2023/24 Annual Teaching Plans: Life Sciences for Grade 10

Term 1

WEEK 1
  • CAPS Topics: Orientation to Life Sciences
    • Core Concepts, Skills, and Values:
    • Understanding how science works, based on knowledge and scientific skills.
    • Exploration of various careers and subject combinations in life sciences.
  • Skills:
    • Graphs
    • Calculations (Percentage, Percentage Increase/Decrease, Average)
    • Scientific Method:
    • Planning steps, identification of variables, ensuring validity and reliability.
  • History of Microscopy:
    • Types of Microscopes:
    • Light microscope
    • Electron microscope
    • Scientific Diagrams:
    • Actual Size and Magnification calculations.
WEEK 2
  • CAPS Topics: The Chemistry of Life
    • Molecules for Life:
    • Organic molecules composed of Carbon (C), Hydrogen (H), Oxygen (O), and sometimes Nitrogen (N) and Phosphorus (P).
    • Components of Cells:
      • Proteins, Carbohydrates, Lipids, Nucleic Acids, Vitamins (only basic structural details required).
WEEK 3
  • Inorganic Compounds:
    • Water Composition:
      • Molecular formula: 2 H and 1 O
    • Minerals:
      • Essential minerals: Sodium (Na), Potassium (K), Calcium (Ca), Phosphorus (P), Iron (Fe), Iodine (I), Nitrates, Phosphates
      • Functions:
      • Main functions and deficiency diseases associated with these minerals.
WEEK 4
  • Organic Compounds:
    • Carbohydrates:
    • Monosaccharides:
      • Examples: Glucose and Fructose
    • Disaccharides:
      • Examples: Sucrose and Maltose
    • Polysaccharides:
      • Examples: Starch, Cellulose, and Glycogen
    • Lipids:
    • Composed of 1 Glycerol and 3 Fatty Acids
    • Discussion of Unsaturated and Saturated fats, Cholesterol in foods, and implications for heart disease.
WEEK 5
  • Organic Compounds (continued):
    • Proteins:
    • Made up of Amino Acids (C, H, O, N, and sometimes containing P, Se, Fe)
    • Sensitive to Temperature and pH affecting structure and function
    • Role of Enzymes:
      • Involved in breaking down and synthesizing molecules
      • Influences of temperature and pH on enzyme action.
    • Lock-and-Key model explaining how enzymes function
    • Enzymes in Everyday Life: Example is the use of washing powders.
    • Nucleic Acids:
    • DNA and RNA consist of C, H, O, N, and P (no further details required).
WEEK 6
  • Vitamins:
    • Types: A, B, C, D, E
WEEK 7
  • Cell Structure:
    • Molecular Makeup:
    • Cells primarily consist of proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids, and water.
  • Cell Structure and Function:
    • Roles of Organelles:
    • Cell Wall (support structure in plants only)
    • Cell Membrane: Transport across membranes (Diffusion, Osmosis, Active Transport).
    • Nucleus:
    • Contains Chromatin material, nuclear membrane, pores, nucleolus.
    • Control center and hereditalty mechanism.
    • Difference Between Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes.
    • Cytoplasm:
    • Storage and Circulation of matter.
    • Mitochondria:
    • Sites of energy release during cell respiration.
    • Ribosomes:
    • Protein synthesis.
    • Endoplasmic Reticulum (rough & smooth):
    • Transport systems within the cell.
WEEK 8
  • Additional Organelles:
    • Golgi Body:
    • Assembly of secretions.
    • Plastids:
    • Food production and storage, pigments.
    • Vacuoles, Lysosomes, Vesicles:
    • Functions include storage, digestion, osmoregulation.
  • Organelle Structure:
    • Relate structure and location of organelles to their functions.
  • Specialized Cell Functions:
    • Differences in size, shape, and structure of cells to perform different functions.
    • Comparison between plant and animal cells.
WEEK 9
  • Chromosomes:
    • Found in nuclei; contain two chromatids and a centromere.
    • Cell Division (Mitosis):
    • The cell cycle includes Interphase, Mitosis (phases included), Cytokinesis, and Growth.
    • Role of Mitosis:
      • Responsible for growth and repair, reproduction in some simple organisms.
    • Description of Mitosis:
    • Continuous process where one parent cell divides to form two identical daughter cells
    • Diagrams to display chromosome changes throughout the process.
    • Differences in Telophase Between Plant and Animal Cells.
    • Cancer:
    • Brief overview, defining it as uncontrolled cell division and growth.
    • Causes and treatments (e.g., radiotherapy, chemotherapy).
WEEK 10
  • Consolidation and Revision:
    • Pre-Knowledge:
      • Scientific skills linked to Grade 9 Molecules from Natural Sciences
      • Organic and Inorganic compounds from Grade 10
      • Cell structure from Grade 9 and 10.
  • Examples of Informal/Daily Activities:
    • Activities related to Graphs, Variables in investigations, and Microscopy demonstrations.
WEEK 11
  • SBA:
    • Formal Assessment:
    • Practical Task (minimum 30 marks)
    • Formal Test (minimum 50 marks)

Term 2

WEEK 1
  • CAPS Topics: Plant Tissues
    • Core Concepts, Skills, and Values:
    • Definition of Tissue:
      • A group of similar cells adapted for a particular function.
    • Introduction to Cell Differentiation.
    • Emphasis on the structure-function relationship.
WEEK 2
  • Plant Tissues:
    • Types:
    • Meristematic:
      • Involves growth and development.
    • Permanent:
      • Includes Epidermis (root hair, guard cells), Parenchyma, Collenchyma, Sclerenchyma, Vascular Tissue (Xylem and Phloem).
    • Anatomy of Dicotyledonous Plants:
    • Structure of different tissues in Roots and Stems.
WEEK 3
  • Plant Organs:
    • Leaf Structure: Cross-section of a Dicotyledonous Leaf.
    • Explanation of structure’s function: Photosynthesis, Gas Exchange, and Transport.
WEEK 4
  • Transpiration:
    • Relationship between water loss and leaf structure.
    • Factors affecting transpiration rate:
    • Temperature
    • Light Intensity
    • Wind
    • Humidity
  • Water and Mineral Uptake:
    • Mechanisms in Xylem in roots and transport to leaves.
WEEK 5
  • Translocation:
    • Movement of manufactured food from leaves to various parts of the plant.
  • Animal Tissues:
    • Four basic types:
    • Epithelial (e.g., squamous, cuboidal, columnar, and ciliated).
    • Connective (e.g., blood, cartilage, tendons, ligaments, bone).
    • Muscle (great attention placed on skeletal, smooth, and cardiac, explaining voluntary and involuntary action).
    • Nerve Tissue (sensory, motor, and interneurons).
WEEK 6
  • Human Skeleton:
    • Composition: axial skeleton and appendicular skeleton.
    • Functions:
    • Movement, Protection, Support, Storage of Minerals, and Hearing.
WEEK 7
  • Transport Systems:
    • Circulatory System:
    • Description of blood circulation (pulmonary and systemic).
    • Internal and external structure of the heart related to its functioning.
    • Cardiac Cycle:
      • Flow of blood through the heart and direction of blood flow between oxygenated and deoxygenated blood.
    • Major Blood Vessels:
    • Associated with major organs (e.g., brain, intestines, liver, and kidneys).
    • Blood Vessels:
    • Structure and function of arteries, veins (with valves), and capillaries.
WEEK 8
  • Consolidation and Revision:
    • Pre-Knowledge:
    • Plant tissues, organelles, movement across membranes from previous grades, specifically Grade 10 strands.
WEEK 9
  • Examples of Informal/Daily Activities:
    • Observations and illustrations of various plant tissues, leaf structures, and circulatory systems.
    • Schematic representation of both human and plant systems.
WEEK 10
  • Investigations/Experiments:
    • Design experiments to discover effects on transpiration rate.
  • Dissection of Mammal Heart:
    • Identify structures and muscle composition supported by worksheets.
WEEK 11
  • SBA:
    • Formal Assessment
    • Assignment (minimum 50 marks)
    • June Examination

Term 3

WEEK 1
  • CAPS Topics: History of Life on Earth
    • Core Concepts, Skills, and Values:
    • Change throughout the history of life on earth.
    • Relationships to atmospheric composition changes (e.g., oxygen levels) and climate changes (e.g., Ice ages).
    • Geological events influencing biodiversity distribution (biogeography).
WEEK 2
  • Geological Timescale:
    • Meaning and use; the three eras: Palaeozoic, Mesozoic, and Cenozoic (periods are not to be memorized).
  • Cambrian Explosion:
    • Origins of early animal groups.
WEEK 3
  • Significant Changes:
    • Recent changes in species in Africa, including human evolution.
  • Mass Extinctions:
    • Historical mass extinctions (e.g., 250 MYA and 65 MYA) and current extinction rates referred to as the sixth extinction.
WEEK 4
  • Fossils:
    • Formation methods and dating techniques: Radiometric and relative dating.
  • Biosphere:
    • Definition and interconnectedness with the global ecosystem (Hydrosphere, Lithosphere, Atmosphere).
  • Biomes:
    • General overview of terrestrial and aquatic biomes in Southern Africa, their climate, soil, and vegetation influencing organisms.
WEEK 5
  • Ecosystems:
    • Structure and functioning of ecosystems:
    • Abiotic Factors: Include factors such as physiographic aspects, soil properties, temperature, water, and atmospheric gases.
    • Biotic Factors: Include producers, consumers, and decomposers.
WEEK 6
  • Energy Flow:
    • Energy flow through ecosystems and its relationship to trophic structures and food pyramids.
    • Trophic Levels:
      • Producers, Herbivores, Carnivores, Omnivores, and Decomposers.
WEEK 7
  • Cycles:
    • Flow charts illustrating the nutrient, water, oxygen, carbon, and nitrogen cycles.
WEEK 8
  • Classification Schemes:
    • Historical overview of classification and current systems (e.g., five-kingdom system).
    • Scientific Naming:
    • Linnaeus's contribution to species classification and the use of Latin.
    • Differences between prokaryotes and eukaryotes.
WEEK 9
  • Consolidation and Revision:
    • Review all concepts, themes, and subject matter discussed thus far.
WEEK 10
  • Examples of Informal/Daily Activities:
    • Constructing timelines for the fossil record and major events, using geological scales to study life forms.
    • Investigating “missing links” in evolution.
WEEK 11
  • Investigations/Experiments:
    • Conduct fieldwork in a chosen ecosystem to assess interactions and seasonal changes within the biotic and abiotic factors.
  • SBA:
    • Formal Assessment:
    • Practical task (minimum 30 marks)
    • Formal test (minimum 50 marks)

Term 4

WEEK 1
  • CAPS Topics: Biodiversity and Classification
    • Core Concepts, Skills, and Values:
    • Main groupings: Bacteria, Protists, Fungi, Plants, and Animals.
    • Diagnostic Features:
    • Identify diagnostic features of each kingdom.
WEEK 2
  • Revision:
    • Preparation activities for final assessments.
WEEK 3-5
  • Final Examinations:
    • PAPER 1 (Marks: 150, Time: 2.5 Hours):
    • Topics and Marks:
      • Chemistry of Life – 33
      • Cells: Basic Units of Life - 19
      • Cell Division (Mitosis) – 19
      • Plant and Animal Tissues – 28
      • Plant Organs – 9
      • Support and Transport Systems in Plants – 23
      • Support Systems in Animals – 19
    • PAPER 2 (Marks:150, Time: 2.5 Hours):
    • Topics and Marks:
      • Transport Systems in Mammals – 32
      • Biosphere to Ecosystems – 54
      • Biodiversity and Classification – 21
      • History of Life on Earth – 43
  • Cognitive Levels and Degrees of Difficulty for Examination:
    • Cognitive Levels: Knowing Science (40%), Understanding Science (25%), Applying Scientific Knowledge (20%), Evaluating, Analyzing and Synthesizing Science Knowledge (15%).
    • Difficulty levels: Easy (30%), Moderate (40%), Difficult (25%), Very Difficult (5%).
WEEK 6
  • Examples of Informal/Daily Activities:
    • Tabulation of diagnostic features for each kingdom for review.
WEEK 7
  • Conclusion & Final Revision:
    • Comprehensive review and preparation for the end-of-year examination.