MINISTRY OF EDUCATION CURRICULUM GUIDELINES

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION CURRICULUM GUIDELINES

GENERAL SCIENCE

GRADES ? 7, 8, 9

General Science Curriculum 2010, Grades: 7 ? 9

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION 2010

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page Table of Contents Acknowledgements Ministry of Education (Mission, Philosophy) Curriculum (Assumptions, Design) Overview (Intent, Planning, Instructions, Evaluation) Introduction (Rationale, Overarching Goal, Sub-goals, Focus, General Objectives) Rationale for Inclusions Scope and Sequence (Topics and Content) Scope of Skills Grades 1 ? 12 Scope and Sequence (Skills) Standards and Benchmarks Comparison of Benchmarks for Grade Levels Scope of Work Appendices

i. Rubrics for Alternate Methods of Assessment ii. Bibliography iii. List of Instructional Supplies iv. Prerequisites for seventh grade v. Pedagogical Information vi. Safety in the Teaching/Learning Environment vii. Evaluation Form

General Science Curriculum 2010, Grades: 7 ? 9

i ii iii iv iv v vii x xii xvi 1 33 40 42

193 201 202 205 206 217 218

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Committee

Louise Barry Nicola Bowe Norman Bunbury Pradesta Martin Albert Parris Marcel Pratt

Education Officer Central Andros High C. V. Bethel Senior High T. A. Thompson Junior High C. H. Reeves Junior High L. W. Young Junior High

Vettors

Carol Edwards Edward Fox Thalia Micklewhite Antoinette Rahaming Shena Williams

St. Augustine's College Bahamas Electricity Corporation College of The Bahamas North Long Island High Examination and Assessment

Proof-reader

Maxine Missick

General Science Curriculum 2010, Grades: 7 ? 9

Pedagogical Information

Primary Science Curriculum 2000, Writers

Technical Assistance

Patrice Kemp

Science & Technology Section Department of Education

Louise Barry

Coordinator

Education Officer High School Sciences

Leanora Archer

Advisor

Deputy Director of Education Curriculum & Instruction

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MISSION STATEMENT

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

The mission of the Department of Education is to provide all persons in The Bahamas an opportunity to receive an education that will equip them with the necessary beliefs, attitudes, knowledge and skills required for work and life in a democratic, Christian society.

THE PHILOSOPHY

The Department of Education embraces a philosophy that all human beings have an undeniable right to an education, one that will enable them to understand their privileges and responsibilities in the community. The following principles are grounded in the Philosophy:

(i) A belief in the ability of the teaching/learning process to unlock and draw out the fullest potential of the individual; (ii) An uncompromising commitment to the pursuit of excellence by teachers, learners and all who are associated with educational enterprises; (iii) A belief in the value of the differing gifts and aptitudes of individuals, and in the importance of these differences in an inter-dependent society; (iv) An appreciation of the natural and cultural heritage of The Bahamas; (v) A recognition of The Bahamas as a part of a wider world community with which it must interact productively.

THE CURRICULUM

The curriculum developers have espoused, in part, the philosophies of John Dewey that "Knowledge is based on experience caused by the learner being in an active relationship with the environment" and Constructivism by Jean Piaget who proposes that "learners should be in an environment where they are engaged in questioning, hypothesizing, investigating, debating, analyzing and evaluating".

ASSUMPTIONS

The Curriculum Guidelines are based on the assumptions that follow:

(i) Students want to learn. (ii) The physical classroom environment as well as the experiences both inside and outside the classroom affect learning. (iii) Students have the capacity to construct mental interpretations and concepts of the instructional experiences. (iv) Students have the prerequisite knowledge and skills as outlined in the Appendix.

General Science Curriculum 2010, Grades: 7 ? 9

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DESIGN

The design used for the curriculum guidelines include components of several designs, namely:

(i) Backward ? initially, the knowledge, skills and attitudes required of students in order to become successful in a Science course of study in Grade 10 ? 12 were identified. These served as the basis for the selection of learner outcomes/specific objectives, content, instructional strategies and methods of assessment in the document.

(ii) Skills-based ? the content is used to develop skills as learner outcomes give focus to skills. (iii) Spiral ? skills and concepts are developed at each grade level (and as far as possible in successive units). (iv) Multidisciplinary ? most skills are applicable in other disciplines in particular, Language Arts, Mathematics, Social Studies, Health and Family Life, Family and

Consumer Sciences as well as Technical Studies. Cross references are made to highlight complementary and supplementary information in other units as well as other subjects. (v) Flexible ? it allows teachers the scope to modify the guidelines to accommodate students of high and low ability levels as well as students of different learning styles. (vi) Authentic ? the examples, problems and formative assessment used are relevant to the students.

OVERVIEW

INTENT

It is intended that the 1. curriculum would be used by teachers throughout The Commonwealth of The Bahamas to provide a measure of standardized instruction; 2. students having completed the three-year course of study as outlined, will have common knowledge, skills and attitudes relative to a variety of Science topics from the physical and biological science disciplines; 3. students completing this course of study should exhibit a level of Scientific literacy that would enable them to function in any of the Science subjects offered at the senior high school level; 4. student-focused instructional activities facilitate students in assuming responsibility for their learning; 5. use of these guidelines will provide students with many opportunities and experiences to develop identified skills that are assessed formatively thereby preparing students for summative assessment of the skills in the Bahamas Junior Certificate Examinations thereby increasing their level of success in these examinations.

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