Malaysia

The Science Curriculum in Primary and Lower Secondary Grades

The Integrated Curriculum for Primary School was in effect for students assessed in science in TIMSS 2015. The science component of the integrated curriculum was designed to provide students the opportunity to acquire scientific knowledge and skills, develop critical thinking skills, and apply their knowledge and skills in everyday life. It also was designed to instill scientific attitudes and noble values through learning activities.⁴ The curriculum stipulates that learning activities should serve the purpose of stimulating students’ critical and creative thinking skills and should not confine students to routine or rote learning practices. At this level, the curriculum is organized around three domains: Scientific Knowledge, Skills, and Scientific Attitudes and Values.

• Scientific Knowledge—This domain encompasses interrelated concepts, facts, rules, and principles associated with biological, chemical, and physical processes, as well as astronomy and technology.
• Skills—Scientific and critical thinking skills are necessary for inquiry and problem solving in science. Scientific skills are important in scientific investigations, such as conducting experiments and carrying out projects. Enhancing students’ critical thinking potential is one of the objectives of the national education policy, and the curriculum emphasizes critical thinking skills as a foundation for thoughtful learning.
• Scientific Attitudes and Values—Scientific attitudes and noble values are instilled through experiential learning either spontaneously or through planned activities.

At the first primary level (up to Grade 4), the science curriculum covers living things and nonliving things. Students learn about themselves, animals and plants, the life processes of humans and animals, and how living things survive. They also learn about physical quantities and measurements of light, heat, sound, energy, magnets, and electricity. Students learn about man-made and natural materials and their properties, the solar system, and the development of technologies in agriculture, communication, transportation, and construction.

At the lower secondary level (Grades 7 to 9), the science curriculum is designed to enable students to develop literacy in science and technology for everyday life. By acquiring scientific knowledge, skills, and values, students learn to solve problems and make decisions that improve their quality of life. The learning activities at the lower secondary level focus on developing students’ critical and creative thinking skills, problem solving skills, and entrepreneurship.

The lower secondary science curriculum is organized into six content areas: Man and the Diversity of Living Things, Matter in Nature, Management and the Continuity of Life, Forces and Motion, Technological and Industrial Development in Life, and Astronomy and Space Exploration. The science topics covered in each content area are presented in Exhibit 1.

Exhibit 1: Lower Secondary Science Curriculum (Grades 7–9)

Main Topics	Learning Outcomes
Introducing Science
Introduction to Science	Understand that science is part of everyday life and the process of scientific investigation Understand physical quantities, their units of measurement, and measuring tools Explain the concepts of mass and weight; understand the importance of using standard units in everyday life
Man and the Diversity of Living  Things
Cells as Units of Life	Understand that cells are the basic unit of living things; prepare slides using correct procedure; identify, draw, and label the general structures of animal cells and plant cells; identify the function of each of the cell structures; and enumerate the similarities and differences between animal cells and plant cells Identify the different types of human cells and their functions Explain cell organization sequentially from simple to complex using the terms cell, tissue, organ, system, and organism, and explain why human beings are complex organisms
Biodiversity	Understand the variety of living organisms and their classification, explain the diversity of living organisms in a habitat, and classify various animals and plants based on common characteristics Explain the importance of biodiversity to the environment
Interdependence Among Living Things and the Environment	Analyze the interdependence among living organisms by defining species, population, and community; identify the various habitats in one ecosystem; and explain the interdependence among living organisms and the environment to create a balanced ecosystem, using examples Evaluate the interactions between living organisms and explain the importance of these interactions Explain the use of biological controls in regulating pests in certain areas Analyze the food chain and predict the consequences of a missing component of living organisms in the ecosystem Analyze photosynthesis and explain its role in maintaining a balanced ecosystem Evaluate and explain the importance of the conservation  and preservation of living organisms Evaluate the role of humans in maintaining the balance in nature, explain the effects of human activity on the balance in nature, describe how humans can solve problems related to the environment, and explain why humans need a stable, productive, and balanced ecosystem
Matter in Nature
Matter	Understand that matter has mass and occupies space Identify the three states of matter and differentiate between them with reference to the arrangement of particles and their movement Understand the concept of density and solve simple problems related to density
The Variety of Resources on Earth	Understand the different resources on Earth and identify the resources needed to sustain life Understand elements, compounds, and mixtures in terms of similarities, differences, and methods of separation Appreciate the importance of the variety of Earth’s resources to man and the importance of good practices (e.g., reduce, reuse, and recycle)
The Air Around Us	Understand the components of air Understand that energy, carbon dioxide, and water vapor are the products of respiration and that living things use oxygen and give out carbon dioxide during respiration Compare the content of oxygen in inhaled and exhaled human breath Understand that oxygen is needed for combustion (burning) Analyze the effects of air pollution and understand the importance of keeping air clean
Water and Solutions	Analyze the physical characteristics of water and explain the effects of impurities on the physical characteristics of water, using examples Analyze the process of water evaporation and its application in daily life Analyze solutions and solubility and explain the importance of water as a universal solvent in life Give examples of the uses of organic solvents in daily life Analyze acids and alkalis and explain the uses of neutralization in daily life Analyze methods of water purification, and compare the strengths and weaknesses of the various types of water purification Describe how the water supply system works and explain ways to save water
Air Pressure	Understand air pressure and explain things that use the principle of air pressure, giving examples Use the principle of air pressure to solve problems
Land and Its Resources	Analyze the various minerals found in Earth’s crust, and write equations in words to show the effect of heat on these minerals Understand and describe the reaction of metals and nonmetals, write chemical equations depicting the reaction of metals and nonmetals, and state that metals react with nonmetals at different rates Understand silicon compounds, define the properties of silicon compounds as they relate to stability, and explain the uses of silicon compounds in daily life, giving examples Analyze calcium compounds, describe the properties of calcium carbonate, and define the properties of calcium compounds and their uses Analyze natural fuel resources and their importance, describe the fractional distillation of petroleum, and explain the contributions of the petroleum and natural gas industries to the country’s economic development Generate ideas on how to use natural fuel resources efficiently
Management and the Continuity of Life
Reproduction	Understand sexual and asexual reproduction, identify the structures and functions of the male and female reproductive systems, compare and contrast male and female gametes, and describe fertilization Explain the menstrual cycle and describe the fertile phase as it relates to fertilization Identify the location of fertilization and the implantation of the embryo Explain the importance and functions of the placenta and umbilical cord and the development of the zygote and embryo Describe factors that influence the physical and emotional development of a baby Explain the importance of research in human reproduction Describe the functions of the male and female reproductive parts of a flower in sexual reproduction, describe pollination, and describe the characteristics of flowers as they relate to their agents of pollination Compare and contrast self-pollination and cross-pollination, and explain the advantages of cross-pollination in agriculture
Sensory Organs	Understand sensory organs and describe the correlation of each sensory organ and its stimuli Identify the structure and location of sensory cells used to detect smell and taste Identify the structure of human skin Identify, draw, and label the structures of the ear and discuss the hearing mechanism Identify the structures of the eye and their functions
Digestive System	Understand the digestive system, identify the parts of the digestive system and their functions, describe the process of digestion, explain absorption of the products of digestion, and explain reabsorption of water in the large intestine Identify classes of food and their functions, describe the relationship between defecation and eating habits, and discuss the importance of eating nutritious food
Circulatory System	Understand the circulatory system and describe respiration Explain the gases exchanged at the alveoli Explain the effects of smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke Draw and label the parts of the heart Differentiate between blood vessels and oxygenated and deoxygenated blood Explain the importance of a healthy heart
Excretory System	Understand the excretory system of humans and plants Explain the importance of healthy kidneys Describe the correlation between photosynthesis, transpiration, and respiration in plants Generate ideas for the use of excretory products of plants
Human Growth	Analyze growth in males and females, and compare the growth rate in males and females Describe the effects of nutrition on growth in children
Energy in Life
Sources of Energy	Understand various forms and sources of energy ; explain renewable and nonrenewable energy; and understand the importance of conserving energy sources
Heat	Analyze the effects of heat on matter; explain heat flow from hot to cold (conduction, convection, and radiation); and apply the principles of expansion and contraction to solve simple problems
Electricity	Describe electrostatics; compare and contrast circuits with components in parallel and series; explain magnetism and electromagnets; compare and contrast a step-up transformer and a step-down transformer and their applications in everyday life; describe how electricity is generated and distributed; describe wiring and safety precautions used with electricity; describe ways to conserve electricity and why conservation is important; and predict problems Malaysia would face if there was a shortage of electricity
Forces and Motion
Dynamics	Understand force and the measurement of force; explain various types of force and their effects; describe frictional force and explain the application of friction in everyday life; and describe and solve problems using the concepts of work and power
Support Systems and Movement	Understand support systems in animals and plants; explain the skeletal system in vertebrates and the various support systems in invertebrates; and discuss the importance of the support system to living things
Technological and Industrial Development in Society
Stability	Understand that the center of gravity affects stability; discuss the relationship between the point of equilibrium and the stability of objects
Simple Machines	Analyze levers and pulleys, and their functions; solve problems using the principles of levers and pulleys
Astronomy and Space Exploration
The Solar System	Describe the characteristics and structures of the sun and how energy is generated, identify the phenomena on the surface of the sun,  and explain the effects of these phenomena on Earth Understand the stars and galaxies in the universe; compare the stars based on certain characteristics; describe the formation and death of stars; describe types of galaxies; identify the position of the Solar System in the universe; and appreciate the uniqueness, order, beauty, and harmony in the universe as a sign of the glory of God
Space Exploration	Understand the developments in the field of astronomy and space exploration Describe the developments in the field of astronomy and space exploration Explain the application of technology to space exploration and astronomy, giving examples Explain the need to continue space exploration