Physical Science Unit: Properties Lesson 1- Observations

Additional Information/Instructions

This Physical Science Unit on Properties for grade three, allows teachers to combine multiple standards into a unit for students to explore the properties of substances from color, texture, hardness, and shape to length, mass, volume and temperature. This themed unit provides a variety of SaM-1TV videos to introduce topics, purpose and proper procedures involving scientific tools while visiting SaM-1 at the CPALMS Rehabilitation and Conservation Center.  The twenty-three lessons incorporate Math and ELA standards to create an interdisciplinary approach to teaching science, while providing robust and rigorous science content.  Students are provided with a variety of hands-on activities and labs to explore and reinforce skills.  Students have the opportunity to plan, conduct a controlled experiment and use data as evidence. Every lesson includes possible station ideas to extend exploration and science skills. There are four Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, which allow the students to use their acquired skills from the unit in problem-based situations. The teacher can choose all or some of the MEAs to culminate the unit and bring the Engineering Design Process and newly learned skills alive. The unit also includes ideas for bulletin boards and the artwork needed to create interactive displays.