South Dakota Science 3-ESS3-1
The Standard
Make an evidence-based claim about the validity of a design solution that reduces the impacts of a weather-related hazard. (SEP: 7; DCI: ESS3.B, ETS1.A; CCC: Cause/Effect) Alignment may include 3-5-ETS1-1
South Dakota Science Standards (2024) · Earth and Human Activity
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students examine a design meant to reduce damage from a weather hazard, such as a flood barrier. They use test results to decide whether it works and explain their claim.
What Mastery Looks Like
- A student compares damage with and without a barrier when the same amount of water is used. They cite the results and notice if the barrier sends water toward another building.
Common Misconceptions
- Some students think a barrier stops the flood itself, rather than limiting damage. Others pick the best-looking design without using test results or checking where the water goes.
How to Assess It
- After equal pours, 8 floor squares got wet without a clay wall and 2 got wet with it. Should a model town use the wall against floods, and which results support your claim?
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Place two paper houses in separate trays, add a clay wall to one, pour equal amounts of water, and count wet floor squares.
Discuss: If a flood wall protects one house but floods another, is it a good solution? What evidence would help you decide?
Give pairs flood-test cards with wet-floor counts; have them choose the better design and defend their choice with numbers.
Show a photo of sandbags around a school door, then ask where the diverted water could go during heavy rain.
Free download
Printable 3-ESS3-1 Worksheet
A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to 3-ESS3-1, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.
PDF, US Letter, prints cleanly in black and white.
Download the worksheetKeep exploring
Related Standards
Turn this exact standard into a lesson
Grade, subject, topic, and the complete standard are prefilled. Create one free, no account needed.
Also for this standard:Make a WorksheetMake a QuizMake a Sub Lesson