Science Learning Area

All students, with the exception of the ATP (Mathematics and Science) students will study a common course for the first three terms - ie a term each of the Science strands 'Natural and Processed Materials','Energy and Change' and 'Life and Living'. In term four each student will be placed in a class to prepare them for their Science subject choice/s in Year 11

Semester 1

Common Course (C401)

The following two strands may be done in any order at the discretion of the teacher

The Strand 'Natural and Processed Materials' (course C401) will cover:

Working Scientifically;
Types of matter;
Chemical energy;
Chemical reactions;
Chemical symbols, valency, formulae and writing equations;
The mole concept; and
Mole calculations.

The Strand 'Energy and Change'(course 402) will cover:

Working Scientifically;
The physics of motion, Newtons Laws of motion
Energy, work, machines

Semester 2

Term 3

The Strand 'Life and Livings' (course C403) will cover:

Working Scientifically;
Reproduction
Gentics

Term 4

Each student will be placed in one of the following classes:

'Fast track' class 1(course C409) - for students choosing Physics and/or Chemistry in Year 11;
'Fast track' class 2(course C410) - for students choosing Biology and/or Human Biology in Year 11;
'Fast track' class 3(course C411) - for students choosing Senior Science or no Science subjects in Year 11;

NOTE: The three 'Fast track' classes will develop important skills, especially scientific methodology, in the Physcial and Biological Sciences taught in Year 11. If students intend to Study both a Biological and a Physical Science it would be advantageous to choose course C409 the Class 1 Stream.

ATP SCIENCE (C40A)

The Year 10 course for students in the ATP Mathematics and Science Program, will in part, encompass a multi-disciplinary approach to Mathematics and Science and Technology.

In Science these students will study relevant facets of science in five curriculum strands.

These strands are:

working scientifically;
natural and processed materials;
earth and beyond;
life and living; and
energy and change

Students are expected to enter:

National Mathematics and Science Competitions;
The Science Talent Search;
Mathematics Problem Solving Competitions;
Industry-based Activities;
Environmental Projects; and
The Solar Challenge.

Students will be exposed to a wide array of enrichment materials which:

are research and extended project based;
cater for gifted students in the quantitative area;
enable them to engage in problem solving;
are related to real life situations;
are outcomes-based;
use information technology as a research tool; and
use portfolios.

An emphasis on academic rigour as well as enrichment will provide a strong foundation for further study of specialised Science subjects in Year 11 and 12.