Comprehensive Analysis of “JSS 1 Scheme of Work for Second Term”

The Junior Secondary School (JSS) curriculum is designed to equip young learners with the essential knowledge and skills to help them understand the world around them. The second term of the JSS 1 Scheme of Work provides a structured learning path for students, focusing on key science topics that foster curiosity and critical thinking. In this article, we will delve deeply into the Scheme of Work for JSS 1, second term, breaking down the topics and their content, as well as explaining them with practical examples for ease of understanding.

JSS 1 Scheme of Work for Second Term

Detailed Explanation of Each Topic

Week 1: Revision of Last Term’s Work

The first week of the second term is dedicated to revisiting the material from the previous term. This is an essential week to ensure that students have retained the key concepts and can apply them in new contexts.

Key Points to Cover:

• Recap of topics from the first term.
• Assessment through quizzes or discussions to gauge students’ understanding.
• Encouragement for students to ask questions about concepts that were unclear.

Week 2: Living Things

This week focuses on understanding what makes an organism “living.” Students will learn the basic characteristics that define living things.

Key Content:

• Definition of Living Things: Any organism that displays all the characteristics of life, such as growth, reproduction, movement, and response to stimuli.
• Characteristics of Living Things:
  1. Movement: All living things move, whether it is a plant bending towards light or an animal running.
  2. Respiration: The process of converting food into energy (e.g., humans breathing in oxygen).
  3. Reproduction: The ability to reproduce and create offspring (e.g., plants growing from seeds).
  4. Growth: Living organisms grow over time (e.g., puppies growing into dogs).
  5. Sensitivity: The ability to respond to changes in the environment (e.g., plants growing towards sunlight).
  6. Excretion: The process of removing waste from the body (e.g., humans sweating).

Examples:

• A dog (animal) moving around.
• A plant growing towards sunlight.
• A bird reproducing by laying eggs.
• A baby growing into a child.
• A fish excreting waste into water.
• An insect flying when it senses danger.

Week 3: Non-Living Things

In this week, students will distinguish between living and non-living things, focusing on the characteristics and examples of non-living things.

Key Content:

• Definition of Non-Living Things: Non-living things are objects or materials that do not exhibit the characteristics of life.
• Characteristics of Non-Living Things:
  1. Do Not Grow: Non-living things do not grow over time (e.g., rocks remain the same size).
  2. Do Not Reproduce: They cannot reproduce (e.g., a chair cannot produce another chair).
  3. Do Not Move on Their Own: Non-living things do not have the ability to move unless acted upon (e.g., a ball will only move if pushed).
  4. No Respiration: They do not need oxygen to survive (e.g., a pencil doesn’t breathe).
  5. Cannot Respond to Stimuli: Non-living things cannot respond to changes in their environment (e.g., a table won’t bend towards the light).

Examples:

• A stone (does not grow or reproduce).
• A chair (cannot move on its own).
• A book (does not breathe).
• A pencil (does not respond to the environment).
• A television (does not grow or reproduce).
• A car (needs a driver to move).

Week 4: Non-Living Things (Continued)

This week will continue exploring non-living things, focusing on their role in the environment and their interaction with living things.

Key Content:

• Importance of Non-Living Things: Non-living things, while not alive, play an important role in the ecosystem and daily life.
  1. Soil: Provides nutrients for plants.
  2. Water: Essential for life, helping plants and animals survive.
  3. Air: Supplies oxygen for respiration.
  4. Rocks and Minerals: Used for construction, and some are vital for energy.
  5. Tools and Machines: Facilitate work and production.

Examples:

• Soil helping plants grow.
• Water nourishing animals.
• Air enabling humans to breathe.
• Rocks used in building houses.
• Machines like tractors used in farming.
• Metals used in electronics.

Week 5: You and Energy

Week 5 delves into the concept of energy—what it is, its importance, and how humans use it.

Key Content:

• Definition of Energy: The ability to do work, which is required for all activities and functions.
• Types of Energy:
  1. Kinetic Energy: Energy of motion (e.g., a moving car).
  2. Potential Energy: Stored energy (e.g., a book held in the air).
  3. Thermal Energy: Heat energy (e.g., sunlight warming the earth).
  4. Chemical Energy: Energy stored in chemical bonds (e.g., food for humans).
  5. Electrical Energy: Energy from the flow of electrons (e.g., powering devices).
  6. Light Energy: Energy from light sources (e.g., the sun).

Examples:

• A moving vehicle (kinetic energy).
• Water stored in a dam (potential energy).
• Heat from a stove (thermal energy).
• Food providing energy to humans (chemical energy).
• A battery powering a phone (electrical energy).
• A lamp giving off light (light energy).

Week 6: You and Energy (Continued)

The focus in this week is on how humans use energy in everyday life and the consequences of energy consumption.

Key Content:

• Human Use of Energy: Discusses how energy is consumed in daily activities and the need for energy conservation.
• Energy Consumption:
  1. Transportation: Cars, buses, and planes use energy to move.
  2. Cooking: Stoves, microwaves, and ovens use energy to cook food.
  3. Lighting: Light bulbs use electrical energy.
  4. Heating: Air conditioners and heaters use energy.
  5. Communication: Phones, radios, and televisions use energy to function.
  6. Entertainment: Gaming consoles and other devices also consume energy.

Examples:

• Cars using fuel for transportation.
• Stoves using gas or electricity for cooking.
• Light bulbs consuming electricity.
• Air conditioners using energy for cooling.
• Radios operating on electrical power.
• Gaming consoles requiring energy to run.

Week 7: Renewable and Non-Renewable Energy

This week students will learn about energy sources that can be renewed and those that cannot.

Key Content:

• Renewable Energy: Energy from sources that can be replenished naturally (e.g., solar, wind, hydro, biomass).
• Non-Renewable Energy: Energy from sources that cannot be replenished once used (e.g., coal, oil, natural gas).

Examples:

• Solar energy from the sun.
• Wind energy from windmills.
• Water energy from flowing rivers (hydropower).
• Biomass energy from organic materials.
• Coal as a non-renewable source.
• Oil extracted from underground reservoirs.

Week 8: Renewable and Non-Renewable Energy (Continued)

This week focuses on case studies of energy sources and their impact on the environment.

Key Content:

• Environmental Impact: Discusses how the use of renewable and non-renewable energy sources affects the environment.
• Examples:
  • Solar energy having minimal environmental impact.
  • Wind energy providing clean, sustainable power.
  • Coal contributing to pollution and greenhouse gases.
  • Oil extraction causing environmental degradation.
  • Hydropower affecting aquatic ecosystems.
  • Biomass being a cleaner alternative to fossil fuels.

Week 9: Revision

In the penultimate week, students will review the entire term’s topics to reinforce their understanding.

Week 10: Exam

The final week includes an assessment to gauge the students’ knowledge and understanding of the topics covered.