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Science · Grade 3

Variation and Survival

Why do brown beetles survive better than green beetles on brown tree bark? Learners use data to explain how small differences between individuals of the same kind can help some survive and have more offspring. They find evidence that the environment also shapes traits (plants grown in shade stay shorter), and argue that living in groups helps animals such as wolves, fish and meerkats survive.

  • 3 lessons
  • About 90 minutes
  • Variation and survival check: 9 questions
  • Ways to answer: choose an answer, highlight a text, match pairs, type a number, sort into groups and true or false
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What learners will discover

  • Use evidence to explain how differences in traits among individuals of the same kind can help some survive, find mates and reproduce.
  • Use evidence to explain that some traits are influenced by the environment.
  • Argue with evidence that living in groups helps some animals survive.

Lessons

  1. Different traits, different chances 5 steps3 practiceabout 30 min
  2. The environment shapes traits too 4 steps2 practiceabout 28 min
  3. Safety in groups 6 steps2 practiceabout 32 min
  4. Variation and survival check 9 questions at the end

Keep exploring

Games to practice with

  • Marble MountainLay straights, curves, drops and splitters to roll marbles down the mountain.
  • Bridge LabBuild a bridge from beams, brace it with triangles, and stay on budget.
  • Circuit Workshop 3DWire up batteries, bulbs and switches on a 3D workbench.

More 3rd grade science

Guide for grown-ups