ICSE Class 8 Biology Syllabus

ICSE Class 8 Biology Syllabus is very crucial for a student. Class 8 is considered to be the foundation for Class 9, as well as Class 10. Keeping in mind the importance of the academic session of 8th grade, BYJU’S provides the ICSE Class 8 Biology Syllabus so that students can adequately learn the topics of Biology in the right succession for the best learning experience as offered by the ICSE curriculum. Going through the ICSE Syllabus before and after learning a particular chapter can help them in determining if they have left any topics from it.

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The syllabus of ICSE Class 8 Biology is given below.

Theme 1: Transport of Food and Minerals in Plants

1. Diffusion – definition
2. Osmosis – definition, example, semipermeable membrane, root pressure; active transport.
3. Transpiration – definition, importance and factors affecting transpiration.
4. Structure and function of Xylem and Phloem in detail
5. Importance of minerals: macro and micro-nutrients; three deficiency diseases caused by lack of these essential nutrients.

Theme 2: Reproduction in Plant and Animals

Plants:

1. Sexual reproduction in Plants:
   • Binary fission, budding, fragmentation, spore formation, vegetative propagation, artificial propagation by tissue culture (basic process along with a suitable example of each)
2. Sexual reproduction in Plants:
   • Review of parts of a typical flower (4 whorls and their structure and function)
   • Pollination: self and cross;
   • Agents of pollination: three characteristics of plants pollinated by insects, water and wind (with examples).Characteristics of flowers of each kind.
   • Fertilization process in brief by a flow chart.
   • Mention of artificial pollination.

Animals:

1. Sexual reproduction in humans
2. Main organs of the male and female reproductive system

Theme 3: Ecosystems

1. Understanding ecosystems: definition, interaction between biotic and abiotic factors.
2. Biotic components consisting of producers, consumers, decomposers. Meaning of food chain. Food web, and pyramid of numbers.
3. Interdependence between organisms: symbiosis, parasitism and predation.
4. Brief account of abiotic or non-living components such as air, soil, water and climatic factors such as sunlight, temperature, humidity and wind;
5. Only, forest ecosystem with its flora and fauna to be taught.

Theme 4: Human Body – Endocrine, Circulatory and Nervous System

Endocrine System

1. Two types of glands- exocrine, endocrine (basic concept and difference)
2. Hormone (definition)
3. Hormonal glands – (thyroid, adrenal, pancreas, pituitary); location and function of each.
4. Following points to be studied in tabular form: name of the gland, location in body, secretion, function.

Adolescence and accompanying changes

1. Physical and emotional changes in the body during adolescence.
2. Importance of personal hygiene
3. Stress management (meaning of stress; ways to tackle stress: yoga, meditation, time management, sports, hobbies, rational thinking, etc.)

Circulatory System (Revisit learning of earlier class)

1. Internal structure of heart in detail (including valves, septum; pacemaker).
2. Schematic diagram of the heart
3. Blood vessels – aorta, pulmonary trunk, coronary artery & vein, vena cava.
4. Circulation of blood as double circulation.
5. Blood Groups (A, B, AB and O): universal donor and universal acceptor.
6. Conditions related to the functioning of the heart: palpitations, cardiac arrest and hypertension.
7. Introduction of lymphatic system as a parallel circulatory system.

Nervous System (Revisit learning of earlier class)

1. Types of nerves: sensory, motor, mixed (function only). Cranial and spinal nerves (only definition and number).
2. Structure of a motor neuron
3. Central nervous system (CNS) in detail with its parts and their functions.
4. Reflex action: definition and basic terms used to describe reflex action stimulus, response, impulse, receptor, effector); common examples of reflex action.

Theme 5: Health and Hygiene

Diseases

• A brief idea of communicable diseases (influenza, measles, malaria, dengue, chikungunya, HIV) – causative agents, symptoms, and prevention to be dealt with in a tabular form.
• The meaning of vector.
• Method of preventing diseases in general; use of vaccines to be mentioned.
• Vaccination and immunization: the concepts and difference between the two.
• Harmful effects of consuming tobacco, drinking alcohol, taking drugs.

First Aid

• First aid- meaning.
• First aid given in the following cases:(burns, bleeding, fracture, object in the eye, unconsciousness, swallowing poison, snake bite, stings).

Theme 6: Food Production

• Bacteria: uses of bacteria in food industry.
• Fungi – Importance of mushrooms and yeast in food industry.
• Agriculture: cultivated crops (food crops and cash crops), crops grown in India.
• Horticulture – vegetables, fruits, decorative plants and flowers.
• Organic farming and green revolution in brief (awareness level).
• Animal husbandry: milk-yielding (milch) animals; white revolution; meat providing livestock; draught animals (heavy work); poultry; fish farming (pisiculture); sericulture and apiculture (awareness level).

Recommended Biology Textbooks

• Noms Biology 8 (2/E) (Paperback) By P. A. Paulose
• Biology for Middle Class-8 (English) By A. P. Misra