United States 3rd Grade Curriculum - Science

This outlines common topics found in 3rd grade science curricula across the United States. Note that specific topics and standards may vary by state.

Life Cycles

Third grade students learn about the life cycles of plants and animals. They explore the stages of growth and development, from birth to death, and the process of reproduction. Students learn that while each organism has a unique life cycle, there are commonalities such as birth, growth, reproduction, and death. They may use diagrams and models to represent different life cycles.

The Solar System

Students study the components of our solar system, including the Sun, planets, moons, asteroids, comets, and dwarf planets. They learn about the characteristics of each planet and their relative positions in the solar system. They may also explore the concept of gravity and its role in keeping the planets in orbit around the Sun.

States of Matter

Third graders learn about the three states of matter: solid, liquid, and gas. They explore the properties of each state and how matter can change from one state to another through processes like melting, freezing, evaporation, and condensation. They may conduct experiments to observe these changes and learn about the properties of different materials.

Forces and Motion

Students explore the concepts of force and motion, learning how forces can cause objects to move, stop, or change direction. They study different types of forces, including pushes, pulls, gravity, and friction. They may conduct experiments to investigate how different forces affect the motion of objects.

Ecosystems

Third grade students learn about ecosystems and the interactions between living organisms and their environment. They explore different types of ecosystems, such as forests, deserts, and oceans, and the plants and animals that live in them. They also learn about food chains and food webs, and how energy flows through an ecosystem.

Weather and Climate

Students learn about weather patterns and how to describe weather conditions using terms like temperature, precipitation, and wind speed. They may also learn about different types of clouds and how they are formed. They explore the difference between weather and climate, and how climate is the average weather over a long period of time.

Rocks and Minerals

Third graders may learn about different types of rocks and minerals, their properties, and how they are formed. They may also learn about the rock cycle and how rocks can change from one type to another over time. They may identify and classify rocks and minerals based on their characteristics.

This compilation represents commonly found topics and is not exhaustive. Consult your state's specific science standards for a comprehensive curriculum overview.