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3rd Grade

Biological Evolution: Unity and Diversity

 

Students who demonstrate understanding can:

Performance Expectations
 

 

Analyze and interpret data from fossils to provide evidence of the organisms and the environments in which they lived long ago. 3-LS4-1

Clarification Statement and Assessment Boundary

Clarification Statement: Examples of data could include type, size, and distributions of fossil organisms. Examples of fossils and environments could include marine fossils found on dry land, tropical plant fossils found in Arctic areas, and fossils of extinct organisms.

Assessment Boundary: Assessment does not include identification of specific fossils or present plants and animals. Assessment is limited to major fossil types and relative ages.

Science and Engineering Practices

Analyzing and Interpreting Data

Analyzing data in 3–5 builds on K–2 experiences and progresses to introducing quantitative approaches to collecting data and conducting multiple trials of qualitative observations. When possible and feasible, digital tools should be used.

Analyze and interpret data to make sense of phenomena using logical reasoning. (3-LS4-1)

Disciplinary Core Ideas

LS4.A:  Evidence of Common Ancestry and Diversity

Some kinds of plants and animals that once lived on Earth are no longer found anywhere. (3-LS4-1)

Fossils provide evidence about the types of organisms that lived long ago and also about the nature of their environments. (3-LS4-1)

Crosscutting Concepts

Scale, Proportion, and Quantity

Natural objects and/or observable phenomena exist from the very small to the immensely large or from very short to very long time periods. (3-LS4-1)

Connections to Nature of Science

Scientific Knowledge Assumes an Order and Consistency in Natural Systems

Science assumes consistent patterns in natural systems. (3-LS4-1)

Common Core State Standards Connections

ELA/Literacy
  • RI.3.1 - Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text, referring explicitly to the text as the basis for the answers. (3-LS4-1)
  • RI.3.2 - Determine the main idea of a text; recount the key details and explain how they support the main idea. (3-LS4-1)
  • RI.3.3 - Describe the relationship between a series of historical events, scientific ideas or concepts, or steps in technical procedures in a text, using language that pertains to time, sequence, and cause/effect. (3-LS4-1)
  • W.3.1 - Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons. (3-LS4-1)
  • W.3.2 - Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly. (3-LS4-1)
  • W.3.8 - Recall information from experiences or gather information from print and digital sources; take brief notes on sources and sort evidence into provided categories. (3-LS4-1)
Mathematics
  • 3.MD.B.4 - Generate measurement data by measuring lengths using rulers marked with halves and fourths of an inch. Show the data by making a line plot, where the horizontal scale is marked off in appropriate units— whole numbers, halves, or quarters. (3-LS4-1)
  • MP.2 - Reason abstractly and quantitatively. (3-LS4-1)
  • MP.4 - Model with mathematics. (3-LS4-1)
  • MP.5 - Use appropriate tools strategically. (3-LS4-1)