Our everyday lives are surrounded by science. Scientific processes can be applied to understand the natural world, to solve problems and to develop modern technologies.
A study of Science helps us all to understand and interpret the world we live in and to better cope with the inevitable changes the future will bring.
In the Middle Years Science course, students can experience the joy of scientific discovery and nurture their natural curiosity about the world around them. In doing this, they develop critical and creative thinking skills and challenge themselves to identify questions and draw evidence-based conclusions using scientific methods.
The Australian Science Curriculum is divided into three strands:
In Year 9, students consider the operation of systems at a range of scales. They explore ways in which the human body as a system responds to its external environment and the interdependencies between biotic and abiotic components of ecosystems. They are introduced to the notion of the atom as a system of protons, electrons and neutrons, and how this system can change through nuclear decay. They learn that matter can be rearranged through chemical change and that these changes play an important role in many systems. They are introduced to the concept of the conservation of matter and begin to develop a more sophisticated view of energy transfers. They apply their understanding of energy and forces to global systems, including the Earth’s spheres, and develop an understanding of the science behind climate change. In Year 9, students use evidence to develop arguments regarding scientific models and health decisions, and they explore how scientific skills, knowledge and thinking can be applied across different disciplines.
Scientific experiment reports, research reports and exams.
Mr John Fitzgerald
jfitzgerald@mfac.edu.au
