Singapore Secondary Lower Secondary Science (G1) Syllabus

This syllabus outlines the curriculum for the General 1 course, implemented starting with the 2021 Secondary One Cohort. It is structured around an introductory topic on Laboratory Measurements and Procedures, and three modules: Machines Around Us (I), Our Environment, and Our Body and Health (I). These modules are designed to be taught in a contextually relevant way, encouraging inquiry and self-directed learning.

1. Laboratory Measurements and Procedures

This introductory topic emphasizes laboratory safety and proper handling of equipment, as well as the importance of accurate measurement in scientific investigation and daily life. Students learn about hazard symbols, using a Bunsen burner, and measuring various physical quantities (length, mass, temperature, time, volume) with appropriate units and instruments.

2. Machines Around Us (I)

This module explores how forces and energy conversions are used in machines to improve daily life, emphasizing the importance of reducing energy wastage.

2.1 Force

This topic introduces the concept of force as a push or a pull, covering different types of forces (frictional, gravitational, elastic, magnetic), their effects on objects (change in shape, size, and state of motion), and the use of simple machines (lever, inclined plane, pulley) to make lifting easier.

2.2 Energy

This topic explores different forms of energy (electrical, heat, kinetic, light, potential, sound), energy conversions, and the importance of reducing energy wastage. It also covers renewable and non-renewable energy sources, the role of carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas, and its contribution to global warming.

2.3 Electricity

This topic explains how electricity works, covering current, voltage, resistance, series and parallel circuits, and the generation and transmission of electricity. It also emphasizes electrical safety, hazards, and safety features in household electrical systems.

2.4 Heat

This topic examines heat and its effects, including temperature measurement, heat flow, expansion and contraction, and the function of a thermostat. It also covers everyday applications and the importance of considering heat's effects in machine use and design.

3. Our Environment

This module focuses on the properties and classification of matter, and the impact of human activities on water and air quality.

3.1 Matter

This topic covers the properties of matter (density, acidity/alkalinity, solubility), changes in states of matter, mixtures, solutions, and suspensions. It also explores separation techniques (evaporation, filtration, magnetic separation).

3.2 Water Pollution

This topic examines the importance of clean water, human activities that cause water pollution (industrial waste, sewage, litter, oil spills, fertilizer/pesticide runoff), and their effects on living things.

3.3 Air Pollution

This topic covers the importance of clean air, common air pollutants (carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, sulfur dioxide), their sources, and their effects on health and the environment (acid rain, respiratory problems). It also discusses the Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) and the effects of haze.

4. Our Body and Health (I)

This module explores the human body's systems, focusing on cells, energy from food, reproduction, and healthy lifestyle choices.

4.1 Cells

This topic introduces cells as the basic units of life, covering cell structure (cell membrane, cytoplasm, nucleus), functions, genes, and the organization of cells into tissues, organs, and systems. It also touches upon ethical and social issues related to cell, tissue, and organ donation.

4.2 Getting Energy and Nutrients from Food

This topic explains how the body obtains energy and nutrients from food, covering digestion, enzymes, respiration, and the interaction of digestive, respiratory, and circulatory systems. It also discusses the health risks of undereating and overeating, and the importance of reducing food wastage.

4.3 Human Reproduction

This topic covers puberty, the male and female reproductive systems, the menstrual cycle, fertilization, facilitated reproduction (artificial insemination, in-vitro fertilization), birth control methods, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

4.4 Taking Good Care of My Body

This topic focuses on the harmful effects of drug abuse, alcohol abuse, and smoking on the human body's systems (circulatory, digestive, nervous, respiratory), and their consequences on individuals, families, and society. It also emphasizes ways to avoid these harmful activities.