Animal parents come first on this 3rd grade matching sheet. Students join a dog with black spots, an orange striped cat, a white rabbit, and a green bird with a curved beak to pictures of their young. The second half moves to plants. Four parent descriptions, such as a tall stem with bright red flowers, match to offspring with slight variations. A final question asks students to explain one plant match. It meets NGSS 3-LS3-1, and the key includes an example reply.
3-LS3-1
“Analyze and interpret data to provide evidence that plants and animals have traits inherited from parents and that variation of these traits exists in a group of similar organisms.”
The plant matches use described traits as data, such as yellow petals with a dark brown center becoming a light brown center, and question 5 asks students to explain that evidence.
Students draw a line from each of four parent descriptions to the matching picture of a puppy, kitten, bunny, or baby bird.
Four parent plants pair with lettered offspring. The first match is done: tall red flowers go with a tall stem and slightly lighter red flowers.
Students pick one plant match and name the inherited trait that helped them, plus the slight variation in the offspring.
Close-reading practice
The plant descriptions differ by one word, such as purple stems in the parent and pinkish stems in the offspring. Ask students to underline the matching trait before they write a letter.
Partner check
Have partners swap sheets and check each other's plant letters against question 5. If the explanation does not fit the match, they talk it through.
Assessment prep
Question 5 mirrors the explain-your-evidence items on many unit tests. The example answer in the key shows a model students can copy for structure.
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