The Junior Secondary School (JSS) curriculum is designed to ensure that students grasp fundamental concepts in various subjects. In the second term, the science lesson focuses on understanding the differences between living and non-living things, as well as exploring the concept of energy. This article will break down the lesson notes for JSS 1, second term, with detailed explanations of each topic, practical examples, reading assignments, and evaluation questions to ensure students have a well-rounded understanding.
Lesson 1: Revision of Last Term’s Work
Objective: To refresh the students’ memory and ensure they retain key concepts learned during the first term.
Key Points:
- Review key concepts from the first term.
- Engage students in active discussions and quizzes.
- Identify any areas where students may have difficulty.
Examples:
- Review of basic scientific concepts (e.g., matter, forces, and simple machines).
- Discussion of any practical experiments conducted in the previous term.
- Use of recap quizzes or group activities to assess understanding.
Reading Assignment:
- Read over your past notes from the first term and identify the concepts that were most challenging.
Evaluation Questions:
- What was the main topic studied in the first term?
- Can you list three key points you remember from the first term?
- Explain why it is important to revisit previous knowledge before moving forward in your studies.
Lesson 2: Living Things
Objective: To introduce students to the characteristics of living things and help them identify what distinguishes living organisms from non-living things.
Key Points:
- Definition of Living Things: Living organisms are those that display all characteristics of life. These include growth, reproduction, movement, and the ability to respond to stimuli.
- Characteristics of Living Things:
- Movement: All living things can move either by themselves or with external help (e.g., birds flying).
- Respiration: The process by which living organisms breathe and convert food into energy (e.g., humans inhaling oxygen).
- Growth: Living things grow and develop over time (e.g., a plant growing from a seed).
- Reproduction: The ability to produce offspring (e.g., a cow giving birth to a calf).
- Sensitivity: Living things can respond to changes in their environment (e.g., a dog reacting to a sound).
- Excretion: The process by which living things remove waste from their bodies (e.g., humans sweating or urinating).
Examples:
- A dog running around (Movement).
- A plant growing towards sunlight (Growth).
- A baby learning to speak (Reproduction).
- An animal fleeing from danger (Sensitivity).
- A tree taking in carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen (Respiration).
- A human excreting waste (Excretion).
Reading Assignment:
- Read about the 7 characteristics of living things in your textbook.
Evaluation Questions:
- What are the 7 characteristics of living things?
- Explain how animals exhibit the characteristic of movement.
- Give an example of how living things respond to environmental changes.
Lesson 3: Non-Living Things
Objective: To differentiate between living and non-living things, highlighting the key characteristics of non-living things.
Key Points:
- Definition of Non-Living Things: Non-living things are objects or materials that do not exhibit the characteristics of life, such as growth, respiration, or reproduction.
- Key Characteristics of Non-Living Things:
- No Growth: Non-living things do not grow over time (e.g., a stone stays the same size).
- No Reproduction: They do not produce offspring (e.g., a chair cannot make another chair).
- No Movement: Non-living things cannot move on their own unless acted upon (e.g., a rock does not move unless pushed).
- No Respiration: Non-living things do not require oxygen or food to survive (e.g., a book does not need air).
- Cannot Respond to Stimuli: Non-living things do not react to changes in their environment (e.g., a wall does not respond to sound).
Examples:
- A stone (Does not grow or reproduce).
- A pencil (Cannot move or breathe).
- A chair (Cannot grow or respond to its environment).
- A car (Requires an engine to move).
- A book (Does not need food or oxygen to exist).
- A computer (Does not grow, reproduce, or move on its own).
Reading Assignment:
- Read about examples of non-living things in the environment around you.
Evaluation Questions:
- List three characteristics that distinguish non-living things from living things.
- Why can a pencil not be classified as a living thing?
- Explain how a book is different from a living organism.
Lesson 4: Non-Living Things (Continued)
Objective: To expand on the importance of non-living things in the environment and explore how they interact with living things.
Key Points:
- Importance of Non-Living Things:
- Non-living things, though not alive, are essential for sustaining life.
- They provide necessary resources such as water, air, and shelter.
- They also serve as raw materials for creating tools and products.
- Examples of Non-Living Things:
- Water: Crucial for life, helping plants and animals survive.
- Air: Essential for respiration.
- Soil: Provides nutrients for plants.
- Rocks: Used for construction and as materials for building.
- Metal: Used to make tools, machines, and structures.
- Machines: Devices created by humans to perform tasks.
Examples:
- Soil providing nutrients to a plant.
- Water helping a fish to survive.
- Air allowing a human to breathe.
- Rocks being used to build roads.
- Metal used to make a bicycle.
- Machines helping humans to build houses.
Reading Assignment:
- Read about the importance of non-living things and their roles in human life.
Evaluation Questions:
- What are some examples of non-living things that are important for life?
- How does soil benefit living things in the environment?
- Why is water essential for survival?
Lesson 5: You and Energy
Objective: To introduce the concept of energy and its importance in daily life.
Key Points:
- Definition of Energy: Energy is the ability to do work. It powers all activities, from moving objects to running machines.
- Types of Energy:
- Kinetic Energy: Energy of movement (e.g., a moving car).
- Potential Energy: Stored energy (e.g., a book held in the air).
- Thermal Energy: Heat energy (e.g., the warmth from the sun).
- Chemical Energy: Energy stored in food, batteries, and fuels.
- Electrical Energy: Energy from electricity (e.g., lights in a house).
- Light Energy: Energy from light sources (e.g., sunlight).
Examples:
- A car driving (Kinetic energy).
- Water stored in a dam (Potential energy).
- The warmth of the sun (Thermal energy).
- Food providing energy to the body (Chemical energy).
- A phone charging (Electrical energy).
- A lamp glowing (Light energy).
Reading Assignment:
- Read about different types of energy and how they are used in everyday life.
Evaluation Questions:
- What is energy, and why is it important?
- Give an example of kinetic energy in your daily life.
- How does light energy help us in our daily activities?
Lesson 6: You and Energy (Continued)
Objective: To explore how humans use and consume energy in daily life.
Key Points:
- Human Use of Energy:
- Transportation: Cars, buses, and planes use energy to move.
- Cooking: Stoves, ovens, and microwaves consume energy to prepare food.
- Lighting: Light bulbs require electrical energy to function.
- Heating: Energy is used for heating and cooling systems.
- Communication: Phones and radios use electrical energy to operate.
Examples:
- A car using fuel to move.
- A refrigerator using electricity to keep food cool.
- A lamp consuming electricity for light.
- An air conditioner using energy to cool the air.
- A phone using battery power for communication.
- A microwave using electricity to heat food.
Reading Assignment:
- Read about how energy consumption affects the environment.
Evaluation Questions:
- How do we use energy in our homes?
- Explain why energy conservation is important.
- What is the relationship between energy consumption and the environment?
Lesson 7: Renewable and Non-Renewable Energy
Objective: To introduce students to the concepts of renewable and non-renewable energy sources.
Key Points:
- Renewable Energy: Energy that is naturally replenished over time. Examples include solar, wind, and hydro energy.
- Non-Renewable Energy: Energy that comes from finite resources that will eventually run out. Examples include coal, oil, and natural gas.
Examples:
- Solar energy from the sun (Renewable).
- Wind energy from wind turbines (Renewable).
- Coal used for electricity (Non-renewable).
- Oil used in cars (Non-renewable).
- Hydro energy from flowing water (Renewable).
- Biomass energy from organic materials (Renewable).
Reading Assignment:
- Read about the advantages and disadvantages of renewable and non-renewable energy sources.
Evaluation Questions:
- What is the difference between renewable and non-renewable energy?
- Can you give an example of renewable energy used in your community?
- Why is renewable energy considered more environmentally friendly than non-renewable energy?