ICSE Class 8 Biology Syllabus:

• 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
  1. Plants:
     • 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)
     • 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
  2. Animals:
     • Sexual reproduction in humans
     • 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
  1. Endocrine System
     • Two types of glands- exocrine, endocrine (basic concept and difference)
     • Hormone (definition)
     • Hormonal glands – (thyroid, adrenal, pancreas, pituitary); location and function of each.
     • Study in tabular form: name of the gland, location in body, secretion, function.
     • Adolescence and accompanying changes: physical and emotional changes in the body.
     • Importance of personal hygiene
     • Stress management (meaning of stress; ways to tackle stress: yoga, meditation, time management, sports, hobbies, rational thinking, etc.)
  2. Circulatory System
     • Internal structure of heart in detail (including valves, septum; pacemaker)
     • Schematic diagram of the heart
     • Blood vessels – aorta, pulmonary trunk, coronary artery & vein, vena cava
     • Circulation of blood as double circulation
     • Blood Groups (A, B, AB and O): universal donor and universal acceptor
     • Conditions related to the functioning of the heart: palpitations, cardiac arrest and hypertension
     • Introduction of lymphatic system as a parallel circulatory system
  3. Nervous System
     • Types of nerves: sensory, motor, mixed (function only). Cranial and spinal nerves (only definition and number)
     • Structure of a motor neuron
     • Central nervous system (CNS) in detail with its parts and their functions
     • Reflex action: definition and basic terms used to describe reflex action (stimulus, response, impulse, receptor, effector); common examples


• Theme 5: Health and Hygiene
  1. Diseases
     • A brief idea of communicable diseases (influenza, measles, malaria, dengue, chikungunya, HIV) – causative agents, symptoms, and prevention in tabular form
     • The meaning of vector
     • Methods of preventing diseases; use of vaccines
     • Vaccination and immunization: the concepts and difference between the two
     • Harmful effects of consuming tobacco, alcohol, drugs
  2. First Aid
     • First aid- meaning
     • First aid given in cases: burns, bleeding, fracture, object in the eye, unconsciousness, swallowing poison, snake bite, stings


• Theme 6: Food Production
  1. Bacteria: uses of bacteria in food industry
  2. Fungi – Importance of mushrooms and yeast in food industry
  3. Agriculture: cultivated crops (food crops and cash crops), crops grown in India
  4. Horticulture – vegetables, fruits, decorative plants and flowers
  5. Organic farming and green revolution in brief (awareness level)
  6. Animal husbandry: milk-yielding (milch) animals; white revolution; meat providing livestock; draught animals; poultry; fish farming; sericulture and apiculture (awareness level)