Grade 3 · Science · Unit 15 of 15
Science Skills & Safety
Fair tests, safety, design and coding
What your child practises
Making predictions and observations, running a fair test that changes one thing, using simple tools safely, the engineering design steps, debugging a simple program, and how science helps solve real problems.
Alberta Curriculum learning outcome: 3SM1.1 · investigating, collecting accurate data and staying safe
Sample questions
A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.
Question 1
A prediction is…
🔮- the final answer
- a list of tools
- what you did
- a guess about what will happen, based on what you know
Show answer
a guess about what will happen, based on what you know
Hint: You make a prediction before the test.
Question 2
Is it a safe or an unsafe way to do science? Tap an item, then tap its basket.
Sort into: ✅ safe · ⚠️ unsafe
- 🥽wearing goggles when mixing
- 🙋telling the teacher about a spill
- 📋skipping the directions
- 💦leaving a spill on the floor
- ✂️running with scissors
- 💇tying back long hair near a flame
Show answer
✅ safe: wearing goggles when mixing, telling the teacher about a spill, tying back long hair near a flame · ⚠️ unsafe: skipping the directions, leaving a spill on the floor, running with scissors
Hint: Wear safety gear, follow directions and tell an adult about spills. Never taste experiments.
Question 3
In a fair test about how fast a car rolls, you keep the ramp, the car and the floor the same. What do you change?
🏎️- one thing, like the slope
- the ramp, car and floor
- nothing
- everything
Show answer
one thing, like the slope
Hint: One changed thing lets you tell what caused the result.
Question 4
Smart thermostats use technology to control a home's heat. What is one impact?
🌡️- they stop all winters
- they make the home colder in every case
- they need no electricity
- they can help save energy
Show answer
they can help save energy
Hint: Emerging technologies can change everyday life.
Question 5
Which job might use science and technology to keep people safe?
⚡- a person who only sleeps
- a scarecrow
- an electrician checking wiring
- a person who never works
Show answer
an electrician checking wiring
Hint: Many jobs use science ideas to solve real problems, including skilled trades.
Question 6
Put the engineering design steps in order.
- ❓define the problem
- 🔨build a model
- ✏️plan and draw a design
- 🧪test it
- 💡improve it and share
Show answer
define the problem → plan and draw a design → build a model → test it → improve it and share
Hint: Engineers define the problem, plan, build, test and then improve.