Rhode Island State Standards for Science: Grade 3

RI.ESS1. Earth and Space Science: The earth and earth materials as we know them today have developed over long periods of time, through continual change processes.

1a. Describing, comparing, and sorting rocks, soils, and minerals by similar or different physical properties (e.g., size, shape, color, texture, smell, weight, temperature, hardness, composition). 13
Suggested Titles for Rhode Island Science State Standard 1a.

1b. Recording and analyzing observations/data about physical properties (e.g., within a grouping, which characteristics are the same and which are different). 5
Suggested Titles for Rhode Island Science State Standard 1b.

1c. Citing evidence (e.g., prior knowledge, data) to support why rocks, soils, or minerals are classified/not classified together. 12
Suggested Titles for Rhode Island Science State Standard 1c.

1d. Identifying the four basic materials of the earth (water, soil, rocks, air). 11
Suggested Titles for Rhode Island Science State Standard 1d.

2a. Conducting investigations and using observational data to describe how water moves rocks and soils. 4
Suggested Titles for Rhode Island Science State Standard 2a.

3a. Explaining how the use of scientific tools helps to extend senses and gather data about weather (i.e., weather/wind vane: direction; wind sock: wind intensity; anemometer: speed; thermometer: temperature; meter sticks/rulers: snow depth; rain gauges: rain amount in inches). 7
Suggested Titles for Rhode Island Science State Standard 3a.

3b. Selecting appropriate tools for a given task and describing the information they will provide. 7
Suggested Titles for Rhode Island Science State Standard 3b.

4a. Investigating local landforms and how wind, water, or ice have shaped and reshaped them (e.g. severe weather). 12
Suggested Titles for Rhode Island Science State Standard 4a.

4b. Using or building models to simulate the effects of how wind and water shape and reshape the land (e.g., erosion, sedimentation, deposition, glaciation). 12
Suggested Titles for Rhode Island Science State Standard 4b.

4c. Identifying sudden and gradual changes that affect the Earth (e.g. sudden change = flood; gradual change = erosion caused by oceans). 12
Suggested Titles for Rhode Island Science State Standard 4c.

5a. Observing, recording, comparing, and analyzing weather data to describe weather changes or weather patterns. 3
Suggested Titles for Rhode Island Science State Standard 5a.

5b. Describing water as it changes into vapor in the air and reappears as a liquid when it's cooled. 13
Suggested Titles for Rhode Island Science State Standard 5b.

5c. Explaining how this cycle of water relates to weather and the formation of clouds. 3
Suggested Titles for Rhode Island Science State Standard 5c.

6a. Determining and supporting explanations of their uses (e.g., best soils to grow plants, best building material for a specific purpose, determining which rock size will best prevent erosion). 3
Suggested Titles for Rhode Island Science State Standard 6a.

RI.ESS2. Earth and Space Science: The earth is part of a solar system, made up of distinct parts that have temporal and spatial interrelationships.

7a. Observing that the sun, moon, and stars appear to move slowly across the sky. 15
Suggested Titles for Rhode Island Science State Standard 7a.

7b. Observing that the moon looks slightly different from day to day, but looks the same again in about 4 weeks. 7
Suggested Titles for Rhode Island Science State Standard 7b.

7c. Recognizing that the rotation of the Earth on its axis every 24 hours produces the day/night cycle. 1
Suggested Titles for Rhode Island Science State Standard 7c.

8a. Recognizing that: the sun is the center of our solar system; the Earth is one of several planets that orbits the sun; and the moon orbits the Earth. 16
Suggested Titles for Rhode Island Science State Standard 8a.

8b. Recognizing that it takes approximately 365 days for the Earth to orbit the sun. 4
Suggested Titles for Rhode Island Science State Standard 8b.

RI.ESS3. Earth and Space Science: The origin and evolution of galaxies and the universe demonstrate fundamental principles of physical science across vast distances and time

9a. Recognizing that throughout history people have identified patterns of stars that we call constellations. 2
Suggested Titles for Rhode Island Science State Standard 9a.

RI.LS1. Life Science: All living organisms have identifiable structures and characteristics that allow for survival (organisms, populations, & species).

1a. Citing evidence to distinguish between living and non-living things. 3
Suggested Titles for Rhode Island Science State Standard 1a.

1b. Identifying, sorting and comparing based on similar and/or different external features. 32
Suggested Titles for Rhode Island Science State Standard 1b.

1c. Recording and analyzing observations/data about external features (e.g., within a grouping, which characteristics are the same and which are different). 32
Suggested Titles for Rhode Island Science State Standard 1c.

1d. Citing evidence (e.g., prior knowledge, data) to draw conclusions explaining why organisms are grouped/not grouped together (e.g. mammal, bird, and fish). 32
Suggested Titles for Rhode Island Science State Standard 1d.

2a. Observing that plants need water, air, food, light and space to grow and reproduce; observing that animals need water, air, food, and shelter/space to grow and reproduce. 8
Suggested Titles for Rhode Island Science State Standard 2a.

3a. Observing changes and recording data to scientifically draw and label the stages in the life cycle of a familiar plant and animal. 120
Suggested Titles for Rhode Island Science State Standard 3a.

3b. Sequencing the life cycle of a plant or animal when given a set of data/pictures. 120
Suggested Titles for Rhode Island Science State Standard 3b.

3c. Comparing the life cycles of 2 plants or 2 animals when given a set of data/pictures. 120
Suggested Titles for Rhode Island Science State Standard 3c.

4a. Identifying and explaining how the physical structure/characteristic of an organism allows it to survive and defend itself (e.g. of a characteristic-the coloring of a fiddler crab allows it to camouflage itself in the sand and grasses of its environment so that it will be protected from predators). 11
Suggested Titles for Rhode Island Science State Standard 4a.

4b. Analyzing the structures needed for survival of populations of plants and animals in a particular habitat/environment (e.g. populations of desert plants and animals require structures that enable them to obtain/conserve/ retain water). 54
Suggested Titles for Rhode Island Science State Standard 4b.

RI.LS2. Life Science: Matter cycles and energy flows through an ecosystem.

5a. Identifying sources of energy for survival of organisms (i.e. light or food). 6
Suggested Titles for Rhode Island Science State Standard 5a.

6a. Demonstrating in a food web that all animals' food begins with the sun. 14
Suggested Titles for Rhode Island Science State Standard 6a.

6b. Using information about organisms to design a habitat and explain how the habitat provides for the needs of the organisms that live there 54
Suggested Titles for Rhode Island Science State Standard 6b.

6c. Explaining the way that plants and animals in that habitat depend on each other. 54
Suggested Titles for Rhode Island Science State Standard 6c.

RI.LS3. Life Science: Groups of organisms show evidence of change over time (structures, behaviors, and biochemistry).

7a. Explaining what plants or animals might do if their environment changes (e.g., changing food supply or habitat due to fire, human impact, sudden weather-related changes). 54
Suggested Titles for Rhode Island Science State Standard 7a.

7b. Explaining how the balance of the ecosystem can be disturbed (e.g., how does overpopulation of a species affect the rest of the ecosystem). 6
Suggested Titles for Rhode Island Science State Standard 7b.

RI.LS4. Life Science: Humans are similar to other species in many ways, and yet are unique among Earth's life forms.

8a. Showing connections between external and internal body structures (i.e., organs and systems) and how they help humans survive. 14
Suggested Titles for Rhode Island Science State Standard 8a.

8b. Comparing and analyzing external features and characteristics of humans and other animals. 11
Suggested Titles for Rhode Island Science State Standard 8b.

9a. Identifying similarities that are inherited from a biological parent. 2
Suggested Titles for Rhode Island Science State Standard 9a.

9b. Identifying that some behaviors are learned and some behaviors are instinctive. 6
Suggested Titles for Rhode Island Science State Standard 9b.

RI.PS1. Physical Science: All living and nonliving things are composed of matter having characteristic properties that distinguish one substance from another (independent of size or amount of substance).

1a. Identifying, comparing, and sorting objects by similar or different physical properties (e.g., size, shape, color, texture, smell, weight, temperature, flexibility). 5
Suggested Titles for Rhode Island Science State Standard 1a.

1b. Citing evidence (e.g., prior knowledge, data) to support conclusions about why objects are grouped/not grouped together. 5
Suggested Titles for Rhode Island Science State Standard 1b.

1c. Observing and describing physical changes (e.g. freezing, thawing, torn piece of paper). 1
Suggested Titles for Rhode Island Science State Standard 1c.

2a. Describing properties of solids, liquids, and gases. 6
Suggested Titles for Rhode Island Science State Standard 2a.

2b. Identifying and comparing solids, liquids, and gases. 6
Suggested Titles for Rhode Island Science State Standard 2b.

2c. Making logical predictions about the changes in the state of matter when adding or taking away heat (e.g., ice melting, water boiling or freezing, condensation/evaporation). 6
Suggested Titles for Rhode Island Science State Standard 2c.

3a. Measuring the weight of objects to prove that all matter has weight. 3
Suggested Titles for Rhode Island Science State Standard 3a.

3b. Using measures of weight to prove that the whole equals the sum of its parts. 3
Suggested Titles for Rhode Island Science State Standard 3b.

3c. Showing that the weight of an object remains the same despite a change in its shape. 3
Suggested Titles for Rhode Island Science State Standard 3c.

RI.PS2. Physical Science: Energy is necessary for change to occur in matter. Energy can be stored, transferred, and transformed, but cannot be destroyed.

4a. Experimenting to identify and classify different pitches and volumes of sounds produced by different objects. 7
Suggested Titles for Rhode Island Science State Standard 4a.

4b. Using data to explain what causes sound to have different pitch or volume 7
Suggested Titles for Rhode Island Science State Standard 4b.

4c. Describing or showing that heat can be produced in many ways (e.g. electricity, friction, burning). 3
Suggested Titles for Rhode Island Science State Standard 4c.

4d. Drawing, diagramming, building, and explaining a complete electrical circuit. 4
Suggested Titles for Rhode Island Science State Standard 4d.

4e. Using experimental data to classify a variety of materials as conductors or insulators 8
Suggested Titles for Rhode Island Science State Standard 4e.

5a. Investigating observable effects of light using a variety of light sources (e.g., light travels in a straight line until it interacts with an object, blocked light rays produce shadows). 7
Suggested Titles for Rhode Island Science State Standard 5a.

5b. Predicting, describing, and investigating how light rays are reflected, refracted, or absorbed. 7
Suggested Titles for Rhode Island Science State Standard 5b.

6a. Describing how heat moves from warm objects to cold objects until both objects are the same temperature. 3
Suggested Titles for Rhode Island Science State Standard 6a.

6b. Showing that heat moves from one object to another causing temperature change (e.g., when land heats up it warms the air). 3
Suggested Titles for Rhode Island Science State Standard 6b.

RI.PS3. Physical Science: The motion of an object is affected by forces.

7a. Predicting the direction and describing the motion of objects (of different weights, shapes, sizes, etc.) if a force is applied to it. 12
Suggested Titles for Rhode Island Science State Standard 7a.

7b. Describing change in position relative to other objects or background. 12
Suggested Titles for Rhode Island Science State Standard 7b.

7c. Investigating and describing that different amounts of force can change direction/speed of an object in motion. 5
Suggested Titles for Rhode Island Science State Standard 7c.

7d. Conducting experiments to demonstrate that different objects fall to earth unless something is holding them up. 12
Suggested Titles for Rhode Island Science State Standard 7d.

8a. Using prior knowledge and investigating to predict whether or not an object will be attracted to a magnet. 5
Suggested Titles for Rhode Island Science State Standard 8a.

8b. Describing what happens when like and opposite poles of a magnet are placed near each other. 5
Suggested Titles for Rhode Island Science State Standard 8b.

8c. Exploring relative strength of magnets (e.g., size of magnets, number of magnets, properties of materials). 5
Suggested Titles for Rhode Island Science State Standard 8c.