Third Grade Science Topics & Activities for the Year!

Third grade is an exciting year for science! Students are ready to ask deeper questions, test ideas, and analyze results. This year introduces more complex scientific concepts, hands-on investigations, and connections to the real world.

Below, you’ll find a breakdown of key third-grade science topics by season and a list of 20+ engaging activities to support hands-on learning throughout the year.

💡Check out the Libraries for printables or use the search bar.

Fall Science (Sep – Nov)

• Ecosystems & Food Chains – How plants and animals depend on each other
• Weather & Climate – Understanding seasonal changes and patterns
• Forces & Motion – Exploring friction, gravity, and pushes/pulls
• Properties of Matter – Investigating solids, liquids, and gases

Fall Science Activities:

1. Food Chain Sorting Activity – Organize plants, herbivores, and carnivores into a food web
2. Friction Ramp Challenge – Test how different surfaces affect how objects slide
3. Pumpkin Weathering Experiment – Observe how a pumpkin decomposes over time
4. Wind Speed Measurement – Build an anemometer to track wind speed
5. Matter Observation Walk – Identify and classify objects as solid, liquid, or gas

Winter Science (Dec – Feb)

• The Water Cycle – Understanding evaporation, condensation, and precipitation
• Heat Transfer & Insulation – Exploring conduction, convection, and radiation
• Animal Adaptations – How animals survive in cold environments
• Magnetism & Forces – Investigating magnetic fields and attraction/repulsion

Winter Science Activities:

6. Water Cycle in a Bag – Watch evaporation and condensation in action
7. Hot & Cold Experiment – Test how different materials conduct heat
8. Camouflage Blending Activity – Explore how animals use color to hide in different environments
9. DIY Compass with a Magnet – Learn how Earth’s magnetic field affects a needle
10. Ice Cube Insulation Challenge – Test different materials to see which keeps ice from melting

Spring Science (Mar- May)

• Plant Life Cycles & Photosynthesis – How plants grow and make their own food
• Animal Life Cycles – Comparing amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals
• Rocks & Minerals – Investigating types of rocks and how they form
• Simple Machines – Levers, pulleys, and inclined planes in everyday life

Spring Science Activities:

11. Bean Plant Growth Experiment – Observe how plants grow in different conditions
12. Frog Life Cycle Model – Create a 3D representation of tadpoles turning into frogs
13. Rock Sorting Challenge – Identify igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks
14. Pulley System Exploration – Build and test a simple pulley system
15. Photosynthesis Leaf Experiment – Observe how plants release oxygen in sunlight

Summer Science (Jun – Aug)

• Energy & Renewable Resources – Learning about solar, wind, and water power
• Light & Sound Waves – Investigating how light reflects and how sound travels
• Buoyancy & Density – Why some things sink while others float
• STEM Engineering Challenges – Applying science to real-world problem-solving

Summer Science Activities:

16. Solar Oven S’mores – Harness the sun’s energy to melt marshmallows and chocolate
17. DIY Sound Waves Experiment – Use a string phone to explore how sound travels
18. Floating vs. Sinking Experiment – Test objects in water and predict their buoyancy
19. Build a Wind-Powered Car – Use basic materials to design a vehicle powered by wind
20. Shadow Science Investigation – Observe how shadows change based on light sources

How to Use These Science Activities

• Encourage hands-on learning – Let kids explore, build, and test their ideas
• Make real-world connections – Show how science explains things they see every day
• Ask deeper questions – Encourage “why” and “how” thinking
• Use science journals – Have students record their observations, predictions, and results