Big Idea 17: Interdependence

A. Plants and animals, including humans, interact with and depend upon each other and their environment to satisfy their basic needs.

B. Both human activities and natural events can have major impacts on the environment.

C. Energy flows from the sun through producers to consumers.

General Information
Number: SC.3.L.17
Title: Interdependence
Type: Big Idea
Subject: Science
Grade: 3
Body of Knowledge: Life Science

Related Benchmarks

This cluster includes the following benchmarks.

Related Access Points

This cluster includes the following access points.

Independent

SC.3.L.17.In.1
Identify changes in the appearance of animals and plants throughout the year.
SC.3.L.17.In.2
Recognize that most plants make their own food.

Supported

SC.3.L.17.Su.1
Recognize that the appearance of some plants in the environment changes throughout the year.
SC.3.L.17.Su.2
Recognize that plants need light to grow.

Participatory

SC.3.L.17.Pa.1
Recognize clothing worn by humans in different weather (seasons).
SC.3.L.17.Pa.2
Recognize that plants need water.

Related Resources

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

Lesson Plans

Feeding the Community:

Students analyze various proposed sites to determine which site would be best for a group of volunteers to construct and maintain a community garden in this model eliciting activity.

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.

Type: Lesson Plan

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.

Type: Lesson Plan

Tree Cookies:

One way to learn about tree growth is to look at annual rings. Tree rings show patterns of change in the tree's life as well as changes in the area where it grows. In this activity, students will trace environmental and historical changes using a cross section of a tree, or "tree cookie."

Type: Lesson Plan

Plant Cycles: Photosynthesis and Transpiration:

Students examine the effects of light and air on green plants, learning the processes of photosynthesis and transpiration.

Type: Lesson Plan

What Does Your Garden Grow?:

In this model eliciting activity students use data about the temperature and water requirements of plants to figure out when the plants should be planted. They also use data such as space requirements and time until harvest to make judgments about which plants would best suit the needs of students planning a school garden in Florida.

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 process. 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 MEA’s visit: https://www.cpalms.org/cpalms/mea.aspx

Type: Lesson Plan

Plant Package:

The Plant Package MEA provides students with an engineering problem in which they are asked to rank different plant containers using recycled materials.

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 process. 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 MEA’s visit: https://www.cpalms.org/cpalms/mea.aspx

Type: Lesson Plan

Do not disturb! A lesson on hibernating and migration:

Have you ever wondered why animals hibernate or why they migrate? Have you also ever wondered which animals do? In this lesson, students will learn which common animals hibernate and which ones migrate. They will also learn the importance of hibernation and migration on animals during the winter season. Students will be able to write down their learning, sort picture cards, and complete a Compare and Contrast Chart demonstrating their understanding of hibernation and migration.

Type: Lesson Plan

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.

Type: Lesson Plan

A Vegetable Garden for All Seasons:

In this Model-Eliciting Activity (MEA), students are provided with information about different vegetables. The students are given the task to rank their selections of which one vegetable the Principal should plant in the school garden that will survive through all of the seasonal changes.

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

Type: Lesson Plan

Original Student Tutorials

The Sugar Factory:

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

It's More Than Fall Color and Hibernation, Part 1: Plants:

Come explore the various ways plants respond to seasonal changes in this interactive tutorial.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

It's More than Fall Color and Hibernation - Part 2: Animals:

Dormancy, migration, molting. Come explore how animals respond to the changing seasons in this interactive tutorial!

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Teaching Idea

On The Road Again-SeaWorld Classroom Activity:

In this activity, students trace the migration route of the gray whale and discover some of the gray whale's history.

Type: Teaching Idea

WebQuest

What's It Like Where You Live?:

The website gives great information on the different biomes and ecosystems of the world.

Type: WebQuest

Student Resources

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

Original Student Tutorials

The Sugar Factory:

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

It's More Than Fall Color and Hibernation, Part 1: Plants:

Come explore the various ways plants respond to seasonal changes in this interactive tutorial.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

It's More than Fall Color and Hibernation - Part 2: Animals:

Dormancy, migration, molting. Come explore how animals respond to the changing seasons in this interactive tutorial!

Type: Original Student Tutorial

WebQuest

What's It Like Where You Live?:

The website gives great information on the different biomes and ecosystems of the world.

Type: WebQuest

Parent Resources

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