3rd Grade Science

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

What is an Ecosystem?The Matter Around UsEnergy in Our World
Food Chains and Food WebsInvestigating Water, Air, and SoilObserving Changes in Matter
Building a Mini EcosystemSimple Experiments with MatterExploring Energy at Home
Observation and Note-TakingAsking Scientific Questions
What is an Ecosystem...The Matter Around UsEnergy in Our WorldFood Chains and Food...Investigating Water,...Observing Changes in...Building a Mini Ecos...Simple Experiments w...Exploring Energy at ...Observation and Note...Asking Scientific Qu...
Advanced Topics

Observing Changes in Matter

Matter Can Change!

Matter changes all around us every day. Some changes can be undone, and others cannot.

Physical Changes

Physical changes don’t make new substances. The matter just looks different.

  • Cutting paper
  • Melting ice

Chemical Changes

Chemical changes make new substances.

  • Baking a cake
  • Rust forming on metal

Observing Changes

You can observe changes in matter by:

  • Watching ice melt in the sun
  • Mixing baking soda and vinegar and seeing bubbles

Learning about changes in matter helps us cook, build, and clean!

Examples

  • Melting chocolate and letting it harden again.

  • Burning wood to create ash.

In a Nutshell

Matter changes in different ways, some reversible and some permanent.

Key Terms

Physical change
A change where no new substance is made.
Chemical change
A change that creates a new substance.
Next
Building a Mini Ecosystem