Indiana Social Studies 3.G.8

Social Studies3rd GradeGeography

The Standard

Identify and describe how human activities and natural systems affect the local environment.

2026 Indiana Academic Standards: K-12 Social Studies

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students identify ways people change a local place, such as paving ground or leaving litter. They describe how rain, wind, and growing plants can change that place too.
What Mastery Looks Like: A student can explain why rain runs off pavement but soaks into grass. They can point to litter near a drain and predict that rain may carry it into the drain.
Common Misconceptions: Students may blame a puddle on rain alone and miss that pavement keeps water from soaking in. They may think people cause every change, even when wind moves soil.
How to Assess It: Show a photo of rain on pavement beside grass. Ask students to name one human change and one natural process, then explain how each affects where the water goes.

Lesson moves

Tilt two trays of soil, cover one with leaves, pour equal cups of water over both, and compare the muddy runoff.
Display a photo of a paved playground and ask: How would rainwater move differently if the pavement were grass?
Give pairs cards labeled rain, wind, paving, and littering; have them sort the causes and match each to an effect.
Walk around the schoolyard, sketch a paved spot and a planted spot, and mark where rainwater is likely to flow.

Free download

A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to 3.G.8, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.

PDF, US Letter, prints cleanly in black and white.

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