ISpark_learning_objectives

3.1 __Simple concepts of population, community and ecosystem__ Pupils are expected to    (a)   explain the terms 'population' and 'community' (b)    identify a habitat and some of the organisms associated with the habitat (c)  explain the importance of various physical factors like air, water, temperature, light, minerals and acidity/alkalinity, to the life of organisms (d)    show an understanding of the interrelationship among the various organisms in a community (e)  show an understanding that the habitat together with the organisms living in it forms an ecosystem (f)  explain the importance of conserving the physical environment (g)  predict the consequences of selective addition or removal of an organism from an environment
 * // Theme : Interactions  //**
 * // Topics : Ecology  //**
 * // Discipline : Biology  //**
 * // Duration : 3 weeks   //**

3.2 __Relationships of Organisms with One Another and with the Environment__ Pupils are expected to (a)  state that the Sun is the principal source of energy input to biological systems (b) describe the non-cyclical nature of energy flow (c) establish the relationship of the following in food web: producer; consumer; herbivore; carnivore; decomposer; food chain (d) describe energy losses between trophic levels and infer the advantages of short food chains (e) describe and interpret pyramids of numbers and biomass (f) describe the importance of the carbon cycle
 * // Theme : Models and Systems //**
 * // Topics : Sexual Reproduction //**
 * // Discipline : Biology //**
 * // Duration : 3 weeks //**

4.1 __Sexual reproduction in man__ Pupils are expected to  (a)    state some of the physical changes that occur during puberty and early adolescence.  (b)    identify on diagrams of the male reproductive system and give the functions of: testes, scrotum, sperm ducts, prostate gland, urethra and penis.  (c)    identify on diagrams of the female reproductive system and give the functions of: ovaries, oviducts, uterus, cervix and vagina.  (d)    compare the male and female gametes in terms of size, numbers and mobility.  (e)    describe the menstrual cycle with reference to the alternation of menstruation and ovulation, the natural variation in its length, and the fertile and infertile phases of the cycle.  (f)  describe fertilisation and early development of the zygote simply in terms of a ball of cells which becomes implanted in the wall of the uterus.  (g)    state the function of the amniotic sac and amniotic fluid.  (h)    describe the function of the placenta and umbilical cord in relation to exchange of dissolved nutrients, gases and excretory products (no structural details are required).  (i)  describe the following methods of birth control: natural, chemical (spermicides), mechanical, hormonal and surgical.

4.2 __Sexually transmitted diseases__  (a)    state the harmful consequences of sexually transmitted disease like syphilis, gonorrhea and AIDS.  (b)    explain that syphilis is caused by a bacterium which is transmitted during sexual intercourse  (c)    describe the symptoms, signs, effects and treatment of syphilis  (d)    discuss the spread of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and methods by which it may be controlled 4.3 __Sexuality Education__ Pupils are expected to  (a)    recognise that in sexual reproduction a new individual is formed through the union of an egg and a sperm.  (b)    recognise that a new individual formed through sexual reproduction receives genetic information from its mother (via the egg) and its father (via the sperm).  (c)    discuss the consequences and issues relating to: <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> (d)    show an awareness of some forms of facilitated reproduction in human beings. 5.1 __Micro-organisms__ Pupils are expected to (a)  list the main characteristics of the following groups of microorganisms: bacteria, viruses and fungi and name some common examples of each group. (b) state some important applications of genetic engineering (e.g. insulin production).
 * abortion
 * pre-marital sex
 * // Theme : Models and Systems //**
 * // Topics : Simple Genetics //**
 * // Discipline : Life Sciences //**
 * // Duration : 3 weeks //**

5.2 __Genetic Materials__ Pupils are expected to (a)  define DNA as the molecule of heredity. (b) describe the relationship between gene, chromosome and DNA. (c) describe the structure and function of DNA (including the double helix structure and the 4 bases).

5.3 __Genetic transformation of bacteria__ Pupils are expected to <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> (a)    describe the role of cloning vectors (e.g. plasmids, bacteriophages) in bacterial transformation. <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> (b)    prepare competent //E.coli// cells for bacterial transformation and carrying out rapid colony transformation of //E.coli// cells using a suitable plasmid DNA.