Grade 3 Science Curriculum
Science education encourages curiosity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. The Grade 3 curriculum builds upon foundational concepts and introduces new scientific ideas through engaging, hands-on learning experiences and investigations of the natural world.
Forces and Interactions
Understanding forces and their effects on objects
In Grade 3, students explore how balanced and unbalanced forces affect the motion of objects. They investigate magnetic and electrical interactions, and learn how to predict patterns of motion. Students also design solutions to problems involving forces.
Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems
Exploring how living things interact with their environment
Students investigate how organisms form groups that help members survive, analyze how habitats support different organisms, and explore how environmental changes affect plants and animals. They also examine how variations in traits can provide advantages for survival.
Inheritance and Variation of Traits
Understanding life cycles and inherited traits
Grade 3 students develop models to describe the unique and diverse life cycles of organisms. They analyze evidence of inherited traits, explore how traits can be influenced by the environment, and investigate how variations in traits can provide advantages for survival.
Weather and Climate
Investigating weather patterns and climate zones
Students learn to represent and analyze weather data, describe climates in different regions of the world, and design solutions to reduce the impacts of weather-related hazards. They explore how weather patterns affect human activities and the environment.
Earth's Systems
Exploring Earth's features and processes
In Grade 3, students investigate the different types of landforms and bodies of water on Earth. They explore how Earth's systems interact, examine the distribution of water on Earth, and learn about natural hazards and how humans can reduce their impacts.
Engineering Design
Solving problems through design and innovation
Students learn to define simple design problems, develop possible solutions, and evaluate their effectiveness. They apply scientific ideas to design, test, and refine devices that solve specific problems, developing skills in planning, testing, and improving their designs.
Grade 3 Science Overview
The Grade 3 science curriculum is designed to build upon the foundation established in Grade 2. It encourages students to develop deeper understanding, critical thinking skills, and greater independence in their scientific investigations. The curriculum is organized around key strands, each with specific learning outcomes and expectations.
Teachers are encouraged to integrate learning across strands where appropriate, creating meaningful connections for students. Assessment is ongoing and designed to support student growth and development in scientific understanding, inquiry skills, and the application of knowledge to real-world situations.