JSS3 Second Term- Basic Science

*      COMPLETE SCHEME OF WORK

*      WEEK ONE AND TWO:- {RESOURCES FROM LIVING THINGS}

*      WEEK THREE AND FOUR:- {RESOURCES FROM NON-LIVING THINGS, THEIR ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE AND LOCATION IN NIGERIA (SOLID MINERALS)}

*      WEEK FIVE:- {LIGHT ENERGY}

*      WEEK SIX:- {SOUND ENERGY}

*      WEEK SEVEN AND EIGHT:- {MAGNETISM}

*      WEEK NINE:- {ELECTRICAL ENERGY}

*      WEEK TEN:- {SKILL ACQUISITION}

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COMPLETE SCHEME OF WORK

JSS2 3rd TERM BASIC SCIENCE CLASS NOTE

SCHEME OF WORK

WEEKTOPIC
1-2RESOURCES FROM LIVING THINGS AND THEIR ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE
3-4RESOURCES FROM NON-LIVING THINGS, THEIR ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE AND LOCATION IN NIGERIA
5LIGHT ENERGY
6SOUND ENERGY
7-8MAGNETISM
9ELECTRICAL ENERGY
10SKILL ACQUISITION
11-12REVISION AND EXAMINATION

WEEK ONE AND TWO:- {RESOURCES FROM LIVING THINGS}

Basic Science JSS 3 Second Term

Week 1 & 2

Topic: Resources from Living Things

Overview

  1. Examples of plant sources e.g. cash and food crops, dyes and drugs
  2. Examples of animal sources e.g., hides and skin, diary product.
  3. Economic importance of resources from Plants and Animals

Objectives

  1. Identify the resources from living things
  2. Name the sources of these resources
  3. Group the resources based on their sources
  4. Explain the importance of resources to self and societal development.

Introduction

We grow plants and rear animals for food, to produce materials that could be used for clothing, shelter and for medicine. Hence, we depend on livings (plants and animals) for resources, such as beans, melon, orange, cassava, vegetables, cocoyam, meat, dairy products as well as hide and skin.

Resources from Plants

A lot of plant resources are grown in the gardens and farms for food, commercial purposes, aesthetic values, etc. Such resources from plants include cotton, rubber, cocoa, groundnut, oil palm, rice, maize, yam, sugar cane, tobacco, flowers, etc. Plant resources include cash and food crops. Cash crops are those that bring a lot of money when sold locally or exported. Examples of cash crops are cocoa, dyes, cotton and rubber. Food crops are those grown mainly for food though they may be sold locally. They include yam, rice, beans, plantain, oranges, mangoes etc Food is very important to human beings. The human body uses food

  • to produce energy
  • for bodybuilding, repair and growth
  • for protection of health

Four major groups of plants resources

  • Cash Crops

These are crops produced in large quantities mainly for sale, particularly to people within and outside the country. Cash crops include wood crops (iroko tree, mahogany, ebony), fibre crops (cotton), oil crops (groundnut, oil palm, coconut). Others are rice, sugarcane, tobacco, etc. These crops provide foreign exchange for the country.

  • Food Crops

These are plants resources that serve as sources of food. These include vegetables (pumpkin, lettuce, bitter leaf), root tubers ( yam, cassava), fruits (guava, mangoes, oranges), seeds (beans, millets), grains (rice, maize), underground crops (carrot, onion), oil plants (groundnut, cotton, coconut and olive), etc. Food crops provide mainly vitamins and carbohydrates which the body requires, for growth and development.

  • Dyes/Textile

These are liquid substances of plant extracts that are used to charge the colour of cloth materials, hairs and houses. Dyes can be extracted in natural form from flowers and leaves or plants e.g. indigo species can be used to dye cloth to make it brighter.

Similarly, crops for textiles are used by textile industries in the production of clothes, ropes, baskets, etc. An example of crops for textiles include cotton (for cloth production) while fibres from sorrel plants, flax, guinea-hemp, sisal and jute whose fibres are used in rope production. The leaves and fronds of palm trees provide materials for making hats, bags, baskets, etc.

  • Drugs/Medicine

Drugs are chemical substances of plant extract used as medicine to cure various health problems and diseases. Drugs are capable of altering behaviour when they are abused. They are good when taken properly but dangerous when taken without the doctor’s prescription. The majority of the drugs both tablets and syrups as well as those in powder forms are resources from plants roots, barks and leaves e.g. Cinchona species, Garlic species, etc.

Resources from Animals

Animal resources are very vital to the existence of human beings. Animals provide resources that serve as food for growth and development. Such resources include, hide and skin used in the leather industry as well as raw milk for daily products. In addition, the faeces from animals are used for the production of organic manure.

  • Hides and Skin

These are major animal resources used in the leather industry. Hides are derived from the skin of large animals, such as camel, horse, buffalo, cattle, etc. Hides are bought, sold or used in leather industries for the production of shoes, bags, purses, belts, garments, etc. Skin refers to the skin of smaller animals, such as goats and rabbits. The skin of these animals is edible. Hides and skins are used to make shoes, bags, belts, leather jackets, luxury chairs and car seat covers.

  • Livestock

These are animals mainly birds and mammals that are reared by farmers. Examples of such animals are goats, sheep, cows, pigs, poultry birds (chicken, turkey, ducks), etc., used for decoration while droppings from this livestock are used as manure on farms and gardens.

  • Diary Products

A dairy is a place on a farm where milk is kept. Dairy products are milk products got from animal resources such as cows, cattle, etc. Milk which is rich in protein is a major ingredient in the production of cheese, butter and yoghurt for human consumption and for export.

Economic Importance of these Resources

Self-Development

  • Plant and animal resources serve as food for growth and development.
  • Dairy products are rich in protein for the replacement of worn-out tissues.
  • Bones and horns of animal resources are used in making furniture.
  • They are sources of drugs for treating various health problems.

Societal Development

  • Production of plant and animal resources provide raw materials for manufacturing industries
  • Wealth engenders peace in a nation – by exporting plant and animal resources to earn money
  • Paper and pulp production for the print media.
  • Hides and skin are used for leather industries in making bags, rugs, carpets and clothes.
  • Flowers for aesthetic purposes in the beautification of homes and major cities.

Summary

  1. Plant resources that create income and wealth, include cash and food crops
  2. Cash crops are crops that are sold to earn money while food crops are consumed locally
  3. Animal sources are also means of income and wealth

Assessment

  1. Mention three examples of gainful employment from plant and animal resources
  2. List six resources obtained from living things
  3. Classify resources as plant-based and animal-based
  4. State three benefits of plant and animal resources.

WEEK THREE AND FOUR:- {RESOURCES FROM NON-LIVING THINGS, THEIR ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE AND LOCATION IN NIGERIA (Solid Minerals)}

Basic Science JSS 3 Second Term

Week 3 & 4

Topic: RESOURCES FROM NON-LIVING THINGS, THEIR ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE AND LOCATION IN NIGERIA

Overview

  1. Examples- Solid Minerals like limestone, coal, gold, tin etc
  2. Location of solid minerals in Nigeria
  3. Economic importance

Objectives

  1. Mention solid minerals and where they can be found in Nigeria
  2. Draw a map of Nigeria showing the distribution of solid mineral deposits
  3. List the importance and uses of solid minerals

Introduction

Minerals are usually natural endowments to particular communities. Minerals are naturally occurring substances in the soil. Many minerals resources are found in the environment. Some are solid in nature, others are liquid in form while some are gaseous in nature. In Nigeria, minerals abound in many parts of the country. The presence of such minerals has resulted in the development of such areas. Many industries have been set up to prospect in mineral resources. The exploitation of minerals has in most cases caused strife, kidnapping and wars as is witnessed in the Nigerian Niger Delta areas.

Examples of minerals are petroleum, limestone, gold, coal, tin, salt, lead and zinc etc.

Some solid minerals cannot be used in the form in which they are found when dug out of the soil. They have to be refined into new products, which are useful. The process is called refining. Refining a mineral is done in factories built for a purpose.

Location of Solid Mineral Resources

Solid minerals are found in some areas of Nigeria

The Map of Nigeria

  • Limestone is found in Ewekoro in Ogun State, Nkalagu in Ebonyi State and Ukpilla in Edo state
  • Gold is found in Ilesha in Osun State, Bida (Niger state)
  • Tin and columbite is found in Kuru (Plateau State)
  • Coal is found in Udi hills (Enugu State)
  • Kaolin is found in Umuahia (Abia state)
  • Bitumen is found in Ondo state
  • Sand is found in Porthacourt (Rivers State)
  • Iron is found in Kogi state
  • Lead/Zinc is found in Ebonyi

Characteristics of Solid Materials

  • Diamond – Hard and lustrous
  • Gold – Lustrous
  • Coal – Black
  • Marble – Milky
  • Iron – Grey/brown

Importance of Solid Mineral Resources

  • Iron

This is used to make various types of household tools and office equipment like chairs, tables, door frames, etc. Iron is also used in the construction of bridges and buildings. Iron ore is used for manufacturing Iron sheets, rods and weights

  • Gold, Silver and Diamond

Gold, silver and diamond are used for making jewellery, earrings, necklaces, medals and trophies. The wealth of a nation in a foreign reserve is determined by gold value.

  • Coal

Coal is extracted unrefined and used for cooking. Also used in generating fuel. When processed, it can be converted into other useful materials like chemicals, paints, dye and fertilizers. It is also used to generate power, which is used to move trains.

  • Clay

Clay is a greyish sticky substance. It is useful in the pottery industry. Sometimes, it combines with limestone and can be used to make cement and chalk.

  • Limestone

Limestone is a major material for the manufacture of cement used for building houses, construction of bridges, etc.

  • Sand

Used in making glass.

  • Bitumen

For tarring road surfaces

  • Zinc

For making roofing sheets

  • Lead

For making car batteries

Summary

  1. Nigeria is blessed with many solid mineral resources and they are located in different parts of the country.
  2. Some of the solid minerals include

Assessment

  1. Mention three examples of gainful employment from plant and animal resources
  2. List six resources obtained from living things
  3. Classify resources as plant-based and animal-based
  4. State three benefits of plant and animal resources.

WEEK FIVE:- {LIGHT ENERGY}

Basic Science JSS3 Second Term

Week 5

Topic: Light Energy

Overview

  1. Reflection
  2. Refraction
  3. Vision
  4. Dispersion and Rainbow.

Objectives

  1. Explain the meaning of reflection and refractions
  2. Illustrate apparent depth and explain its dangers to swimmers
  3. Describe how we see things
  4. Explain the meaning of dispersion and use it to interpret the rainbow

Introduction

Light is a form of energy. Light energy possesses different properties which make this form of energy very useful to man. Some of these properties include reflection, refraction, apparent depth in liquids, producing vision in the eye and dispersion or capability of being separated into various colours of the rainbow.

The Concept of Reflection of Light

Reflection is one of the properties of light. It occurs whenever a ray of light strikes a plane or polished smooth surface, such as a mirror.

Note the following terms which are used to explain the reflection of light:

  • The line NO is called the normal to the reflecting surface. It is a perpendicular line at O, the point of incidence.
  • IO is the incidence ray
  • OR is the reflected ray
  • Angle ION is the angle of incidence
  • Angle NOR is the angle of reflection

Law of reflection states that the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection. Thus io = ro

Reflection occurs at smooth, polished or silvered surfaces whether they are plane or curved.

The Concept of Refraction of Light

Refraction is the bending of a light ray when it travels from one medium to another of different densities. When the light travels from a dense medium (e.g. water) to a less dense medium (e.g. air), the emergent light ray is bent away from the normal whereas when the light travels from a less dense medium (e.g. air) to a dense medium (e.g. water or glass)

  

When light travels from air into water, it slows down, causing it to change direction slightly. This change of direction is called refraction. When light enters a more dense substance (higher refractive index), it ‘bends’ more towards the normal line.

Note that refraction occurs whenever light passes from one medium to another medium of different densities e.g. air to water, glass to water, etc.

Apparent Depth

The bottom of a bucket or beaker appears to be lifted up making the water in the beaker appear shallower than it actually is. This phenomenon could be dangerous for large and deep pools of water, such as rivers or swimming pools. Apparent depth could be deceptive to children, swimmers and divers who may imagine that the depth of water is small. Such situations had led to the drowning of swimmers and divers.

The Eye and Vision

This is the organ for seeing (sight). With our eyes, we can see things in their varying colours, shapes, sizes, etc. We have two eyes (a pair of eyes) that enable us to have a wide vision.

Parts of the Eye and functions

  • Sclera: tough outer white layer of the wall of the eye.
  • Cornea: transparent ‘window’ of the eye, focusing of light on the retina.
  • Iris: the coloured sheet of muscle, controls the pupil size so controls the entry of light.
  • Pupil: a hole in the iris letting light into the back of the eye.
  • Ciliary Body: a ring of muscle controlling the shape of the lens.
  • Suspensory Ligaments: transfer the pull of the ciliary body to the lens.
  • Lens: accommodation — the fine adjustment to the focusing of light onto the retina.
  • Retina: a light-sensitive layer of rods and cones converting light into nerve impulses.
  • Fovea or Yellow Spot: a tiny area of densely packed cones for detailed and coloured vision.
  • Choroid: a black-pigmented layer preventing internal reflection of light.
  • Blind Spot: exit point of the optic nerve cutting through the retina so no rods or cones here.
  • Optic Nerve: carries the impulses from the rods and cones to the visual centre of the brain.
  • Aqueous Humour: a clear liquid in front of the lens maintaining the shape of the cornea.
  • Vitreous Humour: a clear jelly offering support and shape to the back of the eye.

We see an object by the light, which leaves the object and enters the eye. The light enters the eye through the circular opening called the pupils. It strikes the eye lens, which converges it to form an image on the retina.

When the light is too bright, the pupil contracts to make the circular opening smaller, if the light is dull, the pupil opens wider to admit more light. Focusing the image on the retina is achieved by altering the focal length of the eye lens. This is achieved by the contraction or relaxation of the ciliary muscles. The power of the eye to do this is called accommodation.

Dispersion and Rainbow

 In this phenomenon, white light is separated into various component colours, which are red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet (ROYGBIV). The separation of white light into the various component colours by a glass prism is called dispersion. The coloured patch of light is called a spectrum. A pure spectrum is one in which the colours do not overlap.

Water droplets in the atmosphere behave in a similar way to the prism. That is how the rainbow is formed in the sky by droplets of water, which hang in the atmosphere.

Summary

  1. Reflection of light is the travelling back of light when it strikes a smooth surface
  2. If the light strikes a rough surface, the reflection is irregular or the light is scattered.
  3. When light enters a denser medium, it is refracted towards the normal
  4. When light enters a less dense medium, it is refracted away from the normal
  5. An object in a pond or a beaker of water appears less deep because the eye looks straight whereas rays from the object are refracted or bent.
  6. Some materials are able to disperse or separate light into their components
  7. A Rainbow is caused by the separation or dispersion of white light into its components.
  8. The colours of the components of lights are represented by the acronym ROYGBIV

Assessment

  1. Explain Apparent Depth
  2. What is the danger that apparent depth poses to inexperienced swimmers?
  3. What is dispersion?
  4. How is the rainbow formed?
  5. Name three parts of the human eyes
  6. Explain how we see objects.

WEEK SIX:- {SOUND ENERGY}

Basic Science JSS3 Second Term

Week 6

Topic: Sound Energy

Overview

  1. Production of sound
  2. Transmission of sound
  3. Reflection of sound
  4. Hearing

Objectives

  1. Explain the production of sound from a vibrating medium
  2. Explain how sound is heard by the ear

Introduction

Sound is the stimulus that our ears respond to. Sound is one of many forms of energy with which you must be familiar. Sound is a property of vibrating objects. These objects may be solids, liquids or gases.

Production of Sound

Sound can be produced by different types of objects. Some of the soundss are appealing to the ear while others are not. However, you would have observed that there is something common to all sounding objects.

Transmission of Sound

Sound is propagated by means of longitudinal waves though an elastic medium. Typically, such a medium would be air, although sound may be transmitted through liquids and solids. The medium, air for example will at any instant have zones of COMPRESSION, where the air is denser, and regions of RAREFACTION, where the air is less dense. Apart from transmission through the air, sound is also transmitted through metals and pipes. The sound may however be converted to electrical signals if it has to travel very long distances as the case of land telephones.

Reflection of Sound

Sound waves can be reflected in the same way as light waves. Sound waves are reflected by hard surfaces such as walls, rock and large concrete structures.

When you stood afar from a tall hill, a big building or a cave and you called a friend, after a short while you hear the call again. The phenomenon occurs as a result of the reflection of sound you made. The reflection of sound by a hard object, such as rock is called echo.

Hearing   

       

The ear is an organ of hearing and also helps in maintaining balance. Each person has two ears. The ear has three major parts namely: the outer part, the middle part and the inner part.

With our ears, sounds are heard and the direction from where the sounds are coming from is also known. Sound from the environment reaches the outer ear as vibration in the air. These vibrations are carried through the external auditory meatus to the eardrum which is the opening of the outer ear. The eardrum vibrates and passes the vibrations to the ear bones called the ossicles, which are in the middle ear. The ossicles also vibrate and transmit these vibrations to the oval window. The vibration of the oval window stimulates the sensory cells of the walls of the cochlea where the nerve endings are found and the nerve endings now pick the vibration (message) to the brain for interpretation and are sent back for response through the same nerves. The nerves ending responsible for this are called auditory nerves. Once the interpretation is made, we hear the sound and also detect the direction of the sound.

Summary

  1. A sound is a form of wave
  2. When an object is made to vibrate, it produces sound
  3. Sound can only be transmitted through a medium
  4. The ear is the sense organ that makes us here and is responsive to the stimulus of sound
  5. The ear is a complex organ that has three parts. The three parts of the ear are the outer ear, the middle ear and the inner ear.

Assessment

  1. Name three major parts of the ear
  2. Explain how you hear what the teacher says in your class.
  3. Enumerate on the following;
    • Transmission of sound
    • Reflection of sound

WEEK SEVEN AND EIGHT:- {Magnetism}

Basic Science JSS 3 Second Term

Week 7 &  8

Topic: Magnetism

Overview

  1. Load Stone
  2. Law of Magnetism
  3. Magnetic Poles and Magnetic Fields
  4. Care of Magnets

Objectives

  1. Describe Load Stone as a naturally occurring magnet
  2. State the law of magnetism
  3. Illustrate magnetic fields and poles
  4. Explain how to care for a magnet

Introduction

Magnets are substances that generally attract objects towards themselves. Magnets are important in many areas of science, for example, they are used in radio communication, telegraphs, computers, electric generators, loudspeakers, electromagnets, etc. Apart from these, the properties of magnets make their study interesting and fascinating for young and developing scientists.

Lodestone

Lodestone is a naturally occurring magnetic oxide of iron. It is therefore natural. This natural magnet was first discovered in China over 2000 years ago. Observations made at that time revealed that a bar of lodestone which is suspended so that it can swing freely would always point appropriately in a North-South direction. It was equally discovered that iron and steel objects were equally attracted by lodestone and the attraction was mainly towards the ends of the bar.

Lodestone is now known to be a magnetic mineral (magnetic iron oxide). It is a natural magnet.

Law of Magnetism

Magnetism is one of the phenomena by which materials exert an attractive or repulsive force on other materials. Some well-known materials that exhibit easily detectable magnetic properties are iron, some steel, and the mineral lodestone; however, all materials are influenced to one degree or another by the presence of a magnetic field, although in most cases the influence is too small to detect without special equipment.

  

If we put a bar magnet in a plate of iron filings, on bringing out the bar magnet, it is noticed that the iron filings cling to the magnet with most of them clinging in heavy bunches or clusters around the ends of the magnet. These ends of the bar magnet where the iron filings concentrate are called the poles of the magnet. Such substances that can be attracted by a magnet are known as magnetic substances and this ability of a magnet to attract magnetic substances is called magnetism.

Magnetic Poles and Fields

The position of the magnetic poles on an unmarked magnet may be identified by using iron filings or a magnetic plotting compass. By spreading iron fillings over a broad cardboard paper, placing the paper over a bar magnet and then tapping clusters mostly around the two poles of the magnet,

Alternatively, a plane drawing paper may be placed above the magnet and a magnetic compass needle use to trace the lines of the magnetic force on the surface. The outline of the magnet is first traced out. at each point, as the compass needle is moved a little at a time, the position of its centre is marked out to trace the path of the line of force which will start from a North pole and end at the south pole. Thus, the magnetic line of force is the path a North pole would take if left in the field. The magnetic field is that region of space where magnetic force could be felt.

Also note that:

Uniform earth field, lines of force are parallel and equally spaced.

The field for two opposite isolated poles e.g. N-S lines run from the North to the South pole.

Two isolated similar poles e.g. N-N with a neutral point occurring in between.

Care of Magnets         

  1. Magnets are useful delicate instruments. Like other equipment of the science laboratory, magnets require care for them to be active for a long time. For them to last:
  2. They must not be dropped carelessly. Careless dropping disorganizes the magnetic domain of the bar.
  3. They should not be heated because heating destroys magnetic property
  4. They should not be hammered because hammering leads to a loss of magnetic effect.
  5. Bar magnets should be stored in pairs so that at each end there should be N-S with a soft iron bridge.

Summary

  1. The Loadstone is the first natural magnet observed over 2000 years ago in China. Iron filings and nails are attracted by their ends
  2. Similar poles of magnets repel while unlike poles attract.
  3. Magnets lose their magnetism when they are hammered in the east-west direction.

Assessment

  • State the law of magnetism
  • Name four ways to take care of Magnets
  • Explain how to show the magnetic fields around a magnet.

WEEK NINE:- {Electrical Energy}

Basic Science JSS 3 Second Term

Week 9

Topic: Electric Energy

Overview

  1. Flows of Electrons
  2. Circuits Series and Parallel
  3. Fuses and Circuit Breaker
  4. Electric meter reading and billing

Objectives

  1. Indicate the direction of electron flow in a circuit
  2. Set up series and parallel circuits

Introduction

Electrical energy plays a dominant role in the economic and social development of nations. It is extensively used in industries, offices and homes for carrying out numerous essential operations. Electrical energy provides a reliable, pollution-free energy option for both domestic and industrial purposes.

Concept of Electron Flow

Electrons are tiny negatively charged particles that are found in the atom. The electron moves freely inside the atoms of electrical conductors such as metals. Electrons are invisible to the eye but the effect of their movement can be seen and even measured in every electrical circuit. It is the flow of electrons that produce the flow of electric current

One of the conditions for obtaining electric current is the provision of potential difference between two points. If two such points with a difference in potential are joined together with a metallic conductor such as wire, electrons flow from the low potential point to the higher potential point, whereas electric current would flow from the high potential to the low potential point.

The diagram shows the flow of electrons and current in a closed circuit

Series and Parallel Circuits

The two major ways of connecting electrical circuits are in series or in parallel. In a series circuit, circuit elements are joined end to end so that the same current flows through each circuit element in turn, while the potential difference across elements will differ.

In the case of a parallel circuit, elements are connected in such a way that the high potential terminal of two circuit elements are joined to one point and the two low potential terminals of the two elements are joined to another point in the circuit. This arrangement is such that there is a uniform potential difference across the two elements whereas the currents flowing in them differ.

Ammeter and Voltmeter

Ammeters and voltmeters are two of the most commonly used measuring instruments in electric circuits. The ammeter is a low resistance instrument that is connected in a series circuit in order to measure the value of the current flowing. The resistance of the ammeter is small so that it does not draw much current for its operation. Electric current is measured in Ampere

The voltmeter is a high resistance instrument that is usually connected in parallel with a circuit element so that the potential difference across the element may be measured. In this arrangement, most of the electric current flows through the circuit element while only a little current flows through the circuit element while only a little current flows through the voltmeter. The unit of measurement of potential difference is the Volt

House Circuit

 Houses are wired in parallel because of some advantages of parallel circuits. An example is that if one bulb in a house burns out, others will stay on. However, in a series circuit, all bulbs go off as soon as one of them burns out.

The following elements are in a house circuit: control switch, meter box, fuse box, switches, sockets, lamps and circuit breakers. The functions are as follow:

  • Control Switch: This is used to put off every supply to the house when repairs or installations are being made
  • Meter Box: This contains the meter used in measuring energy consumption in the home
  • Fuse Box: This contains low resistance devices called fuses which melt to cut the supply of parts of the house controlled by them when excessive current is being drawn or when there is a sudden bridging in the circuit.
  • Switches: These are commercially made keys for switching on or off of electric appliances in the house. Examples are the light switch and the fan switch.
  • Sockets: These are protected terminals provided to enable devices to be connected when required. Refrigerators, radios, grinders and television sets are usually connected to wall sockets in the home
  • Circuit Breaker: This is a modern device that is introduced into house circuits to increase safety in the use of electricity in the home. If there is a short circuit, a large current is drawn through the device which heats up and breaks the circuit. Some of such devices will fail to reconnect unless the fault has been ratified.

Electric Meter Reading and Billing

The electric meter is installed in a house where the Power Holding Authority can access and read them to provide bills for energy use. When an appliance connected to the circuit is switched on in the house, the meter starts to read. You can read the current value of consumed energy through the glass covering the meter.

An example of a meter reading form is provided below:

Month: July 2007

Meter ReadingUnits ConsumedCost per UnitTotal Amount #
Previous  Present  To be paid
47896         48167271#4.001084.00

Summary

  1. The direction of electron flow or electricity is from positive to negative because the positive terminal is at a higher potential than the negative terminal
  2. The ammeter is used to measure current
  3. The voltmeter is used to measure voltage
  4. Fuses and circuit breakers are very necessary for electric circuits. They prevent dangers.

Assessment

Briefly define the following;

  • Electrons
  • Ammeter
  • Voltmeter
  • Circuit

Explain how a house is wired.

What are the functions of fuses and circuit breakers in a circuit?

Distinguish between fuse and circuit breaker.

WEEK TEN:- {Skill Acquisition}

Basic Science JSS 3 Second Term

Week 10

Topic: Skill Acquisition

Overview

  1. Meaning in skill acquisition
  2. Reasons for skill acquisition.
  3. Types of skills

Objectives

  1. Explain the meaning of skill and skill acquisition
  2. State reason for acquiring skills
  3. List types of skills
  4. State the importance of skill acquisition.

Introduction

We are living in a very competitive age in which the employers of labour want to hire only the best applicants while the applicant wants to sell his/her services to the employer that offers the best returns. The level of skill that an employee has, determines to a large extent the level of his/her pay as well as the value which the organization places on him/her. Generally, the skills possessed by individuals make the difference in the level of their achievement in life. In any endeavour, a skilled person always produces a better quality output than any unskilled person.

Meaning of Skill Acquisition

Skill acquisition may be viewed as the process of making superlative output a general characteristic of one’s behaviour in a given field. It involves a gradual change from less effective behaviour to extremely proficient one. A skilled worker is one who is adept in his/her trade or a person who has attained excellence in a particular trade or understanding. Skill acquisition, therefore, involves painstaking effort, discipline, practice and drill as well as reviews.

Reasons for Skill Acquisition

 Some of the reasons for the acquisition of skill may be obvious to you by now. For example, the instances of international footballers and computer programmers who are valued all over the world and receive higher pay than most company executives become pertinent.  More importantly, other essential reasons include:

  1. Taking Risks: Taking risks have become a way of life for the scientist, such as in performing unusual experiments or working with untested substances. These could lead to poisoning, injury, explosion or even death. Such scientists require special skills and techniques in order to be successful.
  2. Decision Making: people are faced with decision-making situations on a daily basis, e.g. whether to take the sick to the hospital or to go to a herbal clinic; whether to go to school or drop out, etc. the problem here is how to make a good and effective decision. Good decision making would involve a thorough mastery of the problem domain.
  3. Managing Emergency Situations: Emergency situations generally occur suddenly when people are not prepared for them. Some emergency situations, such as aeroplane crashes, motor vehicle crashes, fire disasters, kerosene explosions and floods have occurred in the past. Effective skills for managing such situations have to be taught and learned.
  4. Survival Strategy: These are a number of things that people do consciously or unconsciously which are directed at individual or group survival. Examples include wearing clothes to protect the body from cold and heat, eating a balanced diet for more efficient body functioning, building and living in houses, seeking medical care when sick, etc. People have learnt and acquired proficient skills for selecting fabrics and making clothes, preparing and preserving food, designing and constructing houses, providing and sustaining medical care, etc. All these are part of survival strategies adopted by man.
  5. Learning to Live Together: Man by nature lives in communities. It is not usual that a man should live an isolated life because people in a community depend on one another for their various needs. It is therefore important that individuals in a community must understand and respect the customs and traditions and even the laws and other regulations that make for orderliness in society.

Types of Skills

There are many types of skills that are practised in society. A few of them will be highlighted here. These include:

  1. Farming Skill: in farming, there are many people who practice the skill of rearing day-old chickens, broilers, cocktails and eggs, sheep, goats and cows, fish and shrimps. Some others have the skill in producing cereals, legumes, fruits and vegetables. All these are some of the skills possessed by farmers.
  2. Basic Computer Literacy: Everybody of this age needs to acquire basic computer literacy. The reason is that the computer has acquired an immense stature as a handy device for storing, sending and finding information. It is also a device for learning as well as entertainment. It has an unequalled speed with any other machine that man had made.

Parts of Computer and their Uses

  • Central processing unit (CPU): Is the main computer in which information or data are processed and stored
  • Monitor: Contains the screen on which processed information or data are displayed.
  • Keyboard: This is the device for feeding information into the computer or giving information to the computer and directing it on a particular job and job sequence to be carried out.
  • Mouse: This is another device for navigating through computer programmes.
  • The uninterrupted power supply unit
  • Printer
  1. Photography: This is the technique of capturing an event, a scene or a thing on a picture. This could be printed and viewed on a card or projected screen. A picture is an image.
  2. Internet: The Internet is a name given to a network of computers that are linked through servers. The internet hosts servers from linked organizations worldwide from which web pages could be reached linking users to various types of essential information and data. International website addresses usually begin with the letters www signifying World Wide Web.
  3. Internet Browsing and E-mail Operation: Internet browsing entails searching for required or data. In order to do this, one gets connected to the internet and employs a search engine such as Google, and then types in the address of the website. E-mail operation is the art of opening and operating a website address for forwarding and receiving emails and other data through the computer. In order to do this, one needs to open an e-mail address with one of the e-mail operators, such as yahoo mail, Hotmail, Gmail, etc. an e-mail address may be of the form choices@yahoo.com or oluwole@gmail.com .
  4. Fax: Fax stands for the shortened form of the word, facsimile, meaning an exact copy of writing, picture or print. The fax machine is a microcomputer application for capturing and forwarding an exact copy of classified documents to designated places where they may be required for various purposes.
  5. Desktop Publishing and Networking: Desktop publishing has to do with the use of the computer for compiling, producing and disseminating information and reading materials without going through the rigour of passing through a publisher. Networking entails the linking up of computers through local area connection via cables or servers and joining these servers through the satellite to servers in other parts of the world (internet). Local area networks link computers on the net together so that they can share information or work simultaneously on the same or different aspects of a project.

Importance of Skill Acquisition

  • The following are some of the importance of skill acquisition:
  • Acquisition of functional literacy by all
  • Provision of various rewarding means of livelihood and development
  • Provision of various enjoyable games, leisure and entertainment
  • Widening opportunities of attaining fame

Improved Quality of Life

  • People become increasingly aware of practices that help to improve life expectancy
  • People learn how to obtain help and information quickly and correctly.
  • Easy and convenient communication, such as through the phone, e-mail and money transfer.
  • The feat performed by the computer and related items helps man to appreciate the immense potential of human capacity.

Summary

  1. Skill is the ability to do something well
  2. Skill acquisition is the learning and mastering of a special ability like a craft or any type of profession.
  3. Employment and knowledge are some of the reasons for skill acquisition
  4. Farming, photography, computer literacy and metalwork are a few of many skills mentioned in the notes that can be acquired

Assessment

  • Briefly explain the reasons for skill acquisition
  • State the importance of skill acquisition
  • List ten different skills
  • What is the meaning of Skill?

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