New Brunswick · Grade 3
Social Studies, Grade 3
New Brunswick’s Grade 3 social studies course, from Place to Citizenship.
- Units
- 3
- Lessons
- 9
- Skills
- 19
- Provincial exam
- None
- Official curriculum
- curriculum.nbed.ca
Unit by unit
Every skill in the course, with its official code.
Unit 1 · 6 skills
Place
Where Is Our Province?
Locating our province in relation to other places
I can locate my province and describe where it is in relation to other places using directions like north, south, east, and west.
Official code: 3.1.1
Comparing size with simple scales
I can compare my province's size to other places and use a simple map scale to measure a distance.
Official code: 3.1.1
Our Physical Environment
Landforms and bodies of water
I can find and describe major landforms and bodies of water in my province and the Atlantic region on a map.
Official code: 3.1.2
Climate and vegetation
I can describe the basic climate and the kinds of plants that grow in the Atlantic region using real sources.
Official code: 3.1.2
Where and How People Live
Urban and rural communities
I can explain what urban and rural mean and give an example of each in my province.
Official code: 3.1.3
Why people live where they do
I can explain some reasons people live where they do and how they make a living there.
Official code: 3.1.3
The official wording · 6 outcomes
- 3.1.1
- locate their province in the Atlantic region, Canada, North America, and the world
- 3.1.1
- locate their province in the Atlantic region, Canada, North America, and the world
- 3.1.2
- describe the major physical features, climates, and vegetation of their province and the Atlantic region
- 3.1.2
- describe the major physical features, climates, and vegetation of their province and the Atlantic region
- 3.1.3
- examine where people live and how people make a living in their province
- 3.1.3
- examine where people live and how people make a living in their province
Key ideas
Our province sits inside bigger places: the Atlantic region, Canada, North America, and the world.
Physical features are natural parts of the land like mountains, hills, lakes, and rivers.
Urban areas are places where many people live close together, like cities and towns.
Relative location means describing where a place is compared to other places.
Bodies of water include lakes, rivers, bays, and the ocean.
Watch out for
- Thinking a place has only one 'location' - location is always in relation to other places.
- Thinking physical features are built by people - they are natural.
- Thinking rural means 'empty' - people live and work there too.
Every skill’s key ideas, worked examples and checks are in MapleMind.Practise this unit
Unit 2 · 7 skills
Peoples
The Diverse Peoples of Our Province
Identifying the diverse peoples of our province
I can name several of the diverse groups of people who live in my province and explain why valuing diversity matters.
Official code: 3.2.1
How diversity changed over time
I can explain why people move to a place and describe how my province's diversity has changed over time.
Official code: 3.2.1
How People Express Their Culture
Expressing culture beyond food and fashion
I can describe several deeper ways people express their culture, not just food and fashion.
Official code: 3.2.2
Language and keeping culture alive
I can explain why language is important for keeping a culture alive.
Official code: 3.2.2
Promoting Positive Interactions
Working together and its benefits
I can give examples of people working together and explain the benefits of positive interactions.
Official code: 3.2.3
Understanding stereotyping
I can explain what a stereotype is and why it is unfair.
Official code: 3.2.3
Making an action plan
I can help make a simple plan to promote positive interactions in my community.
Official code: 3.2.3
The official wording · 7 outcomes
- 3.2.1
- examine the diverse peoples in their province
- 3.2.1
- examine the diverse peoples in their province
- 3.2.2
- examine how diverse peoples in their province express their culture
- 3.2.2
- examine how diverse peoples in their province express their culture
- 3.2.3
- take age appropriate action to promote positive interactions among people
- 3.2.3
- take age appropriate action to promote positive interactions among people
- 3.2.3
- take age appropriate action to promote positive interactions among people
Key ideas
Our province is made up of many diverse peoples.
Cultural expression includes language, stories, songs, music, poetry, dance, and visual art.
Positive interactions are respectful, cooperative ways people treat each other.
The Wolastoqiyik and the Mi'kmaq are First Peoples of this land, here long before European settlers.
Deeper expressions of culture go beyond food and fashion.
Watch out for
- Thinking everyone in the province is the same - it is richly diverse.
- Thinking culture is only food and clothing - it includes language, stories, and art.
- Thinking getting along just happens - it takes effort.
Every skill’s key ideas, worked examples and checks are in MapleMind.Practise this unit
Unit 3 · 6 skills
Citizenship
Governments in Our Province
Our provincial government
I can describe the purpose, function, and basic structure of my provincial government.
Official code: 3.3.1
Municipal and First Nation governments
I can name other forms of government in my province, including First Nation governments in New Brunswick.
Official code: 3.3.1
Rights and Responsibilities of Citizens
Active citizens and their characteristics
I can describe the characteristics of an active citizen using examples of real people.
Official code: 3.3.2
Rights and responsibilities in a democracy
I can tell the difference between a right and a responsibility that citizens have in a democracy.
Official code: 3.3.2
How Citizens Make Decisions Together
Majority vote and consensus
I can explain two ways a group makes decisions: majority vote and consensus.
Official code: 3.3.3
How decisions cause change
I can explain that decisions cause change and that citizens can influence the decisions that are made.
Official code: 3.3.3
The official wording · 6 outcomes
- 3.3.1
- examine the purpose, function, and structure of governments in their province
- 3.3.1
- examine the purpose, function, and structure of governments in their province
- 3.3.2
- examine the rights and responsibilities of citizens in a democracy
- 3.3.2
- examine the rights and responsibilities of citizens in a democracy
- 3.3.3
- demonstrate an understanding of how citizens participate in public decision making
- 3.3.3
- demonstrate an understanding of how citizens participate in public decision making
Key ideas
The purpose of an elected government is to represent the people who elected it and make decisions for them.
An active citizen takes an interest in and gets involved in their community.
Majority vote means the choice with the most votes wins.
The function of a government is to make laws and manage things it is responsible for (like roads, health care, and schools).
Characteristics include ethical behaviour and standing up for the rights of others.
Watch out for
- Thinking government does whatever it wants - it represents the people and follows rules.
- Thinking only famous adults are active citizens - youth can be too.
- Thinking majority vote means everyone agrees - it means most do.
Every skill’s key ideas, worked examples and checks are in MapleMind.Practise this unit
Plan the term
Pick your term and the days you study. Each unit gets its share of the weeks and comes back a week later for a review. The last two weeks go over the whole course.
The official curriculum
This page follows New Brunswick’s own curriculum for Social Studies, Grade 3.
Textbooks
The course’s curriculum guide names its core resource:
“Resource options include the 2011 Student Book and Teachers Resource developed by NELSON, entitled “My Province.””
- My Province
From the course’s curriculum guide, read October 28, 2026. gnb.ca
Study it in MapleMind
MapleMind teaches Social Studies, Grade 3 one skill at a time. Each skill gets a short lesson, practice as you go and a check worth up to three stars. It remembers where you stopped.
Course Companion
Your year in one workbook
A fun way to keep Social Studies, Grade 3 organized, get to know your child better and see early when they need a hand. Fill it in on a screen, or print it.
- Pages
- 26
- Fillable fields
- 1,199
- Price
- $4.99
Questions about Social Studies, Grade 3
What is Social Studies, Grade 3?
New Brunswick’s Grade 3 social studies course: 3 units and 19 skills, from Place to Citizenship.
What units are in Social Studies, Grade 3?
1. Place, 2. Peoples and 3. Citizenship.
Is there a provincial exam for Social Studies, Grade 3?
No. New Brunswick gives no provincial exam for Social Studies, Grade 3.
What textbook does Social Studies, Grade 3 use?
The course’s curriculum guide names its core resource: My Province, Nelson.
What comes after Social Studies, Grade 3?
Social Studies, Grade 4.
Can MapleMind help with Social Studies, Grade 3?
Yes. MapleMind teaches every skill of Social Studies, Grade 3, step by step, with practice and checks, and its tutor answers questions about any of them. It’s free with daily limits, on iPhone, Android and the web.
Get ready for Social Studies, Grade 3
Practise every skill of Social Studies, Grade 3 in MapleMind, free with daily limits.
