Texas TEKS 3.2.C

Science3rd GradeScientific and engineering practices

The Standard

use mathematical calculations to compare patterns and relationships

Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Science

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students use numbers from observations or measurements to find totals, differences, or changes. They compare results and explain a pattern or relationship using their calculations.
What Mastery Looks Like: Students choose the correct operation and show their work. They use the result to make an accurate comparison, such as identifying which plant grew more and by how much.
Common Misconceptions: Students may compare numbers by looking only at the first digit or assume the largest total shows the greatest change. They may calculate correctly but fail to connect the answer to the observed pattern.
How to Assess It: Give students a table showing two plants growing from 6 cm to 11 cm and from 8 cm to 12 cm. Ask which grew more and require a calculation and one-sentence explanation.

Lesson moves

Roll a toy car down two ramp heights, measure each distance, then subtract to compare how ramp height affected travel distance.
Give students a plant growth table and ask, “What number pattern do you notice, and which calculation proves it?”
Play Data Match by pairing calculation cards with data tables that show the same difference, total, or change.
Use five days of local temperatures to calculate daily changes and identify when the largest warming or cooling occurred.

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