Serbia Biology Curriculum (8th Grade)

The biology curriculum in Serbia is part of the compulsory education system, spanning nine years. Preschool education is compulsory for six months before the first grade. Primary school lasts for eight years and is divided into two cycles. The first cycle (grades 1-4) is taught by class teachers, while the second cycle (grades 5-8) involves subject-specific teachers.

Biological education in Serbian primary schools begins with integrated science subjects. In grades 1 and 2, students learn about the world around them through "The World Around Us," covering animate and inanimate nature, their connections, and basic orientation in space and time.

This is followed by "Nature and Society" in grades 3 and 4, which explores the relationship between nature, humans, and society, focusing on the local environment and its flora and fauna.

Biology emerges as a separate subject in the second cycle of primary education, starting from grade 5. The curriculum is structured linearly, with each grade dedicated to a specific biological discipline:

• Grade 5: Botany - Plant structure, life processes, diversity, significance, and protection, along with an introduction to fungi.
• Grade 6: Zoology - Focus on fauna, including protozoans, endangered species, animal protection, and an introduction to the evolution of the living world.
• Grade 7: Anthropology - Explores the origin and development of the human species, human body structure, and reproductive health.
• Grade 8: Ecology and Environmental Protection - Covers ecology, environmental threats, protection and improvement of ecosystems, global consequences of environmental contamination, sustainable development, and the relationship between the environment, health, and living culture.

Practical lessons and projects are integrated into the curriculum, particularly in grades 5, 7, and 8, to enhance understanding and foster a positive attitude towards nature and its preservation.