Science of Living Things Biology SS 1 First Term Lesson Notes Week 1

Lesson Note: Science of Living Things

Subject: Biology
Class: SS 1
Term: First Term
Week: 1
Age: 15-16 years

Topic: Science of Living Things
Sub-topic: 1. Biology as a Science 2. The Scientific Methods 3. Usefulness of Biology
Duration: 40 minutes

Behavioural Objectives:
By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

• Define biology and explain its importance as a science.
• Describe the scientific methods used in biological studies.
• Identify the usefulness of biology in everyday life.

Keywords:
Biology, Science, Scientific Method, Usefulness, Living Things.

Set Induction:
Begin the lesson by asking students what they know about living things and how they study them. Encourage them to share any personal experiences or observations related to living organisms.

Entry Behaviour:
Students should have a basic understanding of what science is and have studied living and non-living things in previous classes.

Learning Resources and Materials:

• Textbooks on Biology
• Whiteboard and markers
• Chart on the scientific method
• Projector for presentations (if available)

Building Background / Connection to Prior Knowledge:
Connect the topic to previous lessons on the characteristics of living things, discussing how these characteristics relate to biology.

Embedded Core Skills:

• Critical thinking: Analyze information from scientific studies.
• Communication: Discuss findings with peers.
• Problem-solving: Address scientific questions using the scientific method.

Learning Materials:

• Lagos State Biology Scheme of Work
• Online resources and articles on biology

Reference Books:

• Lagos State Scheme of Work
• “Biology for Senior Secondary Schools” by Ababio, O. Y.

Instructional Materials:

• Visual aids (posters, charts) on living things and biology
• PowerPoint presentations (if applicable)

Content

1. Define Biology:
Biology is the branch of science that studies living organisms, their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, and distribution.

2. Explain Biology as a Science:
Biology is considered a science because it involves systematic observation, experimentation, and the application of the scientific method to understand life processes.

3. List the Scientific Methods:

• Observation: Gathering information through the senses.
• Hypothesis: Formulating a testable statement.
• Experimentation: Conducting experiments to test hypotheses.
• Analysis: Interpreting data collected from experiments.
• Conclusion: Drawing conclusions based on experimental data.

4. Usefulness of Biology:

• Medicine: Understanding diseases and developing treatments.
• Agriculture: Improving crop yields and animal husbandry.
• Environmental Science: Conservation of biodiversity.
• Biotechnology: Developing new products and processes.
• Education: Promoting awareness of biological sciences.

Evaluation

Fill-in-the-Blank Questions (15):

1. Biology is the study of __________. (a) rocks (b) living things (c) machines (d) weather
2. The first step in the scientific method is __________. (a) analysis (b) hypothesis (c) observation (d) conclusion
3. The usefulness of biology in __________ helps us understand human health. (a) agriculture (b) medicine (c) engineering (d) literature
4. __________ is an important aspect of biological studies. (a) Guessing (b) Experimentation (c) Opinion (d) Tradition
5. Living things can be classified into __________ categories. (a) two (b) three (c) four (d) five
6. The scientific method helps scientists to __________ their findings. (a) ignore (b) share (c) embellish (d) confuse
7. In biology, a __________ is a proposed explanation for a phenomenon. (a) theory (b) hypothesis (c) law (d) fact
8. __________ helps in understanding the environmental impact of human activities. (a) Physics (b) Biology (c) Chemistry (d) Geography
9. Biology as a science relies heavily on __________. (a) intuition (b) speculation (c) observation (d) assumptions
10. A __________ is a systematic way of learning about the natural world. (a) guess (b) experiment (c) hypothesis (d) theory
11. In biology, the study of animals is called __________. (a) botany (b) zoology (c) ecology (d) genetics
12. The process of __________ involves testing hypotheses. (a) experimentation (b) observation (c) conclusion (d) analysis
13. __________ is important in the production of food and crops. (a) Biology (b) Astronomy (c) Physics (d) Sociology
14. The analysis of data collected during experiments is known as __________. (a) hypothesis (b) conclusion (c) research (d) observation
15. Understanding the role of ecosystems is a part of __________. (a) chemistry (b) biology (c) physics (d) mathematics

Class Activity Discussion

FAQs with Answers (15):

1. What is biology?
   • Biology is the study of living organisms.
2. Why is biology considered a science?
   • It uses the scientific method to study life.
3. What are the main branches of biology?
   • Some branches include zoology, botany, and microbiology.
4. What is the scientific method?
   • A systematic way to explore observations and answer questions.
5. How is biology useful in everyday life?
   • It helps in health, agriculture, and environmental conservation.
6. What do scientists do during experiments?
   • They test hypotheses and analyze results.
7. What is a hypothesis?
   • A proposed explanation that can be tested.
8. Why do we need to study living things?
   • To understand our environment and improve our lives.
9. What tools do biologists use?
   • Microscopes, models, and computers.
10. Can biology help in medicine?
    • Yes, it helps understand diseases and develop treatments.
11. What role does observation play in biology?
    • It is the first step in the scientific method.
12. How does biology affect agriculture?
    • It helps improve crop and livestock production.
13. What is the difference between a theory and a hypothesis?
    • A hypothesis is a testable statement; a theory is a well-substantiated explanation.
14. What is ecology?
    • The study of how living things interact with each other and their environment.
15. Why is it important to conserve biodiversity?
    • Biodiversity maintains ecosystem balance and supports life.

Presentation

Step 1: Revise the previous topic by discussing living and non-living things.
Step 2: Introduce the new topic by explaining biology and its importance.
Step 3: Encourage students to share their thoughts on biology and its applications, correcting any misconceptions.

Activities

Teacher’s Activities:

• Present the lesson content using visual aids.
• Facilitate discussions and encourage student participation.
• Provide examples to illustrate concepts.

Learner’s Activities:

• Participate in class discussions.
• Answer questions and engage in group activities.
• Complete evaluation questions.

Assessment

Evaluation Questions (10):

1. Define biology.
2. List the steps of the scientific method.
3. Explain why biology is useful in medicine.
4. Describe one application of biology in agriculture.
5. What is the role of observation in scientific research?
6. How does biology relate to environmental science?
7. Provide an example of a hypothesis.
8. Why is experimentation important in biology?
9. Explain the significance of studying living organisms.
10. Describe how biology impacts everyday life.

Conclusion

The teacher will circulate around the classroom to mark students’ answers and provide necessary feedback and evaluations to ensure understanding of the topic