Helping Grade 3 Students Learn Science

New science curriculum this year is giving Grade 3 students more hands-on, minds-on learning. Education Minister Jamie Muir witnessed this first-hand today, Oct. 21, during a visit with Grade 3 students at St. Margaret's Bay Elementary to celebrate National Science and Technology Week (Oct. 18-22).

"We're providing new textbooks and other learning resources to help students develop curious minds and other skills they need to succeed in science," said Mr. Muir. "Our new science curriculum is really about doing science, not reading about it. The focus is 'hands-on, minds-on learning'."

The Department of Education has now introduced new Atlantic Canada Science Curriculum in junior and senior high, as well as in Primary to Grade 3. The new curriculum meets international standards and is designed to help students acquire the science skills needed in the labour market and in university science and engineering programs.

In addition, the science curriculum has strong links to the department's literacy and math strategies.

"Although the focus of our Learning for Life plan is literacy and math, science and other subjects are also very important," said Mr. Muir. "They are key to students developing a general knowledge and strong reading, writing and math skills that they can apply to learning across the curriculum. The new science curriculum, in particular, helps students develop their 'scientific literacy' by learning to ask questions, solve problems, and make decisions."

Grade 3 students are learning about seeds, soil and plants as part of the curriculum. Today, students at St. Margaret's Bay Elementary demonstrated how to use IntelPlay microscopes to study seeds. This is one example of how students use technology as a tool for learning science.

Since the introduction of the new science curriculum in 2000, the department has invested more than $4 million in new textbooks and learning resources for students and teachers. Implementation of the Atlantic Canada Science Curriculum has included professional development for teachers at all grade levels. Implementation will continue into the 2007-08 school year for Grades Primary to 6.