Canada · Ontario Curriculum Expectations
Grade 3 Science
Students investigate the interconnectedness of living things, the properties of physical matter, and the dynamic changes of the Earth. This curriculum emphasizes hands-on inquiry and scientific observation to understand how natural systems function and evolve.
Life Cycles and Growth
Students explore the diverse ways living things grow and change over time through the study of plant and animal life cycles.
An investigation into how seeds germinate and develop into mature plants through various stages of growth.
Exploring the radical transformations in the life cycles of insects and amphibians.
Examining how physical characteristics are passed from parents to offspring in the natural world.
Invisible Forces: Magnetic and Static
An exploration of non-contact forces and how they influence the movement and behavior of objects.
Testing the strength and properties of magnets and their ability to push or pull without touching.
Investigating how friction creates electrical charges and the effects of these charges on different materials.
Analyzing how forces determine whether an object stays still or starts to move.
Matter and Its Properties
Students classify materials based on physical characteristics and investigate how matter changes state.
Identifying the characteristics of solids, liquids, and gases in everyday life.
Examining reversible changes in matter such as melting, freezing, and dissolving.
Testing different materials to determine their suitability for specific engineering tasks.
Earth's Landforms and Changes
Students explore the geological features of the Earth and the slow and rapid processes that shape the landscape.
Investigating how water, wind, and ice gradually reshape the Earth's surface.
Analyzing the impact of sudden geological events on the environment and human populations.
Exploring the composition of soil and the role of decomposers in recycling nutrients.
Living Systems and Environments
A study of how organisms interact with their environments and how changes in habitats affect survival.
Examining how animals and plants are specialized to survive in specific climates and terrains.
Tracing the flow of energy from the sun through producers, consumers, and decomposers.
Investigating how human activity and natural disasters change ecosystems and the species within them.