3rd grade Science practice sheet
Alabama Course of Study · from Gradelings · Name: ______________________
Question 1
Does the force need touching? Tap an item, then tap its basket.
Sort into: 🤝 contact force · 🧲 non-contact force
- 🧲a magnet pulling a paper clip
- 🤲rubbing your hands together (friction)
- 🚪pushing a door open
- 🎈a balloon sticking to a wall (static)
- 🍎an apple falling from a tree (gravity)
- ⚽kicking a ball
🤝 contact force: rubbing your hands together (friction), pushing a door open, kicking a ball · 🧲 non-contact force: a magnet pulling a paper clip, a balloon sticking to a wall (static), an apple falling from a tree (gravity)
Hint: A contact force happens when things touch. Gravity, magnetism and static electricity can act from a distance.
Question 2
You are in a car that suddenly stops. Your body leans forward because of…
- hunger
- cold weather
- inertia
inertia
Hint: Your body wants to keep moving.
Question 3
Which is a safe way to use static electricity?
- poking a plug with a nail
- flying a kite in a storm
- sticking a rubbed balloon to a wall
- touching a power line
sticking a rubbed balloon to a wall
Hint: Choose the safe, simple one.
Question 4
Why do engineers test a design many times?
- To find where it fails
- To make it pretty
- To skip planning
- To waste magnets
To find where it fails
Hint: Look for failure points.
Question 5
Put the butterfly's life cycle in order.
- 🦋butterfly
- 🥚egg
- chrysalis
- 🐛caterpillar
egg → caterpillar → chrysalis → butterfly
Hint: It starts as a tiny egg on a leaf. A caterpillar hatches, makes a chrysalis, then comes out as a butterfly.
Question 6
Put the frog's life cycle in order.
- 🐸adult frog
- 🫧frog eggs
- tadpole with legs
- tadpole
frog eggs → tadpole → tadpole with legs → adult frog
Hint: Frog eggs hatch into tadpoles. Tadpoles grow legs and become frogs.
Question 7
A baby frog that lives in water and has a tail is a…
- chick
- pup
- tadpole
tadpole
Hint: Tadpoles grow legs and lose their tails.
Question 8
A child has curly hair like her mother. Hair type is…
- from food
- inherited
- caused by weather
- learned
inherited
Hint: Passed from parents.
Question 9
Why do fish swim in schools?
- To stay warm
- To find sunlight
- It is harder for predators to catch one
- To dig holes
It is harder for predators to catch one
Hint: Safety in numbers.
Question 10
Why are tornado shelters built underground?
- They are brighter
- Strong winds can't reach them
- They are warmer
- They're closer to water
Strong winds can't reach them
Hint: Below ground is safer.
Answer key
- 1. 🤝 contact force: rubbing your hands together (friction), pushing a door open, kicking a ball · 🧲 non-contact force: a magnet pulling a paper clip, a balloon sticking to a wall (static), an apple falling from a tree (gravity) (Pushes, Pulls & Forces)
- 2. inertia (Speed & Motion)
- 3. sticking a rubbed balloon to a wall (Magnets and Static)
- 4. To find where it fails (Magnet Inventions)
- 5. egg → caterpillar → chrysalis → butterfly (Life Cycles)
- 6. frog eggs → tadpole → tadpole with legs → adult frog (Animal Life Cycles)
- 7. tadpole (Basic Needs & Life Cycles)
- 8. inherited (Traits & Variation)
- 9. It is harder for predators to catch one (Surviving in a Habitat)
- 10. Strong winds can't reach them (Weather Hazards & Solutions)
Want more than 10 questions?
In Gradelings the questions change every time and adjust to your child, with hints and kind feedback. See all science units.