Nova Scotia · Grade 3
Science, Grade 3
Nova Scotia’s Grade 3 science course, from Earth and Space Science: Soil to Physical Science: Structures.
- Units
- 4
- Lessons
- 5
- Skills
- 15
- Provincial exam
- None
- Official curriculum
- Nova Scotia Department of Education and Early Childhood Development
Unit by unit
Every skill in the course, numbered by unit.
Unit 1 · 4 skills
Earth and Space Science: Soil
Exploring Soil
Properties of soil
I can describe the properties of soil - its colour, how it feels, and the things it is made of.
Skill 1.1
How water moves through soil
I can show how water moves through soil - some soils let water drain fast, others hold water.
Skill 1.2
Sorting soil samples
I can sort soil samples into groups by their properties, like colour, texture, or how they drain.
Skill 1.3
How soil connects to living things
I can explain how soil, living things, and the environment are connected - soil grows plants, plants feed animals, and living things make soil.
Skill 1.4
The official wording · 4 outcomes
- 1.1
- Investigate the properties of soil
- 1.2
- Investigate how water interacts with soil in the environment
- 1.3
- Classify soil samples
- 1.4
- Analyse the interconnectiveness of soil, living things, and the environment
Key ideas
Soil is made of tiny bits of rock, sand, clay, and dead plant and animal matter (humus).
Soil has properties: colour (dark or light), texture (gritty, smooth, sticky), and how wet it is.
Different soils feel different: sandy soil is gritty, clay soil is sticky.
Living things live in soil, like worms and insects.
Water can soak into soil and drain through the spaces between the bits.
Watch out for
- Thinking soil is just plain dirt with nothing in it - soil is a mix of rock bits, water, air, and living and dead things.
- Thinking all soil is the same - soils differ in colour, texture, and what they are made of.
- Thinking water drains the same through all soils - sandy soil drains fast, clay drains slow.
Every skill’s key ideas, worked examples and checks are in MapleMind.Practise this unit
Unit 2 · 4 skills
Life Science: Plants
Plant Life and Growth
Plant parts through the life cycle
I can describe how a plant's parts change over its life cycle, from seed to sprout to flowering plant.
Skill 2.1
What affects plant growth
I can tell what affects how well a plant grows - water, sunlight, air, and good soil.
Skill 2.2
Plants, Living Things, and Us
How plants connect to living things
I can show how plants are connected to other living things and the environment - plants make food and air, and give animals homes.
Skill 2.3
Uses of plants, including as medicine
I can name ways people use plants, including for food, materials, and medicine, and know the Mi'kmaw people have long used plants as medicine.
Skill 2.4
The official wording · 4 outcomes
- 2.1
- Investigate how various plant parts change over the life cycle
- 2.2
- Investigate factors that affect plant growth
- 2.3
- Investigate the interconnectiveness of plants, living things, and the environment
- 2.4
- Investigate the uses of plants, including plants as medicine
Key ideas
A plant's life cycle: seed -> sprout (seedling) -> grown plant -> flower -> new seeds.
Plants make food that animals and people eat.
Plant parts: roots (soak up water), stem (holds it up), leaves (make food), flowers (make seeds).
Plants make oxygen (part of the air) that living things breathe.
The parts change and grow at different stages of the life cycle.
Watch out for
- Thinking a plant appears fully grown - it grows in stages from a seed.
- Thinking plants only help themselves - plants feed and shelter many other living things.
- Thinking flowers are just for looking pretty - flowers make the seeds for new plants.
Every skill’s key ideas, worked examples and checks are in MapleMind.Practise this unit
Unit 3 · 3 skills
Physical Science: Invisible Forces
Forces You Cannot See
Static (electrostatic) forces
I can show static electricity at work - like a rubbed balloon sticking to a wall or attracting bits of paper.
Skill 3.1
Magnetic forces
I can show what magnets do - they pull some metals, and their poles can pull together or push apart.
Skill 3.2
What affects magnet strength
I can find out what makes a magnet's pull stronger or weaker - like its size or how close it is.
Skill 3.3
The official wording · 3 outcomes
- 3.1
- Investigate electrostatic forces
- 3.2
- Investigate magnetic forces
- 3.3
- Investigate factors that affect magnet strength
Key ideas
Static electricity builds up when you rub certain things together.
Static can make things pull toward each other (a balloon and your hair) or push apart.
Static can attract light things like paper bits or make a little crackle or spark.
This is an invisible force - you see what it does, not the force itself.
A magnet pulls (attracts) certain metals, especially iron and steel.
Watch out for
- Thinking the balloon is sticky like glue - it is static electricity, not stickiness.
- Thinking you can see the force - you only see its effects (hair rising, paper jumping).
- Thinking magnets stick to all metals - they only pull magnetic metals like iron and steel, not aluminum or copper.
Every skill’s key ideas, worked examples and checks are in MapleMind.Practise this unit
Unit 4 · 4 skills
Physical Science: Structures
Building Strong Structures
Strong shapes in structures
I can tell which shapes make a structure strong, like how triangles hold up better than squares.
Skill 4.1
Choosing materials for building
I can pick good materials to build with, thinking about which ones are strong, stiff, or light enough for the job.
Skill 4.2
Ways to join materials
I can name and try different ways to join materials, like taping, gluing, tying, or clipping, and pick a good join for the job.
Skill 4.3
Testing a structure against the challenge
I can test my structure against the challenge rules and tell how well it worked and how to make it better.
Skill 4.4
The official wording · 4 outcomes
- 4.1
- Investigate shapes in structures
- 4.2
- Evaluate potential materials for use in construction
- 4.3
- Investigate ways that materials are joined during construction
- 4.4
- Evaluate the structure according to design challenge criteria
Key ideas
Some shapes are stronger than others in a structure.
Triangles are very strong and do not bend easily - builders use them a lot.
A square can be pushed out of shape, but a triangle holds firm.
Arches and tubes are also strong shapes.
Evaluate means to compare choices and pick the best for the job.
Watch out for
- Thinking all shapes are equally strong - triangles resist bending much better than squares.
- Thinking more material always means stronger - the right SHAPE matters, not just amount.
- Thinking any material can do any job - a floppy material makes a weak structure.
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 Nova Scotia’s own curriculum for Science, Grade 3.
Study it in MapleMind
MapleMind teaches Science, 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 Science, 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
- 27
- Fillable fields
- 1,178
- Price
- $4.99
Questions about Science, Grade 3
What is Science, Grade 3?
Nova Scotia’s Grade 3 science course: 4 units and 15 skills, from Earth and Space Science: Soil to Physical Science: Structures.
What units are in Science, Grade 3?
1. Earth and Space Science: Soil, 2. Life Science: Plants, 3. Physical Science: Invisible Forces and 4. Physical Science: Structures.
Is there a provincial exam for Science, Grade 3?
No. Nova Scotia gives no provincial exam for Science, Grade 3.
What comes after Science, Grade 3?
Science, Grade 4.
Can MapleMind help with Science, Grade 3?
Yes. MapleMind teaches every skill of Science, 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 Science, Grade 3
Practise every skill of Science, Grade 3 in MapleMind, free with daily limits.
