Turkey

The Science Curriculum in Primary and Lower Secondary Grades

In Grades 1 to 3, primary school teachers teach a course called Knowledge of Life; however, the science content of this course is limited because teaching science is not the course’s primary objective. In Grades 3 to 4, another course, Sciences, is taught and is compulsory. Primary school teachers teach Sciences in Grades 3 to 4, and science specialist teachers teach the course in Grades 5 to 8.

There are seven learning areas in the science and technology curriculum for Grades 3 to 8:¹⁵ Physical Processes; Life and Living Beings; Matter and Change; Earth and the Universe; Science Process Skills; Science-Technology-Society-Environment; and Attitudes and Values. The first four of these learning areas represent specific science content, while the latter three areas function as themes that are interwoven with this content throughout the grades. Although the latter three areas are not included in the curriculum as separate units, they are represented in all content area units. The interwoven curriculum design clearly emphasizes the intent of engaging students in student-centered activities.¹⁶

Each of the first four science learning areas includes several units, which are developed in a spiral fashion throughout the grades. Exhibit 4 presents a summary of the science and technology content areas and their units in Grades 4 to 8.¹⁷

Exhibit 4: Science and Technology Content Areas and Units, Grades 4–8

Grade	Content Areas and Units
	Physical Processes	Matter and Change	Life and Living Beings	Earth and the Universe
4	Force and motion Light and sound Electricity in our lives	Learning about matter	Solving the puzzle of the human body Microscopic creatures and the environment	Our planet Earth The motion of Earth
5	Measurement of force Propagation of light and sound Electricity in our life	Changes in matter and distinguishing change	Solving the puzzle of the human body Let’s walk in and explore the world of living things	The mystery of the composition of Earth’s crust
6	Force and motion Electricity in our lives Light and sound	The particulate structure of matter Matter and heat	Reproduction, growth, and development in animals and plants The systems in the human body	Earth, the Sun, and the Moon
7	Force and energy Electric power Reflection in mirrors and light absorption	The structure and features of matter	The systems in the human body Humans and the environment	The solar system and beyond
8	Simple machines Sound and light Electricity in our lives	The structure and features of matter Phases of matter and heat	Cell division and heredity of human beings The relationships between living things and energy	Earthquakes and natural processes