Grade 3 Science (NGSS-Aligned) Exam Survival Guide

Must-do topics

• Forces & Motion: balanced/unbalanced forces; magnetism.
• Life Science: life cycles of plants/animals; ecosystems & adaptations.
• Earth Science: weather & climate patterns; natural hazards; fossils as evidence.
• Engineering: define problem → plan → test → improve.

Top traps

• Thinking heavier = falls faster (ignoring gravity/air resistance).
• Misunderstanding food chains (producer vs consumer vs decomposer).
• Mixing weather (short-term) vs climate (long-term).
• Treating design cycle as linear (not iterative).

Quick checks

• Predict: what happens if you push from opposite sides with equal force?
• Draw a simple food chain with arrows.
• Compare: today’s weather vs your region’s climate.
• Name one improvement to a paper bridge.

You will make

• Magnet Maze Game (move paperclip with magnet).
• Plant Life Cycle Wheel.
• Weather Chart (week-long temp/precip).
• Design Journal (sketch, test, revise).