Subject:

Bath School Department 2003
Content Area: Science
Grade 3

Content Standard: A. Classifying Life Forms
Students will understand that there are similarities within the diversity of all living things.
Common Assessment: Maine LAD Assessment - Critter Classification (also J6, Inquiry and Problem Solving)

Performance Indicators
Essential Elements
(Specific grade level
learning objectives)

Suggested
Performance Activities

Suggested
Classroom
Assessments
Vocabulary

1. Group the same organisms in different ways using different characteristics.

Understand how to group items by their characteristics.

Students will be asked to group and regroup a given set of objects (seeds, toys, leaves, etc.)

See assessment for A2 below.

behavior
categorize
characteristics
classify
compare
contrast
development
habitat
hibernate
life cycles
living
metamorphosis
migrate
non-living
organisms
reproduction
structure
(individual parts of chosen organisms)
traits

2. Design and describe a classification system for organisms.

Classify objects by their characteristics.

Students will be asked to group a set of organisms in several different ways based on their characteristics. They will be able to explain their reasoning.

Students will create a visual classification system for a given set of organisms and explain their reasoning.

3. Describe the different living things within a given habitat.

Describe different habitats such as desert, forest, jungle, swamp etc.

Students will be asked to identify the living things within a specific habitat.

Given a habitat, students will select from a list the living things which would live there.

4. Compare and contrast the life cycles, behavior, and structure of different organisms.

Understand concept of life cycle and behavior of living things.

Students will investigate and observe life cycles of various organisms.

They will observe and record the behavior of various organisms such as mealworms that have a quick life cycle. They can be found at Brooks Feed and Farm.

They will observe, draw, and label the parts of a variety of organisms.
(McGraw-Hill, Ch. 1-2)

Students will compare and contrast the life cycles of two organisms.

They will compare and contrast the behavior of several different organisms.

They will identify the parts of an organism, describe their functions, and compare to other organisms.

Performance Indicators	Essential Elements (Specific grade level learning objectives)	Suggested Performance Activities	Suggested Classroom Assessments	Vocabulary
1. Group the same organisms in different ways using different characteristics.	Understand how to group items by their characteristics.	Students will be asked to group and regroup a given set of objects (seeds, toys, leaves, etc.)	See assessment for A2 below.	behavior categorize characteristics classify compare contrast development habitat hibernate life cycles living metamorphosis migrate non-living organisms reproduction structure (individual parts of chosen organisms) traits
2. Design and describe a classification system for organisms.	Classify objects by their characteristics.	Students will be asked to group a set of organisms in several different ways based on their characteristics. They will be able to explain their reasoning.	Students will create a visual classification system for a given set of organisms and explain their reasoning.
3. Describe the different living things within a given habitat.	Describe different habitats such as desert, forest, jungle, swamp etc.	Students will be asked to identify the living things within a specific habitat.	Given a habitat, students will select from a list the living things which would live there.
4. Compare and contrast the life cycles, behavior, and structure of different organisms.	Understand concept of life cycle and behavior of living things.	Students will investigate and observe life cycles of various organisms. They will observe and record the behavior of various organisms such as mealworms that have a quick life cycle. They can be found at Brooks Feed and Farm. They will observe, draw, and label the parts of a variety of organisms. (McGraw-Hill, Ch. 1-2)	Students will compare and contrast the life cycles of two organisms. They will compare and contrast the behavior of several different organisms. They will identify the parts of an organism, describe their functions, and compare to other organisms.