Welcome to Grade 3 Learn-At-Home!
This page is designed to help provide you with resources to teach your child at this level and to give you some confidence as you tackle this adventure. It focuses on the core subjects, but you can add in any extras that you would like to include. The resources listed are based on the various curriculum learning outcomes presented by the provinces and territories.
Remember that learning at home is a different experience than learning in a classroom. You do not (and should not) do seatwork and focused learning for the whole day. Keep your intentional learning times short and engaging. Learning happens outside of that official "school" time just fine. Provide an environment of learning and see what happens!
A typical school year is divided up into 180 days / 36 weeks. Simply make a plan for each week to pull together your homeschool year. Here is a simple schedule.
- EVERY DAY: Math, Language, Reading
- MWF: Science
- T/TH : Social Studies
- Add in art, music, French, health, and phys ed as desired.
For Math, pick a program that will work best for your child and use it a little each day.
For Language, the main sections of a language program are literature, writing, spelling, and grammar. Try to include something for each area over the course of a week.
For Reading, just read with your child. Pick some classic children’s literature and snuggle together to read aloud. Ask lots of questions as you work your way through the book and have them engage in conversation. Let them come up with theories of what’s going to happen next. A fun idea is to pick books that have been made into movies. Read the book, and then follow up with a movie. If your child is an avid reader on their own, make time to have them read to themselves and to you.
For Science, divide the year into unit topics. Most provinces have 4-5 units in the year. That means you have 7 to 9 weeks for each topic, three times a week. (21-27 lessons for each.) Watch related TV shows like Magic School Bus or Bill Nye, play online games, do experiments, and let your child be a natural scientist.
For Social Studies, divide the year into 3 units of about 12 weeks each, two times a week (24 lessons for each.) Some subjects may need more time and that's okay.
You can add in additional subjects as you would like, whether that be an intentional part of learning time or just as extra learning throughout the day.
- For Art, you can do free art time, follow the instructions of someone else (such as the YouTube channel ArtHubForKids), join an art club like KinderArt.com, or use a series of art lessons. You can even just look at various pieces of art and talk about what they see.
- For Music, quiet listening time to different kinds of music from different time periods and different cultures can be a lot of fun. Talk about the instruments they hear, the rhythm and beat, and the speed of the tempo. They can even move their bodies how they think the music makes them feel.
- For Phys.Ed & Health, make sure to get some intentional active time each day to keep moving. Talk about how to be safe in all kinds of scenarios and the importance of proper food.
The main thing? Have fun.
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MATH
If you would prefer a workbook based math program, consider one of these cost-effective options.
- JUMP Math 3.1 and JUMP Math 3.2 - Teacher Guides are free on their website, but are optional.
- Math Mammoth 3
- Complete MathSmart 3
Here are some fun ways to review and practice math skills.
SOCIAL STUDIES
Want a workbook?
I recommend this introduction to Canada from Donna Ward / Northwoods Press.
- Pioneer Life in Upper Ontario
- Pioneer Days from Glengarry Pioneer Village
LANGUAGE ARTS
- Reading Eggspress (The higher level of the Reading Eggs website)
- Easy Peasy Language Arts 3 (this is a free online homeschool program. It is a faith-based program, although I'm not sure if there are any references to faith in this language program.)
Prefer a workbook or worksheets? Here are a few options.
- Advanced Parenting Book and Student Workbook (click on the Language Arts Job Cards for Grades 1-3)
- EnglishSmart 2
- Chalkboard Publishing Grade 3 Language Bundle (eBook)
Here are some ways to add language arts to your day without a curriculum.
- Read books and do a book report.
- Play Scrabble or Bananagrams Jr.
- Write a daily journal, blog post, or email to a grandparent or friend.
- Pick a "word of the day." Learn how to spell it, the definition, part of speech, etc.
- Write a story: Planner from NaNoWriMo | My Story Planner
- IXL
- ABCya.com Language Games
THE ARTS
- Play a game from the Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra.
- Listen to Classical Music and discuss what you hear.
- Watch episodes of the Music Show on YouTube.
SCIENCE
Just want a general workbook?
(This unit is covered in all provinces and territories except Alberta and British Columbia.)
In this unit, students explore the life cycles of plants from seeds to full-bloom, plus identify parts of a plant.
Here are some Parent-Interactive resources. Although most of these are intended for a classroom setting, you can complete most of these lessons and activities at home.
- Life Cycle of a Plant Unit Study: The Crafty Classroom has a load of great printables. Study the parts of a plant, learn about the life cycle of a plant, sprout some seeds, and plan your own garden (then start growing it!)
- Let's Explore Plants and Soil: The second half of this resource has 10 lessons all about plants. (The first half is about soil - another unit for Grade 3).
- Growth of Plants: This outline shows activities and lessons to do with your child to cover topics in this unit. Look at the right-hand column for the lessons. Don't worry about the "rubrics" or other teacher-related jargon - just focus on the activities. Unfortunately, there are no printables to go with some of the activities, so you will have to make/hand write your own sheets or adapt something if needed.
- Plant Science Interactive Activities: A series of mini-books that you cut out and put into a file folder. Includes experiments.
Here are some Independent Learning Resources.
(This unit is covered in all the provinces other than BC and AB.)
In this unit, students explore forces such as pulling and pushing and how they make things move.
Here are some Parent-Interactive resources. Although most of these are intended for a classroom setting, you can complete most of these lessons and activities at home.
- Forces, Motion, and Magnets: Five lessons with videos and hands-on activities (you will need magnets). This website asks you to sign up for a free account before you can access the lessons.
- Invisible Forces Science Lesson: A series of lessons about magnetism and static electricity. You need a variety of magnets for these activities.
Here are some Independent Learning Resources.
- IXL
- Magnets and Static Electricity Video from Generation Genius. (They also have some lesson plans and DIY activities.)
- Magnet Games
(This unit is covered in all provinces and territories, except BC.)
In this unit, students explore materials, structure, and stability.
Here are some Parent-Interactive resources. Although most of these are intended for a classroom setting, you can complete most of these lessons and activities at home.
- Strong and Stable Structures: A multi-lesson plan from an Indigenous perspective. Includes stories, activities, discussions, and more.
- Investigating Materials: A 5 part lesson that explores the properties of materials.
Here are some Independent Learning Resources.
(This unit is covered in all provinces / territories)
In this unit, students explore the properties of soil and discover what makes it different than dirt.
Here are some Parent-Interactive resources. Although most of these are intended for a classroom setting, you can complete most of these lessons and activities at home.
- Let's Explore Plants and Soil: The first half of this resource has 11 lessons all about soil. (The second half is about plants - another unit for Grade 3).
- Soil4Teachers: There are several links here under the K-4 section that you can explore for some fun and interesting lessons about soil.
Here are some Independent Learning Resources.
British Columbia has a different set of science units than the rest of Canada. Here are resources for their topics.
THERMAL ENERGY
Parent Led Resources
- The Heat is On. This is a 6 lesson unit study. They have everything laid out on the website, but if you want to use their worksheets, you will have to buy the resource pack.
Independent Activities
BIODIVERSITY
Parent Led Resources
- Biodiversity : a Makerspace set of lessons
- Ecosystems and Biodiversity Science Stations: A set of printables and resource to do 8 different learning stations on this topic.
Independent Resources
LANDFORMS
Parent Led Resources
- Landform for Kids Unit Study: Do the activities on this page to learn and review landforms. There are videos, games, worksheets, and hands-on activities.
- Landforms, Continents, and the Ocean Unit Study: A full unit study including making your own island.
Independent Resources
MATTER
This section is made of two parts: 1. the building blocks of matter (atoms) and 2. the properties of materials such as density, conductivity, etc.
Parent Led Resources
- For atoms, download the free atoms lesson from The Homeschool Scientist (it's under the "SCIENCE LESSON" heading) and when you get that done, try building your own atom with this printable and playdough (or use coloured mini-marshmallows!)
- Properties of Matter Video: watch the video, do the discussion, and then do the DIY activity (the lesson plan involves items most people don't have at home.)
Independent Resources
- What's the Matter Video from Crash Course Kids
- Molecularium - Visit the Nanolab
In addition to Soils and Structures, Grade 3 units include:
LIFE CYCLES
Parent Led Resources
- Life Cycle Unit: This teacher walks through what she does with her students (you can buy her printables on Teachers Pay Teachers) - Alternatives: Butterfly Plate Craft / Life Cycle of a Frog Playdough Activity / Frog Life Cycle Activity / Chicken Life Cycle / Plant Life Cycle
- Life Cycles: Watch the video, do the questions, and complete the DIY activity. (You might need a free trial to access this.)
- If you can get a butterfly kit or find a butterfly egg on a walk, take it home and watch it go through the cycle!
Independent Resources
SOUND
Parent Led Resources
- Sound Lesson Guide. I recommend skipping the first chunk of this resource as some of the lessons are confusing or involve materials not available in an average home. Start at the unit from Page 28 on. Learn about pitch, volume, and how ears work.
Independent Resources
- Sound Study Jam (video and quiz)
- What is Sound Video
PHYSICAL EDUCATION & HEALTH
Use activities from GoNoodle to keep active.