Fossils are a core topic in 3rd-grade science and a major focus of NGSS 3-LS4-1. In a 3rd grade fossil unit, students learn how fossils provide evidence of organisms that…
If you’re looking for engaging books about fossils for elementary students, this list will help you build background knowledge, spark curiosity, and support your science lessons. Fossils provide students with…
Inheritance of traits and variation of traits are foundational life science concepts in the 3rd grade. Students learn that traits are passed from parents to offspring, that individuals within the…
Teaching inherited traits vs. learned behaviors is one of the core concepts in 3rd grade life science under NGSS 3-LS3. Inherited traits are characteristics animals are born with, passed down…
Helping students understand the difference between inherited traits and learned behaviors can feel like a big task, especially for third or fourth graders who are just starting to explore life…
Animal classification is one of those standards that makes more sense once students do something with it. Reading about vertebrates is fine, but having students physically sort animals by whether…
Teaching students how human activity changes ecosystems is one of the most relevant science topics I cover all year. When students understand they are part of these systems, the learning…
If you’re looking for fun and engaging ecosystem activities to teach your students about food webs and food chains, then you’ve come to the right place! In this blog post,…
Do you ever wonder what your third graders should know in science? As an elementary teacher that follows the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), this third grade science curriculum helps…
This curated list of picture books about ecosystems and biodiversity for elementary students is organized by grade level and covers topics from food chains and food webs to invasive species…
Teaching ecosystems and biomes can feel abstract for students until they actually work with real examples. This sort animals and plants into biomes activity helps students make sense of animals…
When 3rd graders are learning about warm-blooded and cold-blooded animals, the concept clicks fastest when they can see it in action. Sorting real animals into categories — rabbit here, snake…