, students compare the way four known liquids behave, and then apply these observations to identify an unknown liquid. Students then compare how each liquid combines with water and use this property to identify unknown liquids. The activities throughout the investigation emphasize the characteristic properties of liquids, identifying and controlling variables, making observations, and analyzing results to answer a question.
Physical Properties & Physical Change in Solids | Curious Crystals | Inquiry in Action: In this investigation, students will carefully look at four known household crystals. After observing and describing the crystals, students will be given an unknown crystal, which is chemically the same as one of the four known crystals but looks different. When students realize that they cannot identify this crystal by its appearance alone, they will suggest other tests and ways to compare the crystals to eventually identify the unknown crystal. The other activities in this investigation are examples of tests students can conduct on the crystals. After a series of these tests, students will gather enough evidence to identify the unknown crystal.
Look-alike Liquids | Inquiry in Action: In this introductory activity, students will compare the way water and isopropyl alcohol appear on different surfaces. After seeing that these liquids behave differently, students will be given two other clear colorless liquids - salt water and detergent solution. Students will then test all four liquids on a brown paper towel to discover the differences between them. Through the activities in this investigation, students will see that liquids have characteristic properties that can be used to identify an unknown.

Video/Audio/Animation

Name Description
Plants In Motion:

Plants In Motion is a set of time-lapse movies (embedded in the website) that show how plants respond to stimuli (gravity, light, diurnal patterns). The movies allow students a way to visualize plant processes that take much longer to observe.

Worksheets

Name Description
Yes-No-Because Framework:

This resource provides students with a framework to take and support their position on an open-ended or yes/no question. Its simplicity is especially useful for students with little to no experience forming an academic or scientific argument.

Changing States of Matter: In this activity, students will see that the liquid water can change state again and freeze to become ice.


Student Resources

Vetted resources students can use to learn the concepts and skills in this topic.

Original Student Tutorials

Title Description
Keeping A Record of Investigations in a Science Notebook:

Help Simone create a science notebook using words, pictures, charts, and graphs to record and organize information from her investigations with this interactive tutorial.

Lessons 8 and 9 Video: Mass: Solids and Liquids:

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.

The Flu and You: Part 2:

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.

The Flu and You: Part 1:

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.

Lesson 23 Video: MEA Researching Sea Turtle Nesting Temperatures:

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.

Lesson 20 Video MEA Animal Habitats Part 2:

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.

Lesson 20 Video: MEA Animal Habitats:

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.

Lesson 17 Video: Sea Turtle Expert Interview :

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.  

Lesson 16 Video: Reading & Recording Temperature:

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.

Lesson 15 Video: Observing Sea Turtles:

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.

Lesson 13 Video: Introduction to Displacement :

In this SaM-1 Video, students will learn how to find the volume of irregular objects using a graduated cylinder and the displacement method.

Lesson 11 Video: Introduction to Volume:

In this SaM-1 video, students will learn how to use a graduated cylinder to make observations based on the volume of liquids.

Lesson 7 Video: Measuring Mass:

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.

Presentation/Slideshow

Title Description
What is a Scientist?:

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.



Parent Resources

Vetted resources caregivers can use to help students learn the concepts and skills in this topic.

Video/Audio/Animation

Title Description
Plants In Motion:

Plants In Motion is a set of time-lapse movies (embedded in the website) that show how plants respond to stimuli (gravity, light, diurnal patterns). The movies allow students a way to visualize plant processes that take much longer to observe.