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Grade 3 - 3-LS1 From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes

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Grade 3 - 3-LS1 From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes

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Disciplinary Core Ideas
LS1.B: Growth and Development of Organisms
• Reproduction is essential to the continued existence of every kind of organism. Plants and animals have unique and diverse life cycles. (3-LS1-1)

Performance Expectations Students who demonstrate understanding can:
3-LS1-1.
Develop models to describe that organisms have unique and diverse life cycles but all have in common birth, growth, reproduction, and death.
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Use the Template and Resource Links to Fulfill NGSS

l. Goals:

  1. Understand that reproduction is how every living thing (organism) continues its species through time - by having young.
  2. Understand that each species has its own special and distinct life cycle.
Essential Questions:
  1. What do all plants and animals (organisms) have in common in their life cycles?
  2. What are some ways that different organisms life cycle differ?
  3. What are some ways different organisms assured successful reproduction in their life cycles?
    NGSS Note: Think, question, entertain ideas.

ll. Introductory Activities to Assess Prior Knowledge

A. Simple Activities - that assess students’ understanding of life cycles and the importance of reproduction.

How Do Animals Give Birth? Matching
Life Cycle Multiple Choice
Mammals Life Cycle Matching
Comparing Life Cycles Matching Quiz

B. Brainstorming Session
Question: What are some life cycles you know about?
1. Break students down into groups of 3-4.
2. Ask students to generate a list of the different life cycles they know of plants and animals and the stages in each.
3
. Discuss
 
 
B. Examples of Models (depicts the concept expressed in the reading): Ask students to depict different life cycle models in the form of poster collages, drawings, etc.
C.
Assessment:
 
 Examples of 2D Models:
 
Comparing Life Cycles Mini-Poster
butterfly life cycle
flowering plant life cycle

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lV. Experiments, Activities, Model-making (Critical Thinking)

Inquiry related to life cycles: Look for evidence out in the school yard of life cycles.

Life Cycles - Authentic Performance

 

 

V. Summarize Knowledge - Enduring Understandings

  1. All plants and animals reproduce.
  2. Without reproduction, a species will die off.
  3. All plants and animals have their own unique life cycle.
  4. Life cycles have evolved to suit the survival of particular organisms.

 

 

Vl. Next Generation of Science Standards (NGSS) - Grade 3

Disciplinary Core Ideas

LS1.B: Growth and Development of Organisms
• Reproduction is essential to the continued existence of every kind of organism. Plants and animals have unique and diverse life cycles. (3-LS1-1)


Science and Engineering Practices

Developing and Using Models
Modeling in 3–5 builds on K–2 experiences and progresses to building and revising simple models and using models to represent events and design solutions.
• Develop models to describe phenomena. (3-LS1-1) 

Connections to Nature of Science

Scientific Knowledge is Based on Empirical Evidence
• Science findings are based on recognizing patterns. (3-LS1-1)


Crosscutting Concepts

Patterns
• Patterns of change can be used to make predictions. (3-LS1-1)

Performance Expectations

Students who demonstrate understanding can:

3-LS1-1. Develop models to describe that organisms have unique and diverse life cycles but all have in common birth, growth, reproduction, and death.  [Clarification Statement: Changes organisms go through during their life form a pattern.] [Assessment Boundary: Assessment of plant life cycles is limited to those of flowering plants. Assessment does not include details of human reproduction.]

Common Core State Standards Connections

ELA/Literacy
RI.3.7     Use information gained from illustrations (e.g., maps, photographs) and the words in a text to demonstrate understanding of the text (e.g., where, when, why, and how key events occur). (3-LS1-1)
SL.3.5     Create engaging audio recordings of stories or poems that demonstrate fluid reading at an understandable pace; add visual displays when appropriate to emphasize or enhance certain facts or details. (3-LS1-1)


Mathematics
MP.4    Model with mathematics. (3-LS1-1)
3.NBT     Number and Operations in Base Ten (3-LS1-1)
3.NF     Number and Operations—Fractions (3-LS1-1)

Articulation of DCIs across grade-levels:
MS.LS1.B (3-LS1-1)

 

Grade 3 - 3-LS1 From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes

Recommended Product to Help Fulfill this Science Standard

Animal Life Cycles Bundle for Grade 3-5 - Downloadable Only

This bundle includes 19 Resources about Life Cycles, including: Reading, Color Diagrams, Activities and Testing (25 pages total).
1. Life Cycles Primer for Educators
2. Life Cycle Reading
3. Life Cycle Short Answer Quiz and Answer Sheet (2 pages - Copy Ready) - Reading Comprehension Assessment
4. Life Cycle of a Bullfrog Color Diagram
5. Life Cycle of a Green Frog Sequencing Activity (Copy Ready)
6. Life Cycle Sequencing Answer Sheet Template (For all Life Cycle Activities - Copy Ready)
7. Life Cycle of a Monarch Butterfly Color Diagram (Complete Metamorphosis)
8. Life Cycle of a Monarch Butterfly Sequencing Activity (Copy Ready)
9. Life Cycle of a Grasshopper Color Diagram (Incomplete Metamorphosis)
10. Life Cycle of a Bluebird Color Diagram
11. Life Cycle of a Bluebird Sequencing Activity (Copy Ready)
12. Life Cycle of a Snapping Turtle Color Diagram
13. Life Cycle of a Snapping Turtle Coloring Page (Copy Ready)
14. Comparing Life Cycles Mini-Poster (Color)
15. How Do Animals Give Birth? Matching and Answer Sheet (2 pages - Color)
16. Life Cycle Model Building - Butterfly and Frog (2 pages - Color)
17. Animals and their Young Mini-Poster (Color)
18. Animals and their Young Coloring Page
19. Life Cycles Multiple Choice Test and Answer Sheet (2 pages - Copy Ready)

Also See: Life Cycles Activity Bundle for K-2 - Downloadable Only

life cycle of butterfly

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