Year 3 Science skills

compare characteristics of living and non-living things and examine the differences between the life cycles of plants and animals

compare the observable properties of soils, rocks and minerals and investigate why they are important Earth resources

identify sources of heat energy and examine how temperature changes when heat energy is transferred from one object to another

investigate the observable properties of solids and liquids and how adding or removing heat energy leads to a change of state

examine how people use data to develop scientific explanations

consider how people use scientific explanations to meet a need or solve a problem

pose questions to explore observed patterns and relationships and make predictions based on observations

use provided scaffolds to plan and conduct investigations to answer questions or test predictions, including identifying the elements of fair tests, and considering the safe use of materials and equipment

follow procedures to make and record observations, including making formal measurements using familiar scaled instruments and using digital tools as appropriate

construct and use representations, including tables, simple column graphs and visual or physical models, to organise data and information, show simple relationships and identify patterns

compare findings with those of others, consider if investigations were fair, identify questions for further investigation and draw conclusions

write and create texts to communicate findings and ideas for identified purposes and audiences, using scientific vocabulary and digital tools as appropriate