This course is designed for Grade 3 students to teach science by addressing four important aspects of science such as (i) life systems: growth and changes in plants; (ii) structures and mechanisms: strong and stable structures; (iii) matter and energy: forces causing movement; and (iv) earth and space systems: soils in the environment. In life systems, students assess ways in which plants have an impact on society and the environment, and ways in which human activity has an impact on plants and plant habitats; investigate similarities and differences in the characteristics of various plants, and ways in which the characteristics of plants relate to the environment in which they grow; demonstrate an understanding that plants grow and change and have distinct characteristics.
In structures and mechanisms, students assess the importance of form, function, strength, and stability in structures through time; investigate strong and stable structures to determine how their design and materials enable them to perform their load-bearing function; demonstrate an understanding of the concepts of structure, strength, and stability and the factors that affect them. In matter and energy, students assess the impact of various forces on society and the environment; investigate devices that use forces to create controlled movement; demonstrate an understanding of how forces cause movement and changes in movement. In earth and space systems, students assess the impact of soils on society and the environment, and of society and the environment on soils; investigate the composition and characteristics of different soils; demonstrate an understanding of the composition of soils, the types of soils, and the relationship between soils and other living things.