3rd Grade Science Curriculum

In science, third grade students get to dive into animal classification, ecosystems, and biomes. Students will also explore more of our Earth and solar system and investigate physical science themes like materials and their properties. With interactive content and hands-on learning opportunities, our curriculum builds children’s critical thinking skills while deepening their understanding of the world around them.

We designed our third grade science curriculum to introduce these advanced topics in a fun, engaging, and age-appropriate way. Lessons cover a wide range of concepts, including the scientific method, healthy habits, states of matter, weather patterns, and the water cycle.

Sample Lesson

You can find more of our third grade science videos on Youtube at The Miacademy Learning Channel!

Is my student ready for 3rd grade science lessons?

Before starting Elementary Science, we recommend that students complete Beginning Science 2. Once your student has mastered second grade science concepts, they are ready to begin exploring third grade science topics.

Your student is likely ready for third grade science if they:

1. Often ask “why” and “how” questions about natural phenomena, animals, weather, or how things work.
2. Enjoy watching things change over time (like plants growing or ice melting) and can describe what they see.
3. Can read short passages and write or draw to explain their thoughts, which supports understanding science texts and recording observations.
4. Notice patterns in nature (like the seasons, weather changes, or animal behaviors) and can describe cause and effect.
5. Enjoy hands-on activities like mixing ingredients, building simple models, or trying “what happens if…” tests.
6. Can carry out tasks that involve multiple steps, which is useful for conducting experiments or investigations.
7. Like sorting objects, animals, or materials into groups of traits (e.g., smooth vs. rough, animal types).
8. Can focus on a topic long enough to do a short project or investigation and recall key details.
9. Enjoy science-related books, videos, museums, or nature walks.
10. Want to explore deeper or experiment with ideas for themselves

Free 3rd Grade Science Worksheets – PDF Download

Each video lesson has printable science worksheets with additional activities to extend learning beyond the screen with a hands-on approach!

Click here to download a free sample PDF of our third grade science worksheets:

What are the 3rd grade science standards?

Science standards in third grade focus on deepening students’ understanding of living organisms and their environments. Through observation, experimentation, and hands-on learning, students explore the characteristics of living things, plant and animal life cycles, and the ways organisms adapt to their habitats. They begin to investigate inherited traits, the interdependence within ecosystems, and the impact of environmental changes on living organisms.

The goal of third grade science standards is to build a foundational understanding of the natural world around us. Miacademy achieves this by exploring topics like:

1. Describing how forces like pushes and pulls affect the motion of objects.
2. Investigating how magnets attract and repel and how they interact with different materials.
3. Comparing and classifying materials based on physical properties such as texture, hardness, and flexibility.
4. Observing how heating and cooling cause changes in matter, such as melting or freezing.
5. Measuring and recording weather conditions like temperature, wind, and precipitation.
6. Identifying patterns in weather and describing how they relate to climate in different regions.
7. Exploring Earth’s natural resources and discussing ways to conserve them.
8. Describing how wind and water can shape the land through erosion and weathering.
9. Understanding that fossils provide evidence about organisms that lived long ago.
10. Comparing life cycles of different animals and plants, noting similarities and differences.
11. Comparing between traits and behaviors that are inherited and those that are learned.
12. Using observation and data collection to carry out simple scientific investigations and communicate findings.

Standards can vary by state, so be sure to check what’s required where you live.

Scope and Sequence

Elementary Science

At this grade level, students learn about more complex parts of the natural world. They begin using observation and classification to investigate topics like the human body, the solar system, biomes, animal types, and material properties. Miacademy’s lessons for this age group cover the scientific method, healthy habits, ecosystems, water forms, and animal classification to support curiosity and critical thinking.

Miacademy’s Online 3rd Grade Homeschool Curriculum

Our third grade science curriculum uses an inquiry-based approach to learning, helping students explore their natural curiosity and build a strong foundation for scientific thinking. Created by experienced educators, this curriculum not only teaches science but boosts your child’s confidence and critical thinking skills to support success across all subjects.

One of the best things about our third grade curriculum is homeschooling with flexibility! You get full customization over your lesson plans and assignments to fit your child’s unique learning needs. Students can pick up where they left off and begin working on new topics.

Our family of accredited curricula covers everything from lab safety to physics and chemistry and adapts easily to your child’s educational needs.
Whether you homeschool full time or are looking to supplement a public school education, we’re here to support you! Wondering if Miacademy’s third grade homeschool curriculum can be a good fit for your student? Start a chat with one of our friendly customer service agents below! They’ll be happy to help you with any questions you may have.