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Washington Grade 3 Science
Compare equal and unequal opposing pushes on an initially resting block, with worked reasoning and a selected Washington Grade 3 science reference.
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Standards source: Washington science standards.
Compare Balanced and Unbalanced Pushes
Compare equal and unequal opposing pushes on an initially resting block, with worked reasoning and a selected Washington Grade 3 science reference.
The Washington science directory identifies the Next Generation Science Standards and their three dimensions. This activity selects a reference from the OSPI-linked NGSS DCI arrangements, September 2017 edition. Check the school’s curriculum sequence and the complete chosen requirement. This activity selects a Grade 3 Washington science expectation. It is one part of a science course, not a complete curriculum.
The Washington science standards combine science and engineering practices, disciplinary core ideas, and crosscutting concepts. Connect all three dimensions when reading the complete performance expectation. Use the school’s course sequence to plan other investigations, models, and explanations. The general lesson library below may include review or enrichment beyond this grade’s course. This original activity is a focused starting point, not a complete curriculum crosswalk.
A block initially at rest
A teacher provides two model records for the same block on the same smooth level surface. In both, the block starts at rest. In A, the only horizontal forces are equal opposing pushes. In B, the rightward push is stronger than the leftward push. Compare the expected horizontal motion without calculating force sizes.
Explain the evidence or model
In A, the opposing horizontal pushes balance, so the block initially at rest remains at rest horizontally in this model. In B, the pushes do not balance: the net horizontal push is rightward, and the block’s horizontal motion changes in that direction. The important comparison is the combination of forces on one object. Two people pushing does not by itself establish balance; their directions and relative strengths matter. Keeping the block and surface the same helps isolate the changed push in the supplied comparison. The model says nothing about numerical force values, so a calculation would add unsupported information.
| Record | Horizontal pushes | Expected result |
|---|---|---|
| A | Equal and opposite | Remains at rest horizontally |
| B | Rightward push stronger | Horizontal motion changes rightward |
What to check in the explanation
The block’s initial rest and the stated absence of other horizontal forces are essential assumptions. Balanced forces do not mean that every object already moving must stop. This elementary example supplies a teacher’s model rather than directions for a physical contest.
Plan the next activity
- Identify the initial rest and stated horizontal forces.
- Compare the balance of the opposing pushes.
- Reverse the stronger push and explain the change.
Change B so the leftward push becomes stronger. Predict how the change in horizontal motion would differ, keeping the block initially at rest and the remaining conditions unchanged.
Grade 3 Science: Learn, Practice, and Quiz
Read a short lesson, work through its example, and try a related science-area quiz. States organize these ideas differently; use your state standards to choose what matches your class.
Physical Science
Life Science
Earth & Space
Washington Science by Grade
Browse Washington science pages by grade.
Start With a Practice Test
These independently published practice sets open on this page. Check their directions and topic coverage alongside current Washington assessment guidance. Use their feedback alongside classroom work; they are not official Washington assessments or a certified match to the full course.
Washington Grade 3 Science Practice Test 1
An independently published practice set across a range of science topics.
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Washington Grade 3 Science Practice Test 2
Another independent practice set to discuss alongside lessons.
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Washington Grade 3 Science Practice Test 3
Practice interpreting observations, models, and explanations.
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Washington Grade 3 Science Practice Test 4
Another independently published practice set with a built-in timer.
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Washington Grade 3 Science Practice Test 5
Another independent mixed practice set to review alongside classroom work.
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Washington Grade 3 Science Practice Test 6
Use another independent practice set and examine its feedback alongside classroom work.
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Grade 3 Science Skill Quizzes
Choose a science-area quiz after studying its related lesson. These independent resources may include topics beyond this grade’s expectations; use the Washington science standards and the school’s course plan to select suitable practice.
Matter and Its Properties
Independent practice on matter and its properties. Follow the resource’s directions and review its feedback alongside classroom work.
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Forces and Motion
Independent practice on forces and motion. Follow the resource’s directions and review its feedback alongside classroom work.
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Energy
Independent practice on energy. Follow the resource’s directions and review its feedback alongside classroom work.
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Waves and Information
Independent practice on waves and information. Follow the resource’s directions and review its feedback alongside classroom work.
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Cells, Structures and Life Processes
Independent practice on cells, structures and life processes. Follow the resource’s directions and review its feedback alongside classroom work.
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Ecosystems and Heredity
Independent practice on ecosystems and heredity. Follow the resource’s directions and review its feedback alongside classroom work.
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Evolution, Fossils and Adaptation
Independent practice on evolution, fossils and adaptation. Follow the resource’s directions and review its feedback alongside classroom work.
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Earth and Space Systems
Independent practice on earth and space systems. Follow the resource’s directions and review its feedback alongside classroom work.
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Earth, Human Activity and Engineering
Independent practice on earth, human activity and engineering. Follow the resource’s directions and review its feedback alongside classroom work.
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Grade 3 Science Study Tools
A few minutes of review between practice tests. Both open right here.
Grade 3 Science Flashcards
Review terms in this independently published deck. Use the classroom’s vocabulary and reading level to decide which entries need practice.
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Grade 3 Science Quick Review
Use this concise review alongside observations, lessons, and the complete Washington science standards document. Add course topics that need further explanation.
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Washington Grade 3 Science Topics
Use these brief labels as a study navigator, not as full standards or a certified alignment map. Use the selected Washington Grade 3 expectations to check which details and boundaries apply. Read the complete Washington science standards document for official requirements.
Forces and Interactions
- Forces, Motion, and Interactions
- Patterns and Predictions of Motion
- Solving Problems with Magnets
Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems
- Organism Needs, Structures, and Life Cycles
Inheritance and Variation of Traits: Life Cycles and Traits
- Organism Needs, Structures, and Life Cycles
- Environmental Effects on Traits
- Variation That Helps Survival
Weather and Climate
- Water Cycle, Weather, Climate, and Atmosphere
- Reducing Weather-Hazard Impacts
Engineering design: check the grade expectations
- Engineering Design and Solution Evaluation
- Fair Tests and Design Improvements
Washington Grade 3 references for this investigation
These selected references support the activity’s focus. Read the complete Washington science standards expectation in the linked document, including the stated practices, core ideas, crosscutting concepts, and relevant engineering expectations, alongside the school’s course sequence. Check the school’s course plan for the rest of the year’s topics.
| Reference | Selected focus | Washington science standards document |
|---|---|---|
| 3-PS2-1 | Compare Balanced and Unbalanced Pushes | Read page 23 |
Washington Grade 3: Math and English Too
Science is part of the Washington grade 3 subject collection. Use the related subject pages to organize cross-subject study.
Washington Grade 3 Math
Explore practice, printable resources, and lessons for Washington Grade 3 math.
Open the math center →Washington Grade 3 English
Reading, writing, and language standards for Washington grade 3, organized with selected activities and references.
Open the English center →Washington Grade 3 Science: useful planning questions
How does Grade 3 connect to Washington’s science assessment?
OSPI lists the Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science (WCAS) in Grades 5, 8, and 11. Grade 3 is outside those listed general science testing grades. WA-AIM has separate participation guidance. Follow the school’s current directions and use classroom observations and explanations. Independently published practice has its own tools, timing, questions, and scoring; it is not an official state assessment. Read the official guidance.
Do two opposing pushes automatically balance?
No. Their strengths must also match. Describe all the stated horizontal forces and the object’s initial motion.
Where should I check the complete science requirements?
Read OSPI’s science page and the complete Washington grade or middle-school-band expectation, including the stated practices, core ideas, crosscutting concepts, and relevant engineering expectations. This activity covers one selected focus, not the complete course. Read the official guidance.
State sources checked October 6, 2026. Read the Washington assessment directory for later guidance.
Grade 3 Science in Other States
Standards, practice tests, and quizzes for grade 3 science in every state and Washington, D.C.
Choose useful science practice
Match the available task to the unit being taught. Discuss the evidence and explanation alongside classroom work; an independent practice score does not establish complete course coverage or state-assessment readiness.
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Washington Grade 3 Science: study questions
How does Grade 3 connect to Washington’s science assessment?
OSPI lists the Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science (WCAS) in Grades 5, 8, and 11. Grade 3 is outside those listed general science testing grades. WA-AIM has separate participation guidance. Follow the school’s current directions and use classroom observations and explanations. Independently published practice has its own tools, timing, questions, and scoring; it is not an official state assessment.
Official source ↗Do two opposing pushes automatically balance?
No. Their strengths must also match. Describe all the stated horizontal forces and the object’s initial motion.
Where should I check the complete science requirements?
Read OSPI’s science page and the complete Washington grade or middle-school-band expectation, including the stated practices, core ideas, crosscutting concepts, and relevant engineering expectations. This activity covers one selected focus, not the complete course.
Official source ↗Resources from Effortless Math · Editorial standards · Test details checked October 5, 2026