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Recognize that scientists use models to help understand and explain how things work.
Standard #: SC.3.N.3.2
Standard Information
General Information
Subject Area: Science
Grade: 3
Body of Knowledge: Nature of Science
Big Idea: The Role of Theories, Laws, Hypotheses, and Models - The terms that describe examples of scientific knowledge, for example; "theory," "law," "hypothesis," and "model" have very specific meanings and functions within science.
Date Adopted or Revised: 02/08
Content Complexity Rating: Level 1: Recall - More Information
Date of Last Rating: 05/08
Status: State Board Approved
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Lesson Plans
  • Using Machine Learning and Computational Thinking to Train an AI Model # Students will explore Artificial Intelligence (AI) and use computational thinking and Machine Learning (ML) to pretrain a model to recognize and identify objects, including geometric shapes and aircraft. They will used unplugged activities to mimic sorting and classification of the objects using their prior knowledge and then make connections to human learning and Machine Learning. Students will then problem solve and propose solutions using computational thinking to improve the ML model to better recognize the objects. This lesson is an integrated Computer Science, Science and Math lesson designed for students in grades 3-5 to apply math and science content knowledge while exploring and using computational thinking as they think like Computer Engineers and reflect on potential career paths.
  • Physical Science Unit: Water Beach Vacation Lesson 8 Coding a Simulation: Changes to Water # Students will use logical thinking, decision making and flowcharts to code a simulation about the state of matter the water will be in, dependent upon water temperature. Students will use a free online block-coding platform called Scratch. This is a lesson in the Grade 3 Physical Science Unit on Water. This is a themed unit of SaM-1's adventures while on a Beach Vacation.  To see all the lessons in the unit please visit https://www.cpalms.org/page818.aspx.
  • Physical Science Unit: Water Beach Vacation Lesson 12 Engineering Design Problem: Beat the Heat Part 3: Testing a Cooler # In this engineering design problem, students will have the opportunity to apply what they
    learned about the changes water undergoes when it changes state through heating and
    cooling by designing their own cooler. Students will be asked to use the engineering design
    process to design a cooler that will reduce the melting of frozen water in hot temperatures
    at the beach. Students will need to design and build their cooler, test their materials, and
    justify their design decisions. In this lesson students will test their cooler’s effectiveness in
    keeping ice from melting. In subsequent lessons students will improve their designs. This is a lesson in the Grade 3 Physical Science Unit on Water. This is a themed unit of SaM-1's adventures while on a Beach Vacation.  To see all the lessons in the unit please visit https://www.cpalms.org/page818.aspx.  
  • Physical Science Unit: Water Beach Vacation Lesson 13 Engineering Design Problem: Beat the Heat Part 4: Improve a Cooler # In this engineering design problem, students will have the opportunity to apply what they
    learned about the changes water undergoes when it changes state through heating and
    cooling by designing their own cooler. Students will be asked to use the engineering design
    process to design a cooler that will reduce the melting of frozen water in hot temperatures
    at the beach. Students will need to design and build their cooler, test their materials, and
    justify their design decisions. In this lesson students will improve their cooler designs. This is a lesson in the Grade 3 Physical Science Unit on Water. This is a themed unit of SaM-1's adventures while on a Beach Vacation.  To see all the lessons in the unit please visit https://www.cpalms.org/page818.aspx.
  • Physical Science Unit: Water Beach Vacation Lesson 10 Engineering Design Problem: Beat the Heat Part 1: Design a Cooler # In this engineering design problem, students will have the opportunity to apply what they learned about the changes water undergoes when it changes state through heating and cooling by designing their own cooler. Students will be asked to use the engineering design process to design a cooler that will reduce the melting of frozen water in hot temperatures at the beach. Students will need to design and build their cooler, test their materials, and justify their design decisions. This lesson is the first of several lessons based on engineering design; in subsequent lessons, students will build and test their designs with ice. This is a lesson in the Grade 3 Physical Science Unit on Water. This is a themed unit of SaM-1's adventures while on a Beach Vacation.  To see all the lessons in the unit please visit https://www.cpalms.org/page818.aspx.  .
  • Physical Science Unit: Water Beach Vacation Lesson 7 Planning a Simulation: Changes to Water # Students will use logical thinking, decision making and flowcharts to plan a coded simulation about the state of water, dependent upon water temperature. Students will then be able to use that flowchart and code their own simulation using a free online block-coding platform called Scratch. This is a lesson in the Grade 3 Physical Science Unit on Water. This is a themed unit ofSaM-1's adventures while on a Beach Vacation.  To see all the lessons in the unit please visit https://www.cpalms.org/page818.aspx. .
  • Physical Science Unit: Water Beach Vacation Lesson 11 Engineering Design Problem: Beat the Heat Part 2: Build a Cooler # In this engineering design problem, students will have the opportunity to apply what they
    learned about the changes water undergoes when it changes state through heating and
    cooling by designing their own cooler. Students will be asked to use the engineering design
    process to design a cooler that will reduce the melting of frozen water in hot temperatures
    at the beach. Students will need to design and build their cooler, test their materials, and
    justify their design decisions. In this lesson students will build their cooler. In subsequent
    lessons students will test their designs with ice and improve their designs. This is a lesson in the Grade 3 Physical Science Unit on Water. This is a themed unit of SaM-1's adventures while on a Beach Vacation.  To see all the lessons in the unit please visit https://www.cpalms.org/page818.aspx.  .
  • Zoom, Zoom, Vroom Vroom! # In this lesson, students will explore forces, mechanical energy by engineering their own vehicles utilizing via the engineering design process.
  • Lighthouses and Lenses - An Engineering Design Challenge # This Engineering Design Challenge is intended to help students apply the concepts of force , the concept of wind energy, and practice working with a budget as they build structures to withstand the force of high-speed winds. The first day's lesson also provides practice in recognizing and drawing shapes. It is not intended as an initial introduction to these concepts.
  • Modeling Patterns and Cycles in our Lives # Elementary students use everyday patterns and cycles to learn the cyclical nature of science concepts. This lesson can be used as an Engage activity to spark interest in the seasons or Moon phases.
  • Lesson 1: Making Models to Understand Our Home # This lesson plan from NASA's Messenger program allows K-2 students to make a model of their home to understand models and scale.
  • Follow the Water Lesson 1: Filtration Station # Water is essential for human health, but it can sometimes be contaminated. Water filtration can filter out contaminants and impurities making water much safer to consume. But what is the best way to filter water? Students will participate in a water filtration engineering challenge to try out different combinations of materials to find which works best. This lesson was developed by the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science with support from the Weo Foundation.
Model Eliciting Activity (MEA) STEM Lessons
  • Physical Science Unit: Water Beach Vacation Lesson 14 Beat the Heat MEA Part 1: Setting up the Cooler Experiment # this MEA, students will have the opportunity to apply what they learned about describing
    the changes water undergoes when it changes state through heating and cooling. This MEA
    is divided into four parts. In Part 1 of this activity, students will learn how to set up the
    cooler experiment. They will watch a video and take notes. Students will also develop their
    hypothesis in preparation to perform the experiment. In part 2, students will be asked to
    use ice to test the coolers they designed in Beat the Heat Engineering Design Lessons.
    Students will take measurements and collect data on their cooler. In part 3, students will
    analyze the data they collected. Finally, in part 4 they will develop a procedure for selecting
    the most effective cooler to keep water frozen the longest at the beach. In the optional
    twist, students will need to take the mass of the cooler into account. This is a lesson in the Grade 3 Physical Science Unit on Water. This is a themed unit ofSaM-1's adventures while on a Beach Vacation.  To see all the lessons in the unit please visit https://www.cpalms.org/page818.aspx.
  • Physical Science Unit: Water Beach Vacation Lesson 15 Beat the Heat MEA Part 2: Cooler Experiment # In this MEA, students will have the opportunity to apply what they learned about describing
    the changes water undergoes when it changes state through heating and cooling. This MEA
    is divided into four parts. In part 1, students will develop their hypothesis and receive
    information on how to set up the cooler experiment. In part 2, students will use ice to test
    the coolers they designed in Beat the Heat Engineering Design Lessons. Students will take
    measurements and collect data on their cooler. In part 3, students will analyze the data
    they collected. Finally, in part 4 they will develop a procedure for selecting the most
    effective cooler to keep water frozen the longest at the beach. In the optional twist,
    students will need to take the mass of the cooler into account. This is a lesson in the Grade 3 Physical Science Unit on Water. This is a themed unit of SaM-1's adventures while on a Beach Vacation.  To see all the lessons in the unit please visit https://www.cpalms.org/page818.aspx.
  • Physical Science Unit: Water Beach Vacation Lesson 17 Beat the Heat MEA Part 4: Ranking Procedure # In this MEA, students will have the opportunity to apply what they learned about describing
    the changes water undergoes when it changes state through heating and cooling. This MEA
    is divided into four parts. In part 1, students will develop their hypothesis and receive
    information on how to set up the cooler experiment. In part 2, students will be asked to use
    ice to test the coolers they designed in Beat the Heat Engineering Design Lessons.
    Students will take measurements and collect data on their cooler. In part 3, students will
    analyze the data they collected. Finally, in part 4 they will develop a procedure for selecting
    the best cooler to keep water frozen the longest at the beach. They will communicate their
    findings and procedure via a letter to next year’s class. In the optional twist, students will
    need to take the mass of the cooler into account. This is a lesson in the Grade 3 Physical Science Unit on Water. This is a themed unit of SaM-1's adventures while on a Beach Vacation.  To see all the lessons in the unit please visit https://www.cpalms.org/page818.aspx.
  • Physical Science Unit: Water Beach Vacation Lesson 9 Cool Cooler Design Model-Eliciting Activity (MEA) #

    In this MEA, students will have the opportunity to apply what they learned about describing
    the changes water undergoes when it changes state through heating and cooling. Students
    will be asked to rank coolers based on data to solve an open-ended, realistic problem, while
    considering constraints and tradeoffs. In the optional twist, students will need to take the
    mass of the cooler into account.

    This is a lesson in the Grade 3 Physical Science Unit on Water. This is a themed unit ofSaM-1's adventures while on a Beach Vacation.  To see all the lessons in the unit please visit https://www.cpalms.org/page818.aspx.

     

  • Physical Science Unit: Properties Lesson 21 Model Eliciting Activity: Entertaining Animals # In this MEA, students will have the opportunity to apply what they learned about physical properties and measuring linear lengths to a realistic problem. Students will be asked to design a prototype toy for Florida panthers housed at the CPALMS Rehabilitation and Conservation Center. Students will need to describe the physical properties (color, shape, texture, hardness, length) of the toy while explaining the rationale behind their design choices. In the optional twist, students will need to design a prototype toy suitable for a Florida panther with an injured leg.  This is a lesson in the Grade 3 Physical Science Unit on Properties. This is a themed unit of SaM-1's adventures at the CPALMS Rehabilitation and Conservation Center.  To see all the lessons in the unit please visit https://www.cpalms.org/page818.aspx .
Original Student Tutorials
  • Devin in the Bakery Part 3: Chef-tastrophy # Practice measuring the mass of solids and liquids using a pan balance and triple beam balance as Devin helps Chef Kyle in the bakery with this interactive tutorial.
  • Devin in the Bakery Part 2: Measuring Mass of Liquids # Learn how to measure the mass of liquids (and some solids) using containers while Devin helps Chef Kyle in the bakery with this interactive tutorial.
  • The Use of Models in Science #

    Learn how scientific models are one of the most important and central elements of scientific research with this interactive tutorial.

  • Physical Science Unit: Water Beach Vacation Lesson 17 Video # This SaM-1 video provides the students with the optional "twist" for Lesson 17 and the Model Eliciting Activity (MEA) they have been working on in the Grade 3 Physical Science Unit: Water Beach Vacation.    To see all the lessons in the unit please visit https://www.cpalms.org/page818.aspx.
  • Physical Science Unit: Water Beach Vacation Lesson 14 Video # This video introduces the students to a Model Eliciting Activity (MEA) and concepts related to conducting experiments so they can apply what they learned about the changes water undergoes when it changes state.  This MEA provides students with an opportunity to develop a procedure based on evidence for selecting the most effective cooler. This SaM-1 video is to be used with lesson 14 in the Grade 3 Physical Science Unit: Water Beach Vacation. To see all the lessons in the unit please visit https://www.cpalms.org/page818.aspx.
  • Physical Science Unit: Water Beach Vacation Lesson 10 Video # In this video, students will be introduced to an engineering design challenge to apply what they learned about the changes water undergoes when it changes state through heating and cooling by designing their own cooler. Students will be asked to use the engineering design process to design a cooler. This SaM-1 video is to be used with lesson 10 in the Grade 3 Physical Science Unit: Water Beach Vacation.  To see all the lessons in the unit please visit https://www.cpalms.org/page818.aspx.
  • Lesson 21 Video: MEA Entertaining Animals Part 2 # In this video, SaM-1 introduces a part 2 twist to the Model Eliciting Activity (MEA) challenge. In the optional twist, students will need to design a prototype toy suitable for a Florida panther with an injured leg. This first video provides background information on why and how animals need to be entertained.
  • Lesson 21 Video: MEA Entertaining Animals # In this video, SaM-1 introduces a Model Eliciting Activity (MEA) challenge for the students. This video provides background information on why and how animals need to be entertained. Students will have the opportunity to apply what they learned about physical properties and measuring linear lengths as they are asked to design a prototype toy for Florida panthers housed at the CPALMS Rehabilitation and Conservation Center. In the optional twist, students will need to design a prototype toy suitable for a Florida panther with an injured leg. The optional twist also has a SaM-1 video to introduce the twist challenge.
Perspectives Video: Professional/Enthusiast
Original Student Tutorials Science - Grades K-8
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