The social studies curriculum for grade 3 in Manitoba, Canada, is presented. The focus of this guide is communities today. Main objectives are to explore: (1) needs, wants, advantages, and disadvantages of people living in communities; (2) ways in which communities depend upon, interact with, and change their environment; and (3) the extent to which people in all geographic locations and in all cultures share common basic needs. The three units are: Our Community; A Manitoba Community; and A Canadian and/or World Community. As topics are presented for each unit, questions are asked and then learning activities are given to help students answer the questions. In Unit I, for example, under the topic of community situation, the question is asked, What are the natural features of the area in which the community is situated? To introduce mapping, students discover either by writing a description of a classroom or drawing its plan that maps tell more about places than words. They next learn about map symbols by a game involving their use. Then a map of the community's physical features is planned and instituted, after a walking tour of the community in which features are noted and recorded for use in the map project. The subject is concluded by setting up a display centered around the topic community. This guide is arranged as follows: grade title and overview, unit title and overview, unit topics and focusing questions, unit topic objectives, and unit topic suggested teaching strategies and learning activities. (Author/NE)