Grade 3 Social Studies

In Grade 3 Social Studies, our students will explore and compare First Nation, Métis, and settler communities in Canada from 1780 to 1850. They will develop an understanding of the impacts that new settlements had on the environment and existing settlements. Students will learn about landform regions and types of land use in areas of Ontario. They will also explore how municipalities meet human needs and discuss the environmental impacts of those needs. This course is designed to be 50-75 instructional hours.

Curriculum Information: Social Studies (2018)

Over the next year, the VES team will be working on updating some of our social studies courses to align with changes to the curriculum released by the Ontario Ministry of Education in August 2023.

Developed by: D2L

Development Date: 2021

Please note that elementary courses do not have prerequisites, and Ontario schools do not issue transcript credits at the elementary level. All courses are available in the facilitated and independent pathways.

Facilitated

Independent

Course Outline

Communities in Canada, 1780–1850

In the Communities in Canada, 1780–1850 unit, students will compare the lives of specific groups in Canada around the beginning of the 19th century. They will describe the differences between that era and the present day. They will investigate major challenges that communities faced in Canada from the years 1780 to 1850. They will learn about key measures taken to address these challenges. Lastly, students will identify different communities in Canada around the beginning of the 19th century. They will describe these groups’ relationships with the land and one another.

Living and Working in Ontario

In the Living and Working in Ontario unit, students will demonstrate an understanding of the interrelationship between the natural environment, land use, employment opportunities, and the development of municipal regions in Ontario. Then, they will describe major landform regions and types of land use in Ontario. They will describe how land use in various Ontario municipalities meets human needs and wants, including the need for employment. Lastly, students will investigate the environmental effects of land and resource use. They will investigate the actions taken to reduce the negative impacts of land/resource use.

Required Resources

This course is entirely online and does not require nor rely on any textbook. Students will require the following resources:

A scanner, smartphone camera, or similar device to digitize handwritten or hand-drawn work
A device to record audio
A printer
A physical binder, folder, or notebook for offline activities
Various household items to complete offline activities
Pencil, coloured pencils

Teaching and Learning Strategies

Through a balance of problem-solving and direct instruction, students develop a strong foundation of social studies processes, knowledge, and skills to apply in real-world contexts. The course utilizes a combination of technology and offline activities, providing opportunities to develop an understanding of skills and concepts in interactive and concrete ways and engage multiple learning styles. The lessons feature a variety of intriguing storylines, characters, videos, storybooks, and interactive games to reinforce students’ learning. These activities also build a foundation of social studies-related terms that students will use throughout the elementary grades.

The course relies on the assistance of a teacher to support young students through the content. The teacher will be involved in facilitating the course content, and participating in discussion-based activities to assist students in developing communication skills.

Have a question about Grade 3 Social Studies? Contact us!