Ecosystems and Biodiversity Science Stations for Third Grade

Ecosystems and Biodiversity Science Stations for Third Grade Next Generation Science Standards include 8 different science stations where students can deepen their understanding of how plants and animals live together within an ecosystem. The focus is on NGSS 3-LS2.C and 3-LS4.D and includes concepts such as food chains, food webs, traits of organism change due to environmental changes, how animals affect their environment, invasive species, and biomes.

Stations Include

► Vocabulary Cards in two formats with and without pictures.

► Watch – Students watch a video about the Food Chains and Food Webs and answer questions. Allow students to choose the video or have them do both.

► Play – Students interact with a video game about food chains. There are two different video games. Each video game has its own set of questions and task cards.

► Investigate – Students investigate the changing environment affects the traits of organisms and how it leads to the process of natural selection.

► Diagram – Students diagram how a food chain in an ecosystem and learn how the changes in an environment, both natural and human, affect the food chain.

► Read a Passage – Students read a passage about beavers and learn who beavers can change a forest river ecosystem.

► Model – Students learn about the effects of deforestation and conservation.

► Explore – Students explore a diagram showing food chains in an ecosystem and learn what happens when an invasive species is introduced.

► Sort – Students sort organisms into natural biomes.

Differentiated Responses

Each station includes four different ways to respond to the experience at the station: short answer questions, fill-in-the-blank questions, task cards with short answers, task cards with multiple choice. All the variations are similar to one another. Choose the format that best fits your classroom and students. Students are encouraged to use their science journal, but worksheets are included as well.

Some stations include two or more activity choices and extension activities.

Each station is designed to last about 15-20 minutes. Students may do one a day for 8 days, 2 a day for four days, or any format that works for your classroom. Because there are additional activities for the Watch and Play stations, you can offer those a choice within that station or offer them as an early finisher station, as well.