3rd Grade Science Vocabulary

Words at a Glance

3rd Grade Scientific Inquiry

Descriptors: acid, base, magnetic, meteorologist, observe, position, resource, temperature, malleable,
density, attraction, element, mass, nonrenewable, physical property, renewable, scientist, volume, chemical
property, describe
Processes: conditions, variable, model, identify, dependent variable, experiment, infer, investigation,
balance, theory, communicate, constant, draw conclusions, heating, hypothesize, interact, law, observation,
repetition, trial, compare, control, evidence, hypothesis, independent variable, inference, measure, predict,
scientific method, using models
Tools: balance, Celsius, Fahrenheit, gram, microscope, meter, metric system, milliliter, volume, magnet,
beaker, centimeter, graduated cylinder, hand lens, kilogram, liter, meterstick, thermometer, weigh, scale

3rd Grade Matter

The Changes in Matter: boil, change of state, chemical change, condensation, cooling, evaporation,
heating, melt, phase changes, physical change
The Properties of Matter: air, atom, conservation of matter, liquid, mass, mixture, phases of matter, solid,
volume, water vapor, chemical property, states of matter, weigh, molecules, matter, particles, physical
property, element, gas, magnetic

3rd Grade Energy

Electricity: conduction, energy, heat, insulator, kinetic energy, light energy, potential energy, radiation,
temperature, transfer, conductor, convection, electricity, energy transfer, heat transfer, light, radiant energy,
reflection, sound wave, thermal energy

3rd Grade Motion

Force: attraction, balanced force, friction, inertia, Newton, position, push, transfer, vibrations, mass,
balance, force, gravity, magnetism, motion, pull, speed, unbalanced force, direction, acceleration
Simple Machines: fulcrum, inclined plane, lever, load, pulley, screw, simple machine, wedge, wheel and
axle, work

3rd Grade Space Science

The Universe: constellation, gas giant, gravitational pull, gravity, Milky Way Galaxy, model, orbit, space,
solar system, universe, galaxy

3rd Grade Earth Science

History of the Earth: cool, cooling, fossil, geological, ocean, salt water, paleontologist, volcanic eruption,
magma, plates
Resources: fresh water, fossil fuel, natural resource, interact, nonrenewable, renewable resource, resource,
thermal energy, wind energy
Structures: axis, erosion, glacier, ice wedging, mechanical weathering, metamorphic, sedimentary rock,
stream, wind, igneous (rock?), chemical weathering, fresh water, gravity, igneous rock, melt, ocean, soil,
thermal energy, salt water, volcano
The Atmosphere: atmosphere, stratosphere, air, air mass, air pressure, carbon dioxide, oxygen, ozone,
troposphere
The Water Cycle: water table, clouds, atmosphere, condensation, evaporation, glacier, groundwater,
ocean, water cycle, water vapor
The Weather: biome, habitat, savannah, tundra, arctic, taiga, biosphere, desert, rain forest, nimbus, warm
front, climate, cold front, force freeze, hail, melt, precipitation, thunderstorm, weather conditions, sleet,
forecast, heat, hurricane, lightning, meteorologist, tornado, weather, weather vane

3rd Grade Life Science

Animals: amphibian, arthropod, invertebrate, mammal, reptile, insect, fish, bird, vertebrate
Biomes: adaptation, canopy, climate, community, forest floor, fresh water, interact, lake, plant, polar,
population, biome, habitat, savannah, tundra, arctic, taiga, biosphere, desert, rain forest
Ecosystem Parts: environment, canopy, climate, community, water cycle, population, species, organism,
ocean, river
Ecosystem Types: biome, coastal forest, coniferous forest, deciduous forest, desert, ecosystem, estuary,
forest. ocean, troposphere
Energy Resources: conservation, light, oxygen, photosynthesis, radiant energy, resource, water,
environment, sun, nutrient, energy transfer, light energy, natural resource, nonrenewable, pollution,
renewable resource, thermal energy, water vapor
Living Things: mammal, plant, cell, classify, growth, inherit, offspring, organism, reproduction, tissue
Plants: bulb, chlorophyll, cone, germinate, plant, root, seed, seed coat, seedling, stem
The Environment: air, carbon dioxide, diversity, evolution, forest, fresh water, habitat, ocean, soil, water
The Food Chain: consumer, organisms, energy pyramid, interact, food web, predator, prey, carnivore,
herbivore, omnivore, producer, transfer, decomposer, compete, food chain