Virginia SOL 3.1.e.i

Science3rd GradeScientific and Engineering Practices

The Standard

use models to demonstrate simple phenomena and natural processes

Virginia Standards of Learning for Science · The student will demonstrate an understanding of scientific and engineering practices by

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students create or use a simple model to show how parts of a natural process interact or change. They explain what each part represents and how the model works.
What Mastery Looks Like: A student uses labels, arrows, objects, or diagrams to show a process clearly. The student explains what the model shows and names one detail it leaves out.
Common Misconceptions: Students may think a model must be a small, exact copy of a real object. They may add parts without explaining their purpose or use arrows that do not show clear movement or change.
How to Assess It: Give students a diagram of the water cycle with one arrow missing. Ask them to add the arrow, label it, and explain what happens there.

Lesson moves

Pour water over a sloped tray of sand, then have students draw and label how the model shows erosion.
Show a lamp and globe model, then ask, “How does this model explain day and night, and what does it leave out?”
Give teams shuffled picture cards of a plant life cycle and award points for correct order, arrows, labels, and explanation.
Compare a weather forecast map with conditions outside, then list one way the map helps and one detail it cannot show.

Free download

A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to 3.1.e.i, 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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