Challenging Grade 3 Science Worksheets
Grade 3 students are introduced to the complexities of science for the first time, and hence will naturally be a little in awe of the scientific facts presented to them. The task for teachers and parents at this stage is to preserve this sense of awe, the sense of amazement about the world around them. The following worksheets will ignite the natural sense of curiosity in them, and inspire them to delve deep into the complex world of science.
Worksheet 1: Animals and their adaptations. (Difficulty level – challenging)
(Tips for parents/teachers: It is best to begin with the animal adaptations that kids see every day, such as the common house cats that have retractable claws that help them to not hurt you when you hold them, but will help them if they need to hurt an enemy. Show them pictures or videos of the following animals so that kids can understand them better.)
Write about the adaptations that the following animals and birds have to live in their habitats. Hints are given to you.
- Tiger (hint: a wild animal that should blend with their jungle surroundings)
- Zebra (hint: an animal that has to avoid being spotted by predators)
- Parrot (hint: likes to eat nuts)
- Camel (hint: lives in the desert where there is little water)
- Polar bears (hint: Needs to keep warm as it lives in very cold places)
- Giraffes (hint: have to reach tall trees to get leaves for their food)
- Ducks (hint: have to swim fast to escape from their predator)
- Lions (hint: have to tear apart their prey)
Adaptation of the following animals
- Tiger: ……………………………………………………………………………………………..
- Zebra: …………………………………………………………………………………………….
- Parrot: ……………………………………………………………………………………………
- Camel: …………………………………………………………………………………..
- Polar bears: …………………………………………………………………………..
- Giraffes: ……………………………………………………………………….
- Ducks: ………………………………………………………………………..
- Lions: ……………………………………………………………………..
Answer key
- Tiger: A tiger’s stripes help it to blend in with its surroundings in the jungle so that it can attack its prey without being spotted.
- Zebra: The striped markings of a zebra makes it difficult for a predator to target them in a herd.
- Parrot: The curved beak of a parrot is an excellent tool to crack open hard nuts.
- Camel: Camels have humps in which they store water so that they can survive in the desert.
- Polar bears: Polar bears have fur that is very dense so that they can escape the very cold weather.
- Giraffes: giraffes have very long necks with which they can pluck leaves off from tall trees to eat.
- Ducks: Ducks have webbed feet that help them to swim fast and escape from predators.
- Lions: Lions have sharp teeth that can tear apart the flesh of a prey.
Worksheet 2: Properties of materials (difficulty level- challenging)
(Tips for parents/teachers: Properties of materials is a topic that lends itself to real life materials being made use of. As far as possible, show students different types of materials so that they can easily understand their properties. A trip to the school science laboratory will be well worth the effort.)
The following are some properties of materials. For each, write down what it means and give an example.
- Transparent ……………………………………………………………………..
- Opaque…………………………………………………………………….
- Translucent ………………………………………………………………………..
- Soluble……………………………………………………………………..
- Insoluble……………………………………………………………………..
- Float…………………………………………………………………....
- Sink………………………………………………………………………………..
Answer key
- Transparent: This type of material allows light to pass through. Example: glass
- Opaque: This type of material does not allow light to pass through. Example: metal
- Translucent: This type of material allows light to pass through partially. Example: oiled paper
- Soluble: This type of material dissolves in water. Example: sugar
- Insoluble: This type of material does not dissolve in water. Example: sand
- Float: This type of material stays on the surface of water. Example: light plastic
- Sink: This type of material goes down in water. Example: metal
Worksheet 3: Basic types of trees (Difficulty level: medium)
(Tips for teachers/parents: The best way to teach the basic types of trees is to take students out of the classroom and show them the types. If your school is in urban surroundings, show them pictures or videos)
Explain the basic types of trees and give examples.
- Deciduous trees …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
- Evergreen trees …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Answer key
- Deciduous trees: This type of trees shed their leaves during a certain season of the year, which is usually autumn. Example: oak, birch, walnut, elm
- Evergreen trees: This type of trees keep their leaves throughout the year. Examples: pine, fir, spruce