Grade 3 Science · Earth Resources
Virginia SOL 3.8
Virginia SOL 3.8 is part of the Earth Resources strand in Grade 3 Science (Science). Under this Standards of Learning objective, students investigate and understand how natural events and humans influence ecosystems. Below is what 3.8 covers in plain language, the specific skills it is assessed on, the key concepts to review, and how to practice 3.8 for the Virginia SOL test.
What SOL 3.8 means
Investigate and understand how natural events and humans influence ecosystems.
Practice Grade 3 Science SOL questions
Free Grade 3 Science questions from official Virginia Department of Education released SOL tests — good practice while you work on 3.8 and the rest of the course. Pick an answer to check it instantly, or open “Show answer” to review.
1. A compass shows directions because the needle —
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Answer: G — senses electricity
2. The class picked vegetables from their garden. The vegetables collected were: 4 carrots 3 tomatoes 2 peppers 1 squash Which picture graph correctly shows the type and number of vegetables they picked? A B C D 18. Some birds fly south for the winter. Birds know when and where to fly because of — F camouflage G mimicry H instinct J hibernation 19. Which of these best shows circular motion? A A person swinging on a swing B A tennis ball bouncing C A baseball hit by a bat D A spinning wheel on a bike 20. A paper towel strength test shows the towel holding these weights before tearing: 20 g, 10 g, 1 g, 1 g, 1 g, and 1 g. How many grams can the paper towel hold? F 24 g G 34 g H 44 g J 70 g 21. A large area contains these animal populations: Mountain lions: very few Deer: several Rabbits: many Hawks: few Which is the largest population in this area?
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Answer: C — The rabbit
3. Which kind of precipitation can be seen on a July day in Virginia?
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Answer: F — Rain
4. Which of these changes the most as a balloon is being blown up?
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Answer: B — The volume of air in the balloon
Skills you’ll practice for 3.8
- Recognize that human activity affects the quality of air, water, and habitats.
- Recognize that water is limited and needs to be conserved.
- Recognize that fire, flood, disease, and erosion affect ecosystems.
- Recognize that soil is a natural resource and should be conserved.
Key concepts covered by 3.8
- human impact
- air quality
- water quality
- habitat degradation
- water conservation
- water scarcity
- sustainable use
- natural events
- ecosystem disruption
- fire
- flood
- disease
- erosion
- soil conservation
- natural resource
- sustainable agriculture
How to study and practice SOL 3.8
Start with a quick diagnostic to see whether 3.8 is already solid, then work each skill above with guided notes, flashcards, and SOL-style practice questions. For official released items, see our Virginia SOL practice tests guide and how to study for the SOL test.
Frequently asked questions about SOL 3.8
What is Virginia SOL 3.8?
SOL 3.8 is a Grade 3 Science Standard of Learning in the Earth Resources strand. It expects students to investigate and understand how natural events and humans influence ecosystems.
What skills does SOL 3.8 cover?
SOL 3.8 is assessed on 4 skills: recognize that human activity affects the quality of air, water, and habitats; recognize that water is limited and needs to be conserved; recognize that fire, flood, disease, and erosion affect ecosystems; recognize that soil is a natural resource and should be conserved.
What strand of Grade 3 Science is SOL 3.8 in?
SOL 3.8 belongs to the Earth Resources reporting strand of the Grade 3 Science Virginia Standards of Learning.
How do I study and practice for SOL 3.8?
Start with a diagnostic to see whether 3.8 is already solid, then work the 4 skills above with guided notes, flashcards, and SOL-style practice questions. For official released items, see the Virginia SOL practice tests guide.