Zambia Grade 6/Form 1 Curriculum - Biology (Secondary)

This course entry details biology-related topics within the Integrated Science subject for the Zambia Grade 6 curriculum. Integrated Science incorporates Environmental Science, Home Economics, and Agricultural Science, along with cross-cutting issues like environmental health, reproductive health, HIV/AIDS, hygiene, nutrition, and substance abuse. The curriculum emphasizes continuous assessment through various testing methods, including diagnostic, aptitude, achievement, oral, practical, attitude, and performance assessments. Five 2.5-hour periods per week are allocated for Integrated Science.

Unit 1: The Human Body

  • The Blood: This topic explores the composition of blood (red and white blood cells, platelets, and plasma) and its functions, including transporting food, gases, and water, and defending the body. It also covers the double circulatory system, differentiating between arteries and veins.
  • Features of Pregnancy: This section covers the features of pregnancy (e.g., protrusion of the tummy, enlargement of breasts) and signs and symptoms (e.g., morning sickness, vomiting).
  • Health Risks: This topic examines the health and social consequences of teenage pregnancy, including trauma, disability, complications for mother and baby, and premature death. It also addresses health risks linked to early sexual debut, such as contracting STIs and HIV, unwanted/teenage pregnancy, and cervical cancer.

Unit 2: Health

  • Food Nutrients: This topic focuses on food sources of vitamins and minerals (vegetables, fruits, milk, liver, oils, fish, dairy products) and their importance in protecting against diseases and ensuring proper body function. It also emphasizes the importance of a varied diet, food labeling (expiry dates, nutrient information, packaging details), and interpreting children's clinic cards (weight, age, growth curve, dietary intake). Common deficiency diseases (scurvy, rickets, night blindness, marasmus, kwashiorkor, goitre) are also covered.
  • Effects of Harmful Substances: This section explains how substance abuse can negatively impact lives (addiction, diseases, crime, accidents) and discusses ways to help substance addicts (recreation, rehabilitation).
  • Living with HIV and AIDS: This topic describes the challenges of living with HIV and AIDS, including emotional, economic, social, and moral difficulties.

Unit 3: The Environment

  • The Water Cycle: This topic details the water cycle (sun heats water, evaporation, condensation, cloud formation, precipitation) and its effects (droughts, floods, weather changes).

Unit 4: Plants and Animals

  • Photosynthesis: This section investigates how water and mineral salts reach leaves through transpiration (roots, stem, leaves) and describes the process of photosynthesis (carbon dioxide and water combine to form starch in the presence of light and chlorophyll). Testing for starch in a leaf using iodine solution is also covered.
  • Care for Domestic Animals: This topic explores the basic needs of livestock (food, shelter, water), the importance of cleanliness in preventing disease outbreaks, and the advantages and disadvantages of keeping livestock together (protection and reproduction versus disease outbreaks and fights).
  • Vertebrate Animals: This section covers classifying vertebrate animals (mammals, birds, reptiles, fish, amphibians), their adaptations (breathing, feeding, protection, movement), life cycles (eggs, young, adult or mother, young, adult), and conservation methods.