Jennifer E. Lawson 
Hands-On Science and Technology for Ontario, Grade 3 [PDF ebook] 
An Inquiry Approach With STEM Skills and Connections

Introduction to Hands-On Science and Technology for Ontario, Grade 3 1

• Introduction to Hands-On Science and Technology 2


• Program Introduction 2


• The Inquiry Approach to Science and Technology 2


• 21st Century Teaching and Learning 3


• The Goals of the Science and Technology Program 3


• Hands-On Science and Technology Strands and Expectations 4


• Hands-On Science and Technology Fundamental Concepts and Big Ideas 4


• Hands-On Science and Technology Program Principles 5


• Infusing Indigenous Perspectives 5


• Cultural Connections 7


• Land-Based Learning 7


• Technology 7


• Sustainability 7


• Program Implementation 8


• Program Resources 8


• Classroom Environment 11


• Planning Units—Timelines 12


• Classroom Management 12


• Classroom Safety 12


• Scientific Inquiry Skills: Guidelines for Teachers 12


• Observing 12


• Questioning 13


• Exploring 13


• Classifying 13


• Measuring 14


• Communicating, Analyzing, and Interpreting 14


• Predicting 15


• Inferring 15


• Inquiry Through Investigating and Experimenting 16


• Inquiry Through Research 16


• Online Considerations 17


• Addressing Students’ Early Literacy Needs 17


• Technological Problem Solving 17


• Makerspace 18

The Hands-On Science and Technology Assessment Plan 20

• Assessment for Learning 21


• Assessment as Learning 21


• Assessment of Learning 22


• Performance Assessment 23


• Portfolios 23


• Evidence of Student Achievement Levels for Evaluation 24


• Important Note to Teachers 24


• References 25


• Assessment Reproducibles 26


• Achievement Chart for Science & Technology 41

Unit 1: Growth and Changes in Plants 43

• Introduction 44


• Unit Overview 48


• Curriculum Correlation 49


• Resources for Students 51


• Websites 53


• 1 What Do We Know About Plants and Their Needs? 56


• 2 What Are the Parts of a Plant? 61


• 3 What Are Some Special Features of Plants? 65


• 4 How Do Plants Adapt in Order to Survive? 73


• 5 What Is the Life Cycle of a Plant? 78


• 6 What Parts of Plants Do We Eat? 84


• 7 What Are the Different Ways in Which Plants Are Grown for Food? 89


• 8 How Can We Investigate the Needs of Plants? 94


• 9 How Can We Design a Terrarium to Sustain Living Things? 100


• 10 In What Other Ways Are Plants Important to Humans? 105


• 11 How Can Dye Be Made From Plants? 109


• 12 How Do Plants and Animals Depend on Each Other? 114


• 13 How Do Plants Help Reduce Erosion? 118


• 14 How Can We Protect Plants? 122


• 15 Inquiry Project: What More Can I Learn About Plant Products? 126

Unit 2: Strong and Stable Structures 129

• Introduction 130


• Unit Overview 133


• Curriculum Correlation 134


• Resources for Students 135


• Websites and Online Videos 136


• 1 What Is a Structure? 138


• 2 Where Are Structures Found? 143


• 3 Which Materials Are Stronger Than Others? 147


• 4 What Are Joints? 154


• 5 How Can We Build Structures to Be Stronger and More Stable? 160


• 6 How Can We Build a Frame That Is Strong and Stable? 165


• 7 What Structures Has Nature Engineered? 170


• 8 How Are Structures Around the World Similar and Different? 176


• 9 What Are Some Careers in Design and Building? 181


• 10 What Other Structures Can We Build? 185


• 11 Inquiry Project: What More Can I Learn About Important Buildings and Structures? 192

Unit 3: Forces Causing Movement 195

• Introduction 196


• Unit Overview 199


• Curriculum Correlation 200


• Resources for Students 201


• Websites and Online Videos 203


• 1 What Is a Force? 206


• 2 How Is a Force a Push or a Pull? 210


• 3 What Is Friction? 214


• 4 Which Objects Do Magnets Attract? 217


• 5 How Is a Magnet Made? 222


• 6 How Can a Magnetic Force Be Altered? 226


• 7 How Is Earth Like a Giant Magnet? 232


• 8 What Are Helpful Uses and Harmful Effects of Magnets? 237


• 9 What Is Static Electricity, and How Is It Created? 240


• 10 How Does Humidity Affect Static Electricity? 244


• 11 How Can the Force of Static Electricity Be Demonstrated Safely? 248


• 12 How Does an Electroscope Work? 252


• 13 What Effect Does Gravity Have on Different Objects? 255


• 14 What Are Some Forces of Nature? 262


• 15 How Are Forces Used to Move Toys? 266


• 16 How Can Safety Devices Be Used to Reduce the Effects of Forces? 270


• 17 Inquiry Project: How Can I Design a Toy or Game That Uses Forces? 273

Unit 4: Soils in the Environment 277

• Introduction 278


• Unit Overview 281


• Curriculum Correlation 282


• Resources for Students 283


• Websites and Online Videos 285


• 1 What Do We Know About Soil? 287


• 2 What Are the Different Types of Soil? 291


• 3 How Can Soil Components Be Separated? 297


• 4 How Much Water Can Different Soil Types Absorb? 301


• 5 How Do Different Soils Affect the Growth of Plants? 306


• 6 What Lives in Soil? 312


• 7 How Does Rainfall Affect Soil? 316


• 8 How Can Organic Materials Be Recycled? 320


• 9 How Do Humans Use Earth Materials? 325


• 10 Inquiry Project: What More Can We Learn About Products Made From Earth Materials? 328


• References 333

Appendix: Image Banks 335
About the Contributors 353