The Science Curriculum in Primary and Lower Secondary Grades

Similar to mathematics, science is a compulsory subject throughout basic education in Bahrain. The science curriculum for each cycle of basic education is built upon two types of general competency: central and subsidiary.⁸

The curriculum for Grade 4 in Cycle 2 contains 13 central science competencies covering four content areas: Nature of Science, Physical Science, Earth and Space Science, and Life and Environmental Science. The curriculum also contains 13 subsidiary competencies, which detail the topics within the general competencies in terms of knowledge, application, and reasoning.

In the progression of learning, the curriculum for Grade 8 in Cycle 3 contains nine central competencies covering the following content areas: Nature of Science; Science, Technology, and Society; and Physical Science. (Earth Science is taught again in Grade 9.) In addition to the nine central competencies, there are nine subsidiary competencies. Together, the central and subsidiary competencies clearly define the content areas in terms of scientific knowledge and understanding. Students are expected to develop and utilize their scientific skills, apply their knowledge and understanding, and extend their thinking to accommodate new findings. The translated version of the McGraw-Hill series in science provides the national science curriculum in Bahrain. Exhibits 5 and 6 present science content areas and competencies for Grade 4 in Cycle 2 and Grade 8 in Cycle 3.

Exhibit 5: Science Content Areas and Competencies for Grade 4 in Bahrain

Content Area	Competencies
Nature of Science	Understand the nature of science and use scientific processes and procedures to explore and explain events and phenomena
Physical Science (Physics and Chemistry)	Identify concepts related to motion and its relationship to force and work Demonstrate understanding of the concept of energy, forms and sources of energy, and energy transfer Understand that light is a form of energy and that it can be broken into different colors Describe a variety of mixtures, and explain how they can be prepared physically Define the states and characteristics of matter, and explore changes that might occur in matter (e.g., through heating and cooling)
Earth and Space Science	Develop basic knowledge of space, galaxies, stars, and the solar system, and demonstrate understanding of the relationship among the Earth, Sun, and Moon Describe the solar system and understand the relationship among the solar system, stars, and galaxies
Life and Environmental Science	Describe differences between living and nonliving things; identify the structures and functions of living things, including common characteristics such as reproduction, heredity, growth, and the need of water and air Recognize the physical and behavioral characteristics of major groups of living things Understand diversity and adaptation of living organisms, and classify them into major groups (e.g., mammals, insects, birds, and plants) Develop basic knowledge of human life and the surrounding environment, and identify the effects of the environment on physical features of animals and plants

Exhibit 6: Science Content Areas and Competencies for Grade 8 in Bahrain

Content Area	Competencies
Nature of Science	Understand the nature of science, and use scientific processes and procedures to explore and explain events and phenomena
Science, Technology, and Society	Understand the interaction among science, technology, and society
Physical Science (Physics and Chemistry)	Identify concepts related to motion and its relationship to force Define speed as change in position (distance) over time and acceleration as change in speed over time, and define the relationship between speed and direction Recognize the effect of different forces (e.g., pressure, floating, and sinking) Identify Newton’s first and second laws of motion and how friction affects motion Explain Newton’s third law of motion, describing the phenomenon of weightlessness Demonstrate understanding of forms of energy and conservation of energy, heat transfer and thermal conductivity, and properties of light and sound Describe processes involved in changes in states of matter, and relate states of matter to distance and movement among particles Describe a variety of mixtures, and explain how they can be prepared physically