FIRST TERM: E-LEARNING NOTES

SUBJECT: BIOLOGYCLASS: SS1SCHEME OF WORKWEEKS TOPICS

1.Introduction to Biology;(a) Meaning of science and biology (b) Scientiicmethod(c)
Experimental pattern (d) Living and non living things (e) Differences betweenplants and animals
(f) Levels of organization of life (g) Complexity of multi-cellularorganisms.
2.Classiication of living things : (a) Binomial nomenclature (b) Kingdom monera (c)Kingdom
protista (d) Kingdom fungi
3.Classiication of living things: Kingdom Plantae (b) Kingdom Animalia.
4.The Cell : (a) Cell as a living unit of an organism (b) Forms in which cells exist (c) Cellstructure
and functions (d) The cell theory (e) Differences and similarities betweenplant and animal cells.
5.Cell and its environment and Some Properties and functions of the cell : (a) Diffusion(b)
Osmosis (c) Plant nutrition (d) Micro and Macro nutrients.
6.Some Properties and functions of the cell - Continued: (a) Animal nutrition (b)Balanced diet (c)
Enzymes (d) Food test.
7. Mid – Term Break
8. Some Properties and functions of the cell - Continued: (a) Cellular respiration (b)Excretion (c)
Growth
9.Some Properties and functions of the cell - Continued: (a) Cell reaction to itsenvironment (b)
Movement (c) Reproduction.
10.Tissues and supporting systems : (a) Skeleton and Supporting systems inanimals(i) Biological
signiicance (b) Forms of skeletons (c) Types of skeletons (c) Bones of the vertebral column (d)
Joints (e) Functions of skeleton in animals. of the vertebral column (e) Functions of the skeleton in
animals.
11.Revision
12.Examinatio

WEEK 1
SUBJECT: BIOLOGY
CLASS: SS1
TOPIC: 1. INTRODUCTION TO BIOLOGY: BIOLOGY AS AN INQUIRY IN
SCIENCECONTENT:
1: MEANING OF (a) SCIENCE AND (b) BIOLOGY
Science can be defined as asystematic process of making inquiry about the living and non-
livingthings in our environment. Science is both an organized body of knowledge and a process of
finding out knowledge. Or Science is a systematic process of making enquiry about living and
non-things.
Biology is the branch of science that studies living things. The word ‘biology’ is derived from
two Greek words: ‘bios’ which means life, and ‘logos’ which means study. Biology
therefore means the study of life or of living things.
Biology has several branches, these include
i.Botany: is the study of plants
ii.Zoology: is the study of animals)
iii.Morphology: is the study of the external features of living things.
iv. Anatomy: is the study of internal structure of living things.
v.Physiology: is the Study of how living things function.
vi.Ecology: is the study of the relationships between living things and their environment.
vii.Genetics: is the Study of how living things inherit characters from their parents. etc.The prime
purpose of science is research, i.e. finding out about things, so biology involves findingout or
making inquiry about living things, their interaction with themselves and with nature.

EVALUATION
1.Define the terms (a) Science (b) Biology
2.State five branches of biology.
3.Of what use is (a) science (b) biology to man?

Sub – Topic 2: METHOD OF SCIENCE

The method of science involves systematically making inquiries about something under study. It
begins with observation (that is, looking at something carefully with a view to finding an answerto
a question). This involves using all the senses i.e. sight, hearing, touch, feeling, pressure, taste,etc.
and instruments (e.g. ruler, microscope, magnifying lens, weighing balance, telescopes,barometer,
etc.) where necessary. Observation is followed by a hypothesis i.e. a sensible, reasonable guess
which is capable of being tested or verified.The hypothesis is tested by anexperiment .
Experiments usually involve measurements/counting,as such they have to be carried out as
accurately as possible. Scientific experiments have a control.The control experiment is identical
with the experiment proper, but the factor to be tested is omitted. This gives the investigator a
higher degree of confidence in his result and conclusion.
Results from an experiment are put together and a conclusion (inference/generalization) is made.
Other scientists may repeat the same experiment and is similar results are obtained then the
generalization is accepted as a theory. When a theory has been tested extensively, worldwide and
found to be consistently true, it becomes a law e.g. the law of gravity.
Sub – Topic 3: EXPERIMENTAL PATTERN
Experiments are designed to eliminate all forms of bias so as to avoid making false conclusions.
Toachieve this, only the factor being tested is varied, all other factors that may affect the result
arekept constant. These experiments are known as controlled experiments.While experimenting, a
biologist uses processes of science such as counting, measuring, classifying,organizing data,
communicating, recording and interpreting data.In recording an experiment/ giving the account of
a scientific investigation, the following pattern isused:
i.Date of experiment
ii.Aim/purpose of experiment
iii.Apparatus/materials requirediv.Procedure/method used (including control and precautions)
v.Observations
vi.Inference (deduction from what is already known)
vii.Conclusion.In biology, experiments are carried out on living things. It may not be possible to
get a sample of test population with identical organisms. This problem can be reduced by using
large test samplesand also repeating the experiment many times.

EVALUATION
1.State and explain the processes involved in making inquiries in science?
2. In your own words, what are the proper attitudes which should characterize a scientist?
3.Enumerate the steps specified in giving account of a scientific investigation.
4.How is bias taken care of in a biological investigation?

FIRST PRACTICAL
Setting up and using of a light microscope.
Objectives of the practical exercise; Students should be able to
i.Identify the parts and functions of each part of the microscope
ii.Calculate the magnification of a diagram
iii.Draw and label a light microscope (10 – 12cm long)
iv.Observe a chosen specimen using the microscope (cells of an onion bulb)

Sub – Topic 4: LIVING AND NON LIVING THINGS

Everything in the world can be classified as either a living thing or non-living thing. Living things
include plants and animals (things that have life) e.g. Man, Monkey, Earthworm, Flies, Mango,
Freshokra plant, Hibiscus etc. Non-living things do not have life e.g. Stone, Water, Air, Table, etc.
CHARACTERISTICS OF LIVING THINGS
Some features have been found in every living thing ever studied by Biologists, these are; Living
things consist mainly of water and compounds carbon.They are made up of one or more units
called cells. They carry out seven basic life processes namely;
1. Movement – This is defined as the ability of an organism to change its position. It may be a
total change in position of the body as in the case of animals that move their whole body from one
place to another or a limited change in position as in the case of plants which can only move parts
of their body (e.g. in bending). Living things move in order to look for food, shelter, mates
(reproduction) and to escape from danger. Generally, most animals can walk, swim, or fly from
one place to another but plants can only move parts of themselves in response to external stimuli.
Movement from place to place is also referred to as Locomotion.
2. Nutrition - This is the ability of an organism to feed. The reason for feeding is to enable
livingthings to live and carry out life processes like growth, respiration and reproduction. Plants
manufacture their own food through the process of photosynthesis (autotrophic nutrition). Animals
cannot manufacture their own food but depend directly or indirectly on plants for
food(heterotrophic nutrition).
3. Respiration – This involves the taking in of oxygen in order to burn down (oxidize) food
substances to release energy which is used to carry out all life processes. Carbondioxide is given
off in the process.
4. Excretion – This is the removal of metabolic waste products from the body. Many chemical
activities go on in an organism and produce waste. These waste products are substances which the
organism does not need and which may poison it if allowed to build up in the body. The waste
products of metabolism include carbondioxide, water, urea, e. t. c.
5. Irritability or Sensitivity – This is the ability o an organism to perceive and respond to
stimuli(changes in the surrounding). Living things exhibits sensitivity in order to survive in
theirenvironment. The response is oten by some orm o movement. Stimuli include heat,
light, pain,sounds, chemical substances, e.t.c.Growth – This is defined as permanent increase in
size and mass o an organism especially whileyoung. Organisms also replace and repair worn or
damaged parts o the body throughout lie. Theood eaten provides the basis o growth.
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