Mississippi Science L.K.3A
Standard Cluster
Students will demonstrate an understanding of what animals and plants need to live and grow. With teacher guidance, conduct a structured investigation to determine what plants need to live and grow (water, light, and a place to grow). Measure growth by directly comparing plants with other objects. Construct explanations using observations to describe and report what animals need to live and grow (food, water, shelter, and space).
2026 Mississippi College- and Career-Readiness Standards for Science · Ecology and Interdependence
Cluster contents
Standards in This Cluster
L.K.3A is a cluster heading. These are the individual standards under it.
- L.K.3A.1
With teacher guidance, conduct a structured investigation to determine what plants need to live and grow (water, light, and a place to grow). Measure growth by ...
- L.K.3A.2
Construct explanations using observations to describe and report what animals need to live and grow (food, water, shelter, and space).
Teacher's field guide
What This Cluster Means
What Students Need to Do
- Children observe what happens to seeds with and without water or light. They compare a plant directly with an object and use pictures to explain what animals need.
What Mastery Looks Like
- A child describes what happened in the dry and dark cups and names water, light, and a place to grow as plant needs. They hold a craft stick beside a seedling to compare height and show where a pictured animal could find food, water, shelter, and space.
Common Misconceptions
- Children may think a seed cannot sprout at all in the dark, or that every plant must grow in dirt. They may name food and water for animals but forget shelter and room to move.
How to Assess It
- Show photos of the three seed cups and a rabbit near clover, water, and bushes. Give each child a seedling and a craft stick, then ask what helped the plant grow, which is taller, and where the rabbit could find food, water, shelter, and space.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Plant beans in three soil cups; keep one watered by a window, one watered in a dark box, and one dry by the window.
Show a rabbit photo with clover, a stream, and bushes; ask where it could eat, drink, hide, and have room to move.
Hold a craft stick beside each seedling and have pairs sort plant drawings into taller than and shorter than the stick.
Walk the schoolyard and ask children to point out where a bird could find food, water, shelter, and space.
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Printable L.K.3A Worksheet
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Related Standards
- L.2.3A
Students will demonstrate an understanding of the interdependence of living things and the environment in which they live.
- L.1.1
Students will demonstrate an understanding of the basic needs and structures of plants.
- L.1.3A
Students will demonstrate an understanding of what plants need from the environment for growth and repair.
- L.2.3B
Students will demonstrate an understanding of the interdependence of living things.
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