Primary School Science Curriculum

5 Themes of Primary School Science

DIVERSITY

Students should appreciate that there is a great variety of living and non-living things in the world. The study of the diversity in the world will allow students to appreciate the importance and necessity of maintaining it. Man seeks to

organise the great variety of living and non-living things to better understand the world in which he lives. There are common threads that connect all living things and unifying factors in the diversity of non-living things that help him to classify them. In this theme, students learn about the diversity of living and non-living things as well as materials.

Our tutors help students prepare Key inquiry questions in Diversity which include:

• What is our environment made up of?
• Why is it important to maintain diversity?
• How do we go about understanding the diverse range of living and non-living things?

CYCLES

Students should recognise that there are repeated patterns of change in nature and understand how these patterns arise. Examples of these cycles are the life cycles of living things and the water cycle. Understanding these cycles helps Man to predict events and processes and to understand the Earth as a self-sustaining system. In this theme, students learn about the Cycles in plants and animals as well as matter and water.

Our tutors help students get ready the key inquiry questions in Cycles such as:

• What are the cycles in our everyday life?
• How are cycles important to life?

SYSTEMS

Students should recognise that a system is a whole consisting of parts that work together to perform a function. There are systems in nature as well as man-made systems. Examples of systems in nature are the digestive and respiratory systems. Examples of man-made systems are electrical systems. Understanding these systems allows Man to understand how they operate and how parts influence and interact with one another to perform a function. In this theme, students learn about the plant, human, cell and electrical systems.

Our tutors help students reason out the key inquiry questions in Systems:

• What are the different parts of a system?
• How do parts of a system or different systems interact together to perform a function?

INTERACTIONS

Students should appreciate that a study of the interactions between and within systems helps Man to better understand the environment and his role in it. Interactions occur within an organism, between organisms as well as between organisms and the environment. There are also interactions between forces and objects. The interaction of Man with his environment drives the development of Science and Technology. At the same time, Science and Technology influences the way Man interacts with his environment. By understanding the interactions between Man and his environment, students can better appreciate the consequences of their actions and be responsible for their actions. In this theme, students learn about the interaction of forces and interactions within the environment.

Our tutors help students understand the key inquiry questions in Interactions listed herein:

• How does Man interact with his surroundings?
• What are the consequences of Man’s interactions with his surroundings?

ENERGY

Students should appreciate that energy affects both living and non-living things. It makes changes and movement possible in everyday life. There are many forms of energy and one form can be converted to another. Man uses energy in many ways, for many different purposes. Man is not the only animal that uses energy; all living things obtain energy and use it to carry out life processes. Understanding this theme will allow students to appreciate the importance and uses of energy and the need to conserve it. In this theme, students learn about various energy forms, uses and conversion.

Our tutors guide students in handling key inquiry questions in Energy including:

• How does energy affect Man and his surroundings?
• Why is it important to conserve energy?

14skills for Primary School Science

1.     Observing

This is the skill of using our senses to gather information about objects or events. This also includes the use of instruments to extend the range of our senses.

2.     Comparing

This is the skill of identifying the similarities and differences between two or more objects, concepts or processes.

3.     Classifying

This is the skill of grouping objects or events based on common characteristics.

Using apparatus and equipment

This is the skill of knowing the functions and limitations of various apparatus, and developing the ability to select and handle them appropriately for various tasks.

4.     Communicating

This is the skill of transmitting and receiving information presented in various forms – verbal, pictorial, tabular or graphical.

5.     Inferring

This is the skill of interpreting or explaining observations or pieces of data or information.

6.     Predicting

This is the skill of assessing the likelihood of an outcome based on prior knowledge of how things usually turn out.

7.     Analysing

This is the skill of identifying the parts of objects, information or processes, and the patterns and relationships between these parts.

8.     Generating possibilities

This is the skill of exploring all the alternatives, possibilities and choices beyond the obvious or preferred one.

9.     Evaluating

This is the skill of assessing the reasonableness, accuracy and quality of information, processes or ideas. This is also the skill of assessing the quality and feasibility of objects.

10.Formulating hypothesis

This is the skill of making a general explanation for a related set of observations or events. It is an extension of inferring.

11.Processes

Processes are complex operations which call upon the use of several skills. At the primary level, the processes expected of students are:

12.Creative Problem Solving

This is a process of analysing a problem and choosing an innovative and relevant solution in order to remedy or alter a problem situation.

13.Decision-Making

Decision-making is the process of establishing and applying criteria to select from among seemingly equal alternatives. The process of establishing criteria involves consideration of the consequences and values.

14.Investigation

This involves formulating questions or hypotheses, devising fair methods and carrying out those methods to find out answers to the questions or to verify the hypotheses.