Texas TEKS 3.5.G

Science3rd GradeRecurring themes and concepts

The Standard

explain how factors or conditions impact stability and change in objects, organisms, and systems.

Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Science

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students identify what was altered in a situation and describe what stayed the same or changed. They use observations to explain why an object, organism, or system responded that way.
What Mastery Looks Like: Given a plant, structure, or model ecosystem, a student names the changed condition and predicts the result. They compare before-and-after evidence to support their explanation.
Common Misconceptions: Students may confuse a result with its cause or assume that every observed difference caused the change. They may think stable means motionless or unchanged forever.
How to Assess It: Show pictures of identical ice cubes placed in sunlight and shade. Ask, “Which condition caused faster melting, and what evidence supports your answer?”

Lesson moves

Build index-card towers, test each with a fan on low and high, and record when the structure stays stable or changes.
Ask students to write how a week without sunlight might affect a plant and support the answer with an observation.
Sort scenario cards into stable or changing, then name the condition responsible for each result.
Compare playground soil near a downspout with covered soil, and explain how flowing water changes the ground over time.

Free download

A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to 3.5.G, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.

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

Keep exploring

Grade, subject, topic, and the complete standard are prefilled. Create one free, no account needed.