Year 3. Mathematics. Part A.

🌟 Comprehensive Year 3 Science Revision Guide (KSSR Malaysia)

This guide expands on key topics from the Year 3 Science curriculum under the Standard-based Curriculum for Primary Schools (KSSR) in Malaysia. It aligns with both the textbook and activity book content, covering all 8 major units to help students understand concepts clearly and prepare confidently for exams .

1. Humans

Humans are living things with basic needs and special body parts that help them survive and interact with the world.

• Basic Needs: Food, water, air, shelter, and sleep. Without these, humans cannot stay healthy or grow properly.
• Sense Organs: We have five senses:
  • Eyes – for sight (e.g., seeing colors, shapes)
  • Ears – for hearing (e.g., listening to music, voices)
  • Nose – for smell (e.g., detecting perfume or smoke)
  • Tongue – for taste (sweet, sour, salty, bitter, umami)
  • Skin – for touch (e.g., feeling hot, cold, rough, or smooth)
• Healthy Habits: Brushing teeth twice a day, washing hands, exercising, eating balanced meals (carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins), and getting 8–10 hours of sleep.
• Teeth Types: Incisors (cut food), canines (tear food), molars (chew/grind food) .

2. Animals

Animals, like humans, are living things that grow, move, reproduce, and respond to stimuli.

• Basic Needs: Food, water, air, and shelter (e.g., a bird’s nest, a dog’s kennel).
• Habitats: Different animals live in different environments:
  • Fish → ponds, rivers, oceans
  • Birds → trees, nests
  • Lions → savannas
  • Frogs → near water (amphibians)
• Types of Animals by Diet:
  • Herbivores: Eat only plants (e.g., cow, rabbit)
  • Carnivores: Eat only meat (e.g., tiger, eagle)
  • Omnivores: Eat both plants and animals (e.g., bear, human) .
• Life Cycle: Many animals hatch from eggs (e.g., chicken → chick → adult chicken).

3. Plants

Plants are living things that make their own food through photosynthesis.

• Basic Needs: Sunlight, water, air (carbon dioxide), and nutrients from soil.
• Parts and Functions:
  • Roots – absorb water and hold the plant in place
  • Stem – carries water and nutrients between roots and leaves
  • Leaves – make food using sunlight (photosynthesis)
  • Flowers – help in reproduction; become fruits
  • Fruits & Seeds – contain seeds for new plants
• Types of Plants: Flowering (e.g., hibiscus) vs. non-flowering (e.g., ferns, mosses).
• Importance: Provide oxygen, food, medicine, and shade.

4. Measurement

Measurement helps us describe objects using standard units.

• Length: Measured in centimeters (cm) or meters (m). Tools: ruler, measuring tape. Example: A pencil is about 15 cm long.
• Mass: Measured in grams (g) or kilograms (kg). Tools: balance scale, digital scale. Example: An apple weighs about 150 g.
• Volume: Measured in milliliters (mL) or liters (L). Tools: measuring cylinder, beaker. Example: A small bottle of water = 500 mL.
• Always choose the right tool and unit! Never guess—measure accurately.

5. Density

Density tells us how tightly packed the matter in an object is. It determines whether something floats or sinks in water.

• Formula Concept (Simplified): More mass in the same space = higher density.
• Float or Sink?:
  • If an object is less dense than water → it floats (e.g., wood, plastic bottle, oil).
  • If an object is more dense than water → it sinks (e.g., metal key, stone, coin).
• Real-Life Examples:
  • Oil spills float on seawater because oil is less dense .
  • Ships are made of steel (dense) but shaped to trap air, making the whole ship less dense than water—so it floats .

6. Acid and Alkali

Substances can be acidic, alkaline (basic), or neutral. We use indicators to tell them apart—never taste unknown chemicals!

• Acids:
  • Taste sour (e.g., lemon juice, vinegar)
  • Turn blue litmus paper red
• Alkalis:
  • Feel slippery, taste bitter (e.g., soap, baking soda solution)
  • Turn red litmus paper blue
• Neutral Substances: Pure water—no change to litmus paper .
• Indicators: Litmus paper is the most common in Year 3; it changes color based on acidity or alkalinity .

7. The Solar System

Our solar system is part of the universe and includes the Sun and everything that orbits it.

• The Sun: A star that gives light and heat. It is at the center.
• Planets (8 total): In order from the Sun:
  1. Mercury
  2. Venus
  3. Earth – our home! Has water, air, and life
  4. Mars
  5. Jupiter
  6. Saturn
  7. Uranus
  8. Neptune
• Key Facts:
  • Earth is the only known planet with life.
  • Planets orbit the Sun in elliptical paths.
  • The Moon is Earth’s natural satellite—it orbits Earth, not the Sun directly.
• Fun Activity: Create a solar system model using balls or drawings .

8. Machines

Machines make work easier by reducing the effort needed to do a task. Year 3 focuses on simple machines.

• Lever: A bar that pivots on a fixed point (fulcrum). Example: Seesaw, scissors, bottle opener.
• Pulley: A wheel with a rope to lift objects. Example: Flagpole, window blinds.
• Wheel and Axle: A wheel attached to a rod (axle). Example: Toy car, doorknob.
• Inclined Plane: A sloping surface (ramp). Example: Slide, wheelchair ramp—makes it easier to move heavy objects upward.
• Why Use Machines? They help us lift, push, pull, or move things with less force .

💡 Exam Tips for Success:

• Read questions twice—look for keywords like “explain,” “give an example,” or “why.”
• Use full sentences in answers (e.g., “A fish lives in water because it needs water to breathe through its gills.”)
• Practice labeling diagrams (plant parts, solar system, simple machines).
• Review your activity book exercises—they often mirror exam questions!

📚 This revision covers all 8 units listed in the Year 3 Science syllabus: Humans, Animals, Plants, Measurement, Density, Acid and Alkali, The Solar System, and Machines .

Wishing all Year 3 students focus, confidence, and excellent results in your Science exam! 🌹