Science Review Notes for Parents and Students Grade 3 4th Nine Weeks 2017-2018 Page 1
Science Review Notes for Parents and Students Grade 3 Science: Fourth Nine Weeks 2017-2018 April, 2015 This resource is intended to be a guide for parents and students to improve content knowledge and understanding. The information below is detailed information about the Standards of Learning taught during the 4 th grading period and comes from the Science Standards of Learning Curriculum Framework, Grade 3 issued by the Virginia Department of Education. The Curriculum Framework may be found in its entirety at the following website. http://www.doe.virginia.gov/testing/sol/frameworks/science_framewks/framework_science3.pdf Standard The student will demonstrate an understanding of scientific reasoning, logic, and the nature of science by planning and conducting investigations in which a) observations are made and are repeated to ensure accuracy; b) predictions are formulated using a variety of sources of information; c) objects with similar characteristics or properties are classified into at least two sets and two subsets; d) natural events are sequenced chronologically; e) length, volume, mass, and temperature are estimated and measured in metric and standard English units using proper tools and techniques; f) time is measured to the nearest minute using proper tools and techniques; g) questions are developed to formulate hypotheses; h) data are gathered, charted, graphed, and analyzed; i) unexpected or unusual quantitative data are recognized; j) inferences are made and conclusions are drawn; k) data are communicated; l) models are designed and built; and m) current applications are used to reinforce science concepts. Page 2
Overview The skills defined in standard are intended to define the investigate component and the understanding of the nature of science for all of the other third-grade standards. The intent of standard is that students will continue to develop a range of inquiry skills and achieve proficiency with those skills in the context of the concepts developed at the third grade, and continue to strengthen their understanding of the components of the nature of science. Science assumes that the natural world is understandable. Scientific inquiry can provide explanations about nature. This expands students thinking from just knowledge of facts to understanding how facts are relevant to everyday life. Questions frequently arise from observations. Hypotheses can be developed from those questions. A hypothesis is a statement written in a manner that describes the cause and effect relationship between the independent and dependent variables in an experiment. A method for helping students understand how to develop a hypothesis is to have them build if/then statements (e.g., If heat is added to ice, then the ice will melt.). Complete observations are made using all of the senses. Simple instruments can help extend the senses (e.g., magnifying glass enhances the vision of an item). Predictions are statements of what is expected to happen in the future based on past experiences and observations. An inference is a tentative explanation based on background knowledge and available data. A conclusion is a summary statement based on the results of an investigation. Putting natural events in a sequence allows us to notice change over time. Scientists use a variety of modes to communicate about their work. Examples of ways they communicate include oral presentations; graphs and charts created to visualize, analyze and present information about their data; and written reports. In science, it is important that experiments and the observations recorded are replicable. There are two different types of data qualitative and quantitative. Qualitative data deal with descriptions and data that can be observed, but not measured precisely. Quantitative data are data that can be counted or measured and the results can be recorded using numbers. Quantitative data can be represented visually in graphs and charts. Quantitative data define, whereas qualitative data describe. Quantitative data are more valuable in science because they allow direct comparisons between observations made by different people or at different times. Page 3
Example of Qualitative Data vs. Quantitative Data Qualitative Data Friendly Like science Positive about schoolwork Third-Grade Class Quantitative Data 25 students 10 girls, 15 boys 68 percent have perfect attendance *Numbers can be in standard form or written form. Standard The student will investigate and understand basic patterns and cycles occurring in nature. Key concepts include a) patterns of natural events such as day and night, seasonal changes, simple phases of the moon, and tides; b) animal life cycles; and c) plant life cycles. Overview This standard focuses on students understanding that many events on Earth happen in cycles or patterns. Examples of these patterns are day turning into night and night into day. Seasons cycle from fall to winter to spring to summer and back to fall. Light reflecting from the sun causes the moon to appear illuminated. The phases of the moon appear in sequence as the moon makes one revolution around Earth. Seasons are caused by the tilt of Earth as it revolves around the sun. The main cause of the tides is the gravitational attraction between Earth and the moon. Plants and animals also undergo life cycles from birth to death. Page 4
April, 2015 A cycle is a repeated pattern. A sequence is a series of events that occur in a natural order. The pattern of day and night is caused by the rotation of Earth. One complete rotation occurs every 24 hours. The part of Earth toward the sun has daylight while the part of Earth away from the sun has night. The pattern of seasonal changes takes place because Earth s axis is tilted toward or away from the sun during its revolution around the sun. Because the tilt of Earth on its axis is 23.5, the sun s energy is not equally intense at different latitudes. Rays striking Earth near the equator do so at close to a 90 angle. Rays striking Earth near the poles do so at a much smaller angle and thus the same amount of sunlight is spread over a larger area. For this reason, the same amount of energy from the sun will be less intense nearer the poles and these areas will have a colder climate. Earth takes 365¼ days, or one year, to make one revolution. What is a cycle? A cycle is a chain of events that happens over and over again in the same order. How does the Earth move? The earth has an axis which is an imaginary line that runs through the center of the earth. The earth spins on its axis. This spinning is called a rotation. Page 5
What causes day and night? April, 2015 When the earth spins- The half of the earth that is facing the sun is having day. The half of the earth that is facing away from the sun is having night. DAY NIGHT What is an orbit? An orbit is a curved path that an object follows as it moves around another object. The earth follows an orbit around the sun. What is a revolution? When the earth makes one complete orbit around the sun, it is called a revolution. It takes one year, 3651/4 days, for the earth to orbit the sun. (The earth and sun are not drawn to scale) Page 6
Phases of the moon April, 2015 The cycle of moon phases occurs as the moon makes one revolution around Earth. The visible portion of the moon that we see each night follows a pattern. Like the earth, half of the moon is always lighted by the sun. Also like the Earth, half of the moon is completely dark. The moon does not really change, it travels around the Earth. The different faces that we see are really different sides of the moon. Have students draw the positions of the sun, moon, and Earth when there is a full moon, new moon, quarter moon. To extend understanding students may name the phases of the moon; however the focus is to have them understand what causes the phases. The moon generates no light of its own. It shines because it reflects the light coming from the sun. The four major moon phases are "New, "First Quarter", "Full" and "Last (Third) Quarter". These phases have to do with the relative positions of the sun, the moon and the earth in the moon's 29 day monthly orbit of the earth. (The sun, earth, and moon are not drawn to scale) From Earth we see a Full Moon. From Earth we see a 1 st Quarter Moon. From Earth we see New Moon. From Earth we see a Last or 3 rd Quarter Moon. To see a model of the phases of the moon go to the following website: http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/moon_phases2/ Page 7
The tides follow a pattern of two high and two low tides every 24 hours. This pattern is caused for the most part by the gravitational attraction between Earth and the moon. Did you know? 2 high tides usually occur in one day. 2 low tides usually occur in one day There is usually 6 hours between high tide and low tide. Tides occur in a cycle that follows a natural pattern. A high tide is always followed by a low tide and they are approximately 6 hours apart. Can you name some people who need to know where to find and how to read tide tables? beach vacationers, fishermen, lighthouse keepers, lifeguards, boaters, swimmers, and surfers and, anyone who works or lives near coastal waters. Below is an example of a Tide Chart from Virginia Beach for the first fourteen days in the month of January. JANUARY 2013 Low High AM PM AM PM 1 5:08 5:43 11:18 11:45 2 5:52 6:23 11:59 3 6:42 7:07 12:30 12:44 4 7:38 7:57 1:21 1:36 5 8:41 8:54 2:18 2:35 6 9:48 9:55 3:21 3:40 7 10:55 10:59 4:27 4:47 8 11:59 5:32 5:52 9 12:01 12:58 6:33 6:53 10 1:01 1:53 7:31 7:50 11 1:58 2:45 8:25 8:45 12 2:53 3:35 9:17 9:36 13 3:46 4:22 10:06 10:27 14 4:37 5:09 10:54 11:17 Page 8
Plants and animals undergo life cycles. For example, frogs begin as eggs in water. The eggs grow into tadpoles, the tadpoles eventually become frogs, and the adult frogs lay eggs to start the life cycle over again. In the plant life cycle, a seed grows into a new plant that forms seeds. Then the new seeds repeat the life cycle. Frog Life Cycle The life of a frog begins as an egg in water. The egg then grows into a tadpole that looks like a tiny fish with a tail and gills for breathing under water. A few weeks later the tadpole begins to lose its tail, grow legs, and develop lungs. It has turned into an adult frog. As an adult, the frog will lay eggs. The life cycle will start all over again. Page 9
Like animals, plants also have a life cycle. In this natural cycle, seeds fall into the soil where they grow and mature. The mature plants then produce seeds that fall into the soil and grow. The life cycle is repeated! Page 10
Butterfly Life Cycle The butterfly s life begins as an egg just like the frog. When butterfly eggs hatch, small worm-like creatures appear and get to work right away eating the leaves and flowers around it. This is the larva or caterpillar stage. They begin to grow and shed their skin several times until eventually they enter the pupa stage. During this stage, the caterpillars spin a chrysalis of silk around their bodies. They hang from the leaves and branches of nearby plants. Inside the chrysalis the caterpillars are gradually changing into butterflies. Soon they break out of their chrysalis and fly away to lay eggs and start the life cycle all over again! Pupa Stage Larva Stage Page 11
Practice Test Items Follow this link to find a practice test: http://www.doe.virginia.gov/testing/sol/practice_items/index.shtml#science April, 2015 1. The deer and the butterfly both have life cycles. What makes their life cycles different? A. The deer has more stages than the butterfly. B. The larva looks different than the adult. C. Each cycle shown goes through stages. D. Both cycles have an egg stage. 2. Which shows the correct order of the sunflower life cycle? Page 12
hypothesis A hypothesis is a statement written in a manner that describes the cause and effect relationship between the independent and dependent variables in an experiment. inference An inference is a tentative explanation based on background knowledge and available data. predictions conclusion qualitative data quantitative data Predictions are statements of what is expected to happen in the future based on past experiences and observations. A conclusion is a summary statement based on the results of an investigation. Qualitative data are data that deals with descriptions and data that can be observed, but not measured precisely. Quantitative data are data that can be counted or measured and the results can be recorded using numbers. volume Volume is the amount a container can hold; the amount of space occupied by an object. Page 13
length Length is the distance between two points. mass Mass is a body of matter with no specific shape. gram A gram is a metric unit of mass equal to 1 thousandth of a kilogram. temperature Temperature is how hot or cold something is. Celsius Celsius is a metric unit for measuring temperature; on this scale water freezes at 0 and boils at 100. time Time is a number representing a specific point in hours, minutes, and seconds. minute natural events sequenced chronologically A minute is a unit of time equal to 1 sixtieth of an hour; 60 seconds. This is when we put natural events in a sequence that allows us to notice change over time. (life cycles, moon phases, tidal changes. Page 14
cycle A cycle is a repeated pattern. sequence rotation A sequence is a series of events that occur in natural order. Rotation is the spinning of Earth on its axis which takes about 24 hours. This cause day and night. revolution Earth s axis seasonal changes phases of the moon Revolution is the movement of an object around another object. Earth s axis is the imaginary line that runs through the center of Earth from the North Pole to the South Pole. Seasonal changes take place because Earth s axis is tilted toward or away from the sun during its revolution around the sun. Phases of the moon occur as the moon makes one revolution around Earth. day night tides Day occurs on Earth when that part of Earth is toward the sun. Night occurs on Earth when that part of Earth is away from the sun. Tides are caused by the gravitational attraction between Earth and the moon. Page 15