3rd Grade Science

Investigating ecosystems, matter, and energy through hands-on experiments and observations.

Advanced Topics

Investigating Water, Air, and Soil

Exploring Natural Resources

Water, air, and soil are essential to life in every ecosystem. Scientists study these to understand how they help plants and animals survive.

Water

All living things need water. It can be found in rivers, lakes, oceans, and even underground.

Air

Air is all around us! It contains oxygen for animals to breathe and carbon dioxide for plants to use in making food.

Soil

Soil is more than just dirt. It holds nutrients, water, and tiny living things that help plants grow.

Observing and Testing

You can observe water, air, and soil by:

  • Seeing what lives in a cup of pond water
  • Watching what happens to a plant when it doesn’t get enough water
  • Digging in the soil to find worms and bugs

These experiments help scientists (and students!) learn about our world.

Examples

  • Testing different soils to see which helps plants grow best.

  • Observing bubbles in water to learn about air.

In a Nutshell

Water, air, and soil are natural resources that support life and can be explored with simple experiments.

Key Terms

Natural resource
Something found in nature that living things use.
Nutrient
A substance that helps plants and animals grow.