Junior Secondary School 3, JSS3, in Nigeria, marks a crucial stage in students’ academic journey as they transition from junior to senior secondary school. Basic Science serves as the foundational platform, introducing fundamental principles in biology, chemistry, and physics which would be studied in the senior secondary school. This groundwork is essential for further exploration in scientific disciplines and related fields.
Basic Science in J.S.S.3 empowers students to understand the underlying principles that govern the natural world, encompassing biological processes, chemical reactions, and physical phenomena. Through practical experiments and analysis of scientific phenomena, students cultivate problem-solving abilities that are transferable across various areas.
Basic Science is a pivotal subject in the Basic Education Certificate Examination, significantly influencing students’ overall performance. A solid grasp of its concepts not only prepares students for advanced scientific studies but also equips them with the knowledge and skills necessary to excel in diverse professional fields such as technology, engineering, and medicine.
The crowning event for Jss3 and the Junior Secondary school as a whole is the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) which is taken mid-third term. The assessment methods for Basic Science include written examinations, which may consist of multiple-choice questions, short-answer questions, and essay-type questions. These exams are conducted in a controlled environment to ensure fairness and integrity.
Additionally, practical assessments may be included which assess students’ ability to apply theoretical knowledge to practical tasks.
Furthermore, continuous assessment, which involves periodic tests, assignments, and projects conducted throughout the academic session, also contributes to the overall BECE assessment. This allows for an all-around evaluation of students’ performance and progress over time.
| LAGOS STATE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION: UNIFIED SCHEMES OF WORK FOR JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL | ||
| Basic Science Scheme of Work for Junior Secondary School 3(JSS3) | ||
| Class | J.S.S 3 | |
| Subject | Basic Science | |
| Term | First Term | |
| Week | Topic | Breakdown |
| 1 | DRUG AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE – I | I. Effects of DrugsAbuse e.g. StomachUpset,DamagedNostril and Lungs, Skin Rashes, Injection Abscesses II. Prevention of DrugAbuse – Inculcation, Coping Skills, Healthy Lifestyle, Positive, Social Interactions. |
| 2 | DRUG AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE – II | I. Activities of Drug Control Agencies – NAFDAC, NDLEA, etc. II. Misuse of Herbal Medicine |
| 3 | FAMILY TRAITS | I. Family traits – Skin,Color, Height, Albinism, etc. II. Meaning of Dominant and RecessiveTraits III. Importance of FamilyTraits–Intelligence, Diseases, Resemblance, Family, Genealogy. |
| 4 | ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARD – I SOIL EROSION | I. Definition of SoilErosion II. Causesof Soil Erosion III. Control of Soil Erosion |
| 5 | ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARD – II BUSH BURNING | I. Practices that influence Bush Burning II. Effects of Bush Burning including Economic Consequences III. Regulations against Bush Burning |
| 6 | ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARD – III FLOODING | I. Drainage Patterns II. Causes of Flooding III. Prevention of Flooding III. Effects of Flooding on Community and Farmland |
| 7-8 | ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARD IV – DEFORESTATION | I. Reasons for Deforestation, e.g. Commercial and Domestic Firewood II. Effects on the Environment III. Regulations on Deforestation |
| 9 | ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARD V – DESERTIFICATION | I. Define Desertification and ItsEffect II. Identify Geographical Zones Prone to Desertification III. Causes such as Overgrazing, Bush Burning, Cutting Trees for Firewood, etc. IV. Control Measures |
| 10 | ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARD – VI DEPLETION OF OZONE LAYER AND ITS EFFECT | I. Description of Ozone Layer and Its Location in the Atmosphere II. Importance of Ozone Layer III. Effects of Depletion of OzoneLayere.g. Global Warming,Green House Effect, Ice Melting and Flooding. IV. Control Measures V. Regulation on Use of Chlorofluorocarbon – CFC VI. Reduce Bush burning and Control in Household Activities |
| 11-13 | REVISION AND EXAMINATION | |
| Term | Second Term | |
| Week | Topic | Breakdown |
| 1 | RESOURCES FROM LIVING THINGS | I. Examples of Plant Sources e. g. Cash and Food Crops,Dye and Drugs II. Examples of Animal Sources, e. g Hides and Skin,Dairy Product |
| 2 | ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE OF RRESOURCE FROM PLANTS AND ANIMALS | I. Importance to Self II. Importance to Society |
| 3 | RESOURCES FROM NON LIVING THINGS | Examples – Solid Minerals like Limestone, Coal,Gold,Tin, etc. |
| 4 | RESOURCES FROM NON LIVING THINGS – LOCATION IN NIGERIA AND THEIR IMPORTANCE | I. Location of solid minerals in Nigeria II. Economic Importance |
| 5 | LIGHT ENERGY | I. Reflection II. Refraction III. Vision IV. Dispersion and Rainbow |
| 6 | SOUND ENERGY | I. Production of Sound II. Transmission of Sound III. Reflection of Sound I. Hearing |
| 7-8 | MAGNETISM | I. Load Stone II. Law of Magnetism III. Magnetic Poles and Magnetic Fields IV. Care of Magnets |
| 9 | ELECTRICAL ENERGY | I. Flows of electrons II. Circuits andParallel III. Fuses and CircuitBreaker IV. Electric Meter Reading and Billing |
| 10 | SKILL ACQUISITION | I. Meaning of Skill Acquisition II. Reasons for Skill Acquisition e. g. Taking Risks, Decision Making, Managing Emergency Situation, Survival Strategy, Learning to Live together. III. Types of Skill- Farming, Basic Computer Literacy, Photography, Internet Browsing, Desktop Publishing and Networking, etc. IV. Importance of Skill Acquisition e.g. Improved Quality of life appreciating Human Capability, etc. |
| 11 | REVISION | |
| 12-13 | EXAMINATION |
| Term | Third Term | |
| Week | Topic | Breakdown |
| 1 | FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION – I | I. Implication of Teenage Pregnancy II. Myths and Facts about Pregnancy |
| 2 | FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION II | I. Definition and Types ofAbortion II. Reasons for Abortion II. Unsafe Abortion and Consequences IV. Ways of preventing Abortion V. Where to get help |
| 3 | RADIOACTIVITY | I. Meaningof Radio Activity II. Radioactive Elements III. Types of Radiation and Properties IV. Uses of Radioactivity V. Dangers of Radioactive Rays |
| 4 | ETHICAL ISSUES IN SCIENCE AND DEVELOPMENT | I. Meaning and Wrong Application of Science II. Implications of Bad Scientific Practices Destroy Individuals Life III. Adverse Effects on a Country |
| 5 | SIMPLE MACHINE | I. Definition II. Uses of Simple Machine |
| 6 | REVISION | |
| 7-12 | REVISION AND EXAMINATION |
The recommended textbooks for Basic Science in J.S.S.3 include:
