Science Education

Science education provides learning experiences for students to develop scientific literacy with a firm foundation on science, realise the relationship between science, technology, engineering and mathematics, master the integration and application of knowledge and skills within and across KLAs, and develop positive values and attitudes for personal development and for contributing to a scientific and technological world.

 

Learning Targets

Knowledge and Understanding

Students should

• acquire basic scientific knowledge and understand some phenomena, facts, concepts and basic principles in science;
• recognise the connections and overarching coherence across different disciplines of science with unifying concepts;
• learn the vocabulary, terminology and convention used in science;
• apply scientific knowledge and skills to solve simple daily life problems.

 

Skills and Processes

Students should

• make observations, ask relevant questions, identify and define problems;
• use apparatus and equipment properly for conducting practical work;
• formulate hypothesis for investigation; control variables; plan and conduct
• investigation;
• make accurate measurement; use diagrams and graphs to present experimental results; collect and analyse data for making conclusion;
• use basic science language to communicate ideas;
• be able to think scientifically, critically and creatively;
• be able to integrate and apply knowledge and skills to solve problems
• collaboratively in real-life contexts;
• participate actively in group discussion and work effectively with other
• members in group;
• develop the ability to distinguish between fact, myth and belief, and make
• informed decision.

 

Values and Attitudes

Students should

• develop curiosity and interest in science and appreciate the wonder of the Nature and the development of the technological world;
• show respect to life and the environment;
• develop positive values and attitudes towards adopting healthy lifestyles;
• recognise the usefulness and limitations of science and the evolutionary nature of scientific knowledge;
• be aware of the relationship between science, technology, society and environment, and develop an attitude of responsible citizenship;
• develop an awareness of safety issues in everyday life, understand the reasons behind, and take proper actions to avoid accidents and reduce risks;
• and recognise the effects of human activities on the environment and act sensibly for sustainable development of the environment.

 

The Units for the Curriculum

The curriculum content is organised into 14 Units. It is designed to cover the key ideas of science, as well as the social and technological implications of science. Each Unit allows students to explore and investigate a specific theme in Science. The Units for S1, S2 and S3 are listed below:

 

S1

Unit 1: Introducing Science

Unit 2: Water

Unit 3: Looking at Living Things

Unit 4: Cells, Human Reproduction and Heredity

Unit 5: Energy

Unit 6: Matter as Particles

 

S2

Unit 7: Living Things and Air

Unit 8: Making Use of Electricity

Unit 9: Common Acids and Alkalis

Unit 10: Sensing the Environment

Unit 11: Force and Motion

 

S3

Unit 12: A Healthy Body

Unit 13: From Atoms to Materials

Unit 14: Light, Colours and Beyond

 

STEAM Learning Modules

The curriculum includes three modular topics cover areas of “Innovation and Technology”, Engineering Practices” and “Data Processing”, the content of which is closely linked with the

themes in Science (S1-3) and relevant to the real-life contexts. The activities in the STEAM Learning Modules include I&T investigative activities, engineering design, problem-solving activities and data processing exercises, etc. The engaging learning activities allow students to integrate and apply the knowledge and skills in Science, Mathematics and Technology, familiarise themselves with the basic concepts of engineering design and enhance their understanding of the application of Science and I&T in the real-life contexts, thereby cultivating their problem-solving and creative thinking abilities.