Year 3
The science inquiry skills and science as a human endeavour strands are described across a two-year band. In their planning, schools and teachers refer to the expectations outlined in the achievement standard and also to the content of the science understanding strand for the relevant year level to ensure that these two strands are addressed over the two-year period. The three strands of the curriculum are interrelated and their content is taught in an integrated way. The order and detail in which the content descriptions are organised into teaching and learning programs are decisions to be made by the teacher.
Incorporating the key ideas of science
Over Years 3 to 6, students develop their understanding of a range of systems operating at different time and geographic scales.
In Year 3, students observe heat and its effects on solids and liquids and begin to develop an understanding of energy flows through simple systems. In observing day and night, they develop an appreciation of regular and predictable cycles. Students order their observations by grouping and classifying; in classifying things as living or non-living they begin to recognise that classifications are not always easy to define or apply. They begin to quantify their observations to enable comparison, and learn more sophisticated ways of identifying and representing relationships, including the use of tables and graphs to identify trends. They use their understanding of relationships between components of simple systems to make predictions.
(source: www.australiancurriculum.edu.au)
Achievement Standard
By the end of Year 3, students use their understanding of the movement of Earth, materials and the behaviour of heat to suggest explanations for everyday observations. They group living things based on observable features and distinguish them from non-living things. They describe how they can use science investigations to respond to questions.
Students use their experiences to identify questions and make predictions about scientific investigations. They follow procedures to collect and record observations and suggest possible reasons for their findings, based on patterns in their data. They describe how safety and fairness were considered and they use diagrams and other representations to communicate their ideas.
(source: www.australiancurriculum.edu.au)
- Plus Plan
Heat Sources Cut-and-Paste Worksheet
Explore different types of heat sources with your students using this cut-and-paste worksheet.
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Heat Sources Poster Set
Display these heat sources posters during your heat energy science unit.
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Moon Phases – Cut and Paste Activity
Create a diagram showing the different moon phases and their names with this cut-and-paste activity sheet.
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Rubbish Bin Sorting Activity
Learn about recycling, composting, and sustainable practices for waste management with a fun sorting activity.
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Science Experiment - Changing Shadows
Explore how shadows change throughout the day with this hands-on science experiment.
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Features of a Graph
A poster showing the main features of a graph.
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Heat Transfer Posters
Display these posters to check understanding or reinforce the teaching and learning of how heat energy transfers.
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What is Heat? Poster
Explore the concept of heat energy with this classroom poster.
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What is Pollution? Instructional Slide Deck
Show your students the types of pollution and their effects with an instructional slide deck.
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Rotation vs. Revolution Poster Set
Display information in your classroom about the differences between rotation and revolution with this poster set.
- Free Plan
Living or Non-Living? Worksheet
A worksheet that explores living and non-living things.
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When Winter Comes - Keeping Warm Worksheet
A poem to activate students' prior knowledge about keeping warm.
- Free Plan
If I Could Create My Own Planet Craft Template
Explore planets and let your students get creative by developing their own planet.
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Order of the Planets Display Banner
Display this banner visually showing the order of the planets for students when they are learning about the solar system.
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States of Matter: Solids – Poster
An educational poster explaining the properties of solids.
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Interplay of the Sun, Earth and Moon Poster
A poster showing the interplay of the Sun, Earth and Moon.
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Classifying Animals Digital Learning Activity
Help students learn how to classify animals based on their characteristics with an engaging ‘Magic Looking Glass’ Interactive activity.
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Roll to Create an Animal - Adaptations Game
Roll to create an animal with cool adaptations using a fun dice game and report template.
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Sources of Heat Teaching Slides
Learn about the different sources of heat with this set of engaging teaching slides.
- Free Plan
Heat Energy Word Search
Help students remember heat energy vocabulary with this word search.
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Year 3 Heat Energy Vocabulary Cards
Explore heat energy vocabulary with this set of thermal energy vocabulary cards.
- Plus Plan
Thinking Like a Scientist PowerPoint
A 20 slide teaching presentation to use when introducing your students to the scientific method.
- Free Plan
Moon Phases Diagram
Learn the phases of the moon in the southern hemisphere with this set of two posters.
- Plus Plan
How is Plastic Recycled? – Recycling Worksheets
Explore the process of recycling plastic with a printable recycling worksheet.
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Critically Endangered Species Map – Poster
A poster of the world map featuring 64 species and subspecies that are on the critically endangered list.
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States of Matter: Liquids – Poster
An educational poster explaining the properties of liquids.
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Types of Insects - Minibeast Fact Cards
Discover facts and features of a variety of insects with a handy set of insect fact cards.
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Classifying Vertebrates Flow Chart Poster
Classify vertebrates using an animal classification flowchart poster.
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What is Heat? Thermal Energy Teaching Slides
Guide students through learning about thermal energy with this set of ‘What is Heat?’ teaching slides.
- Plus Plan
Heat Insulators Science Experiment (Keeping Out the Heat)
Investigate heat insulators with your students using this engaging science experiment.
- Plus Plan
Heat Conductors and Insulators Sorting Worksheet
Explore materials and everyday items as heat conductors or heat insulators during your heat energy unit plan with this cut-and paste worksheet.
- Plus Plan
Heat Sources Sorting Activity
Explore various sources of heat with this printable sorting activity for your students.