Indonesia

The Science Curriculum in Primary and Lower Secondary Grades

Exhibits 4 and 5 present the topics and skills covered by the end of Grades 4 and 8, respectively, according to the national content standards for science.

Exhibit 4: Science Content Covered by the End of Grade 4

Subject	Content
Life Science	Understanding the structure and function of the human body and how to maintain health Understanding the structure and function of plants Classifying animals based on their diet Understanding simple life cycles, ecosystems, food chains, and the interdependence of living organisms
Physical Science	Identifying properties of matter and changes in states of matter Understanding forms of energy and energy transfer Identifying the various kinds of energy and their uses in daily life
Earth Science	Describing Earth’s structure and physical characteristics Describing changes in the physical environment Recognizing Earth’s resources and their uses and how to preserve them

Exhibit 5: Science Content Covered by the End of Grade 8 or 9

Subject	Content
Biology (Including Environmental Science)*	Characteristics and classification of living organisms; variety in the structure of living organisms; ecosystems; biodiversity; ecosystem conservation; human population; pollution; growth and development of living organisms; human development; health; muscular, digestive, respiratory, and circulatory systems in humans; the structure and function of plant tissues; photosynthesis; nutrients; transport systems in plants; and plant diseases
	The human excretory and reproductive systems; the human nervous system and the senses; adaptation, selection, and reproduction in living organisms; heredity in living organisms; biotechnology applications in agriculture
Chemistry	Properties of acids, bases, and salts; elements and simple chemical formulas; characteristics of elements, compounds, and mixtures; atoms, ions, and molecules; matter and density; physical and chemical changes; and chemical substances in everyday life
Physics	Measurement; scales and units; motion, force, and energy; vibrations and waves; optics; electricity; magnetism; the solar system; sound and light; and electrical energy
Earth Science (Part of Social Science)	Earth’s structure, processes, cycles, history, and physical features (e.g., lithosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere); Earth in the solar system and the universe; and using maps, atlases, and globes

*Based on the 2011 National Content Standards

In 2013, Indonesia developed a new national curriculum, K13. Beginning in July 2013, 6 percent of schools implemented the new curriculum in Grades 1, 4, 7, and 10. When TIMSS 2015 was administered, no sample schools had implemented the K13 curriculum in the fourth grade.

The K13 curriculum includes the following changes for mathematics and science instruction. In addition to acquiring science knowledge, K13 emphasizes encouraging students to work scientifically and develop scientific attitudes. The aim of science instruction is not only to build student knowledge but also to encourage scientific behavior. The new curriculum includes the following skill objectives: observing, questioning, exploring, associating, and communicating. These skills are essential for mastering 21st century skills. Mathematics and science instruction both are delivered in local and global contexts. Examples of local contexts are disaster mitigation, estimating the distance between islands, and traveling by boat or kayak. The K13 curriculum also integrates subjects into themed instruction in Grades 1 to 3.