In general terms the science syllabus can be broken into several key strands. These are:
- Knowledge and Understanding
- Prescribed Focus Area (PFA's)
- Skills (Practical and Communication)
Course Outline:
The stage 5 Science syllabus is broken into four distinct fields of study: Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Space science and Physics. Students will be introduced to each of these fields over the junior years in the hope that they will go onto to choose one or more of them at the HSC level.
Topics studied in year 9 include: Plate tectonics, Atoms, Body systems and responses, Matter and Energy in Ecosystems, Periodic Table, Energy and Electricity.
Topics studied in year 10 include: Global Systems, The Universe, Chemical reactions, Evolution, Genetics, Using Chemistry and Motion and Energy.Specifically, students will be provided with a learning experience in which they:
- acquire scientific knowledge and skills and develop understanding about phenomena within and beyond their experience
- develop an appreciation of science as a human activity and apply their understanding to their everyday life
Course Outcomes:
STAGE 5 SKILLS
SC5-4WS: develops questions or hypotheses to be investigated scientifically
SC5-5WS: produces a plan to investigate identifiedquestions, hypotheses or problems,individually and collaboratively
SC5-6WS: undertakes first-hand investigations to collectvalid and reliable data and information,individually and collaboratively
SC5-7WS: processes, analyses and evaluates data fromfirst-hand investigations and secondarysources to develop evidence-basedarguments and conclusions
SC5-8WS: applies scientific understanding and criticalthinking skills to suggest possible solutions toidentified problems
SC5-9WS: presents science ideas and evidence for aparticular purpose and to a specific audience,using appropriate scientific language,conventions and representations
STAGE 5 KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
SC5-10PW: applies models, theories and laws to explainsituations involving energy, force and motion
SC5-11PW: explains how scientific understanding about energy conservation, transfers and transformations is applied in systems
SC5-12ES: describes changing ideas about the structureof the Earth and the universe to illustrate howmodels, theories and laws are refined overtime by the scientific community
SC5-13ES: explains how scientific knowledge about globalpatterns of geological activity and interactionsinvolving global systems can be used to informdecisions related to contemporary issues
SC5-14LW: analyses interactions between componentsand processes within biological systems
SC5-15LW: explains how biological understanding hasadvanced through scientific discoveries,technological developments and the needs ofsociety
SC5-16CW: explains how models, theories and laws aboutmatter have been refined as new scientificevidence becomes available
SC5-17CW: discusses the importance of chemical reactions in the production of a range of substances, and the influence of society on the development of new materials