Grade 3 Science: how to help at home
What your child learns in Grade 3 science in the Ontario Curriculum, and simple things to try at home.
The Big Ideas this year
- A1 STEM Investigation and Communication Skills: Use a scientific research process, a scientific experimentation process, and an engineering design process to conduct investigations, following appropriate health and safety procedures
- A2 Coding and Emerging Technologies: Use coding in investigations and to model concepts, and assess the impact of coding and of emerging technologies on everyday life
- A3 Applications, Connections, and Contributions: Demonstrate an understanding of the practical applications of science and technology, and of contributions to science and technology from people with diverse lived experiences
- B1 Relating Science and Technology to Our Changing World: Assess ways in which plants are beneficial to society and the environment, and ways in which human activity has an impact on plants and plant habitats
- B2 Exploring and Understanding Concepts: Demonstrate an understanding of characteristics and uses of plants and of plants’ responses to the natural environment
- C1 Relating Science and Technology to Our Changing World: Assess the impacts of various forces on society and the environment
- C2 Exploring and Understanding Concepts: Demonstrate an understanding of how forces cause motion and changes in motion
- D1 Relating Science and Technology to Our Changing World: Assess the importance of form, function, strength, and stability in structures to society and the environment
- D2 Exploring and Understanding Concepts: Demonstrate an understanding of the concepts of strength and stability as they relate to structures with various forms and functions, and of the factors that affect structures’ strength and stability
- E1 Relating Science and Technology to Our Changing World: Assess the importance of soils for society and the environment, and the impact of human activity on soils
- E2 Exploring and Understanding Concepts: Demonstrate an understanding of the composition of soils, of different types of soils, and of processes and practices that can affect the health of soil
Easy ways to practise science at home
- Try a kitchen experiment, such as what dissolves in water and what floats or sinks.
- Keep a simple weather or moon log for a month.
- Ask “What do you think will happen?” and then test it.
- Visit a park, beach or creek and look for living things and their habitats.
What each unit covers
Plant Parts & Needs
Roots, stems, leaves, flowers (with the stamen and pistil), fruit, seeds and cones, plus what plants need to live: air, water, light, heat, nutrients and space.
How Plants Grow & Change
From seed to flower and back to seed, how seeds travel, how plants react to light and seasons, and how they use sunlight, water and carbon dioxide to make food and release oxygen.
Plants & People
How people and animals depend on plants for food, shelter, clothing and medicine, including plants grown and harvested by First Nations in Ontario today, local food, and simple ways to protect native plants.
Pushes, Pulls & Forces
Forces as pushes and pulls, contact and non-contact forces (gravity, magnetism, static electricity), friction, how bigger forces change motion more, and helmets and seat belts as safety devices.
Structures & Their Jobs
What makes something a structure, how its shape fits its job (a bowl-shaped nest, a sloped roof), structures built by animals and by people, and how they change the environment.
Strong & Stable
Strength as holding a load and stability as staying balanced, how shape, a wide base and materials help, and how struts (pushed) and ties (pulled) work in a frame.
What Soil Is Made Of
Living and non-living parts of soil, humus and topsoil, sandy, clay and loam soils and how fast water drains through them, and how soils across Ontario suit different crops.
Caring for Soil
Composting, how fertilizer and road salt affect soil, how erosion happens and how plants, windbreaks and cover crops protect soil.
Wind, Water & Ice
How wind, water and ice break rock down (weathering) and carry it away (erosion), slowly changing the shape of the land, and how plants and windbreaks protect soil.
Science Skills & Safety
Making predictions and observations, running a fair test that changes one thing, using simple tools safely, the engineering design steps, debugging a simple program, and how science helps solve real problems.
What the report card levels look like at home
- Level 1
- Just getting started with this idea. Short, regular practice with lots of support helps most.
- Level 2
- Understands parts of it and is building confidence. Keep practising the tricky parts.
- Level 3
- Has it! Level 3 is the provincial standard. Mixed review now and then keeps it strong.
- Level 4
- Applies it confidently, even in new or harder situations. Try challenge mode and real-life problems.
Your child’s teacher decides the level on the report card. Read the Ontario report card guide.
Common questions
How can I help my Grade 3 child with science?
Try a kitchen experiment, such as what dissolves in water and what floats or sinks. Keep a simple weather or moon log for a month. Keep sessions short, about 10 to 15 minutes, and stop on a success.
What does my child learn in Grade 3 science in Ontario?
The Ontario Curriculum Grade 3 science units include plant parts & needs, how plants grow & change, plants & people, pushes, pulls & forces, structures & their jobs, strong & stable.
Free printable Grade 3 science practice sheet
Questions from every unit, with an answer key.