Eco Cards Printable Eco Word Expedition
Matching Cards: Science Terms (Set 1)
✂️ Write initials on card backs before cutting!
WORD CARD
Ecology Term
Ecosystem
/ee-koh-sis-tuhm/
Match with Definition
WORD CARD
Ecology Term
Ecology
/ee-kol-uh-jee/
Match with Definition
WORD CARD
Ecology Term
Organism
/awr-guh-niz-uhm/
Match with Definition
WORD CARD
Ecology Term
Habitat
/hab-i-tat/
Match with Definition
WORD CARD
Ecology Term
Carnivore
/kahr-nuh-vawr/
Match with Definition
WORD CARD
Ecology Term
Herbivore
/hur-buh-vawr/
Match with Definition
WORD CARD
Ecology Term
Omnivore
/om-nuh-vawr/
Match with Definition
WORD CARD
Ecology Term
Producer
/pruh-doo-ser/
Match with Definition
3rd Grade Science Lesson: Ecosystem Expedition Page 1 of 4
Eco Word Expedition
Matching Cards: Definitions (Set 1)
🔍 Look for visual clues and complete the sentences!
MATCH CARD
All the living things and non-living things in an area interacting together.
Sentence Clue: "A desert is a dry ________ where camels and sand interact."
🌵 ☀️ 🐪
Ecosystem Clue
MATCH CARD
The scientific study of how living things interact with each other and their environment.
Sentence Clue: "Scientists study ________ to learn how bees help flowers."
🔍 📝 🌳
Ecology Clue
MATCH CARD
Any single living thing, such as a plant, animal, or tiny microscopic cell.
Sentence Clue: "An oak tree and a caterpillar are both types of ________."
🐛 🌱 🦊
Organism Clue
MATCH CARD
The natural home of an animal or plant where it finds food, water, and shelter.
Sentence Clue: "A warm pond is a frog's watery, peaceful ________."
🏡 🌊 🌲
Habitat Clue
MATCH CARD
An animal that gets its energy by eating only meat (other animals).
Sentence Clue: "A sharp-toothed lion is a fierce ________."
🦁 🥩 🦅
Carnivore Clue
MATCH CARD
An animal that gets its energy by eating only plants, leaves, and seeds.
Sentence Clue: "The giant panda is a plant-eating ________."
🐼 🎋 🐇
Herbivore Clue
MATCH CARD
An animal that gets its energy by eating both plants and meat.
Sentence Clue: "A grizzly bear eating berries and fish is an ________."
🐻 🍓 🐟
Omnivore Clue
MATCH CARD
An organism that makes its own food using energy from the warm sun.
Sentence Clue: "A sunflower is a ________ because it makes food."
🌻 ☀️ 🌳
Producer Clue
3rd Grade Science Lesson: Ecosystem Expedition Page 2 of 4
Eco Word Expedition
Matching Cards: Science & Prefixes (Set 2)
✂️ Write initials on card backs before cutting!
WORD CARD
Ecology Term
Consumers
/kuhn-soo-merz/
Match with Definition
WORD CARD
Ecology Term
Decomposers
/dee-kuhm-poh-zerz/
Match with Definition
WORD CARD
Ecology Term
Photosynthesis
/foh-toh-sin-thuh-sis/
Match with Definition
WORD CARD
Ecology Term
Food Chain
/food cheyn/
Match with Definition
PREFIX CARD
Word Part
uni-
Prefix
Match with Meaning
PREFIX CARD
Word Part
bi-
Prefix
Match with Meaning
PREFIX CARD
Word Part
tri-
Prefix
Match with Meaning
PREFIX CARD
Word Part
multi-
Prefix
Match with Meaning
3rd Grade Science Lesson: Ecosystem Expedition Page 3 of 4
Eco Word Expedition
Matching Cards: Definitions (Set 2)
🔍 Match science concepts and prefix meanings!
MATCH CARD
Animals that must eat other living things (plants or animals) to get energy.
Sentence Clue: "Rabbits and eagles are both ecosystem ________."
🦊 🌾 🦅
Consumers Clue
MATCH CARD
Organisms that break down dead stuff (like rotten wood) into rich healthy soil.
Sentence Clue: "Helpful mushrooms and worms are ecosystem ________."
🍄 🪱 🍂
Decomposers Clue
MATCH CARD
The process where plants use sunlight, water, and air to make sugar food.
Sentence Clue: "Green leaves perform ________ when in the sunshine."
☀️ 💧 🍃
Photosynthesis Clue
MATCH CARD
A diagram showing how energy is passed from one living thing to another.
Sentence Clue: "A simple ________ shows grass being eaten by a mouse."
🌾 ➡️ 🐭
Food Chain Clue
MEANING CARD
A word part (prefix) that means ONE (1).
Word Example: "A unicellular organism is made of just one cell!"
☝️ 🦄 🔢
Prefix uni-
MEANING CARD
A word part (prefix) that means TWO (2).
Word Example: "A bicycle has two wheels that spin round."
✌️ 🚲 🐚
Prefix bi-
MEANING CARD
A word part (prefix) that means THREE (3).
Word Example: "A tricycle has three strong plastic wheels."
🤟 📐 🦖
Prefix tri-
MEANING CARD
A word part (prefix) that means MANY (more than two).
Word Example: "A multicellular animal has many, many cells."
🌟 🐜 🧬
Prefix multi-
3rd Grade Science Lesson: Ecosystem Expedition Page 4 of 4
Talk Science Placemat Partner Conversation Tool Grade 3 EL
Talk Science Placemat!
Use this helper placemat while you play with your Eco Matching Cards!
Talk & Learn
How to Play: Ecosystem Memory Match
1
Set Up Cards
Spread all 32 cards face down in rows.
🃏
2
Flip & Match
Turn over two cards. Find a word and its description.
👀
3
Talk & Keep
Use a sentence frame. If matched, keep them!
🗣️
Scientist Sentence Frames
SCENARIO A: MATCH FOUND
Point to your match and say:
"I matched the word [_______] because..."
"...the clue shows [describe the picture]."
💡 Example: "I matched carnivore because the clue shows meat!"
SCENARIO B: AGREEING (YES!)
If you think your partner is correct:
"I agree with you! A [_______] is..."
"...a living thing that [explain why]."
💡 Example: "I agree! A carnivore is indeed eating meat."
SCENARIO C: DISAGREEING (NOT YET)
If you think it is not a match:
"I disagree. I think this card shows..."
"...so the word should be [_______]."
💡 Example: "I disagree. That card shows plants, so it's herbivore."
SCENARIO D: PROVING YOUR MATCH
To challenge your partner's answer:
"How did you know those matched?"
"Can you prove it with the Sentence Clue?"
💡 Example: "Read the sentence clue aloud so we can check!"
Partner Teamwork Rules
🤝
Take Turns
One person flips, then the other.
👂
Listen Closely
Pay attention to explanations.
🙏
Encourage
Say "Good try!" or "Great job!"
✍️
Record Matches
Write words in your science journal.
3rd Grade Science Lesson: Ecosystem Expedition Scaffolding Placemat
Prefix Power Chart Science Prefix Helper Grade 3 EL
Prefix Power Chart!
A prefix is a word part added to the beginning of a word. It changes the meaning!
Word Power
How Prefixes Work:
Prefix + Root Word = NEW Science Word!
🧪
PREFIX
uni-
1 One
Science Example
unicellular organism
A living thing made of only one single cell, like bacteria.
🦄
Everyday: unicycle (a ride with 1 wheel!)
Prefix uni- = 1
PREFIX
bi-
2 Two
Science Example
bivalve
An underwater animal with two matching shells, like a clam or oyster.
🚲
Everyday: bicycle (a ride with 2 wheels!)
Prefix bi- = 2
PREFIX
tri-
3 Three
Science Example
triceratops
A large herbivore dinosaur with three sharp horns on its face.
📐
Everyday: triangle (a shape with 3 corners!)
Prefix tri- = 3
PREFIX
multi-
MANY Many
Science Example
multicellular organism
A living thing made of many, many cells working together, like YOU!
🐜
Everyday: multicolor (having many colors!)
Prefix multi- = Many
Quick Prefix Check! (Fill in the blanks)
1. A unicellular organism is made of ______ cell.
2. A bivalve underwater clam has ______ shells.
3. A triceratops dinosaur has ______ sharp horns.
4. A multicellular animal has ______ cells.
3rd Grade Science Lesson: Ecosystem Expedition Anchor Chart: Prefixes
Hunters Guide Teacher Notes Teacher Instruction Guide Grade 3 EL Support
Hunters Guide Teacher Notes
Instructional framework, pacing, game configurations, and language scaffolds for "Eco Word Expedition".
Total Time 60 Mins
10 MINS
1. Warm-Up
Review prefix chart together. Model pronunciation.
15 MINS
2. Guided Walk
Introduce science words and model sentence frames.
25 MINS
3. Card Play
Pairs play Match game using speaking placemat.
10 MINS
4. Debrief
Complete prefix practice. Self-assess matches.
Card Game Play Configurations
🧠
Game A: Classic Memory Match (Best for EL Scaffolding)
Students lay all 32 cards face down. They take turns flipping 2 cards. If they match a term to its description, they must use the Sentence Frame on the placemat to keep the cards!
🎣
Game B: Ask-A-Scientist "Go Fish"
Deal 5 cards to each student. Keep the rest in a pile. Students ask: "Do you have the match for the animal that eats plants?". Partner responds with "Yes, I have Herbivore!" or "No, Go Fish!"
🎒
Game C: Room Hunter "Scoot"
Tape the definition match cards on walls around the classroom. Provide students with the 16 word cards. Students walk around, matching their words to correct definitions on the wall and recording them.
Proficiency-Level Scaffolding Guidelines
ENTERING (L1)
Visual Matching
Focus heavily on matching matching card emoji graphics (e.g. grass and sun matches with Producer). Use echoing pronunciation.
Frame support: Point & Say
EMERGING (L2)
Guided Frame Reading
Have partners read the Sentence Clue on the definition cards together before declaring a match.
Frame support: Frame A & B
TRANSITIONING (L3)
Proving Matches
Challenge students to explain *why* an animal is an herbivore or carnivore using non-card details from memory.
Frame support: Frame C & D
Card Matching Quick Reference Key
Term Key Concept Definition Match Key Emoji Clues Ecosystem / Ecology All living & non-living things in an area / Scientific study of interactions. 🌵☀️🐪 / 🔍📝🌳 Organism / Habitat Any single living thing / Natural home of a plant or animal.
Eco Word Exit Ticket ✂️ CUT HERE TO SPLIT
Eco Word Expedition
Expedition Exit Ticket
Name: _____________________
Date: ___________
Part 1: Prefix Power (uni-, bi-, tri-, multi-)
Fill in the correct prefix for each sentence clue:
1. A ______cycle has three wheels.
2. A ______cellular cell has only one cell.
3. A ______cellular animal has many cells.
Part 2: Ecosystem Terms
Circle the correct answer:
1. An animal that eats only plants is a...
Carnivore Herbivore Omnivore
2. Mushrooms and earthworms are...
Producers Consumers Decomposers
How do you feel about today's science words?
🙁 Match is hard 😐 Getting there 🙂 I've got it!
Eco Word Expedition
Expedition Exit Ticket
Name: _____________________
Date: ___________
Part 1: Prefix Power (uni-, bi-, tri-, multi-)
Fill in the correct prefix for each sentence clue:
1. A ______cycle has three wheels.
2. A ______cellular cell has only one cell.
3. A ______cellular animal has many cells.
Part 2: Ecosystem Terms
Circle the correct answer:
1. An animal that eats only plants is a...
Carnivore Herbivore Omnivore
2. Mushrooms and earthworms are...
Producers Consumers Decomposers
How do you feel about today's science words?
🙁 Match is hard 😐 Getting there 🙂 I've got it!
Expedition Field Worksheet Ecosystem Expedition
Explorer's Field Worksheet
Name: _____________________ Date: ________
Part 1: Prefix Power! Draw a line to match!
Draw a line from the prefix to its correct meaning and clue:
Prefix
uni-
bi-
tri-
multi-
Meaning
Many
One (1)
Three (3)
Two (2)
Visual Clue
Two wheels 🚲
One cell ☝️
Many cells 🌟
Three horns 📐
Part 2: Ecosystem Word Connections
Photosynthesis Habitat Food Chain Decomposer
1. A warm pond is a frog's natural ________________________ (home).
2. Plants use sunshine to make their own food in ________________________.
3. Mushrooms break down dead wood. A mushroom is a ________________________.
4. A diagram showing who eats who is a ________________________.
Part 3: Draw Consumer Types!
Draw one animal in each consumer group. Write the name of your animal below!
EATS ONLY MEAT
1. Carnivore
Draw here
I drew a:
____________________
EATS ONLY PLANTS
2. Herbivore
Draw here
I drew a:
____________________
EATS BOTH
3. Omnivore
Draw here
I drew a:
____________________
3rd Grade Science Lesson: Ecosystem Expedition Worksheet: Individual Practice
