• Spires of Cedar Mesa sandstone in Chesler Park (Needles District)

    Canyonlands

    National Park Utah

3rd Grade

Learning to throw an Atlatl
Learning to throw an atlatl
NPS Photo by Neal Herbert
 

Force, Motion & Primitive Technologies (download PDF)
Students explore different types of simple machines by examining ancient technologies. Students examine different types of levers using digging sticks and throwing atlatls. They discover how wheels and axels were used to make fire, and how rock wedges can become useful tools.

Traveling Safely in the Desert (download PDF)
This in-class presentation explores the tools a student needs to hike safely in the desert ecosystem. Students learn their directions, things to bring with them, and most importantly what to do if they get lost.

Living and Non-living Interactions (download PDF)
Before and after the field trip, students explore producers, consumers, decomposers and food chains, through dioramas and art projects. On the field trip, a story and an active game reinforce predator-prey relationships. Students examine decomposers and explore different components of the high desert ecosystem.

Download entire 3rd Grade curriculum
[1.6mb PDF file]

Did You Know?

Spanish Bottom on the Colorado River

At Spanish Bottom on the Colorado River, scientists discovered 260 feet of sediment below the water's surface. This could make Cataract Canyon one of the most actively filling canyons in the world. More...