Science

Science is an essential part of modern life. This course will help students to understand the world better. It is the basis of a
huge range of career options. The Level 1 course allows entry into Year 12 Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Science.

There are three courses available in Level 1 Science. Each course is assessed differently using a combination of Achievement
Standards.

Biology

Biology is for you if you are interested in living things (including humans) and wish to learn more about how they function and interact or if you wish to follow a career in Nursing, Forestry, Agriculture, Veterinary Science, Fisheries, Medicine, Conservation, Biochemistry, Dentistry, Psychology, Health Sciences or many others.

Chemistry

Throughout the history of the human race, people have struggled to make sense of the world around them. Through Chemistry we have gained an understanding of the matter which makes up our world and of the interactions between particles on which our world depends.

Modern society looks to chemists to produce, amongst many things, medicines to heal, pesticides and fertilisers to ensure better crops and chemicals for the many synthetic materials produced in the 21st century. It also looks for an academic understanding of how matter works and how the environment might be protected from the damage humans have caused.
Fortunately Chemistry holds many of the answers.

Physics

In Physics you will learn about the world of matter and energy from a scientific point of view. If you are thinking about a career in aviation, engineering, electronics, health sciences, telecommunications, surveying, architecture, pharmacy, and so on, then Physics could be an important subject for you.

Students develop scientific skills and attitudes through doing “hands-on” practical science activities.

Science in Years 9 and 10 build upon Science learned in Years 7 and 8.

Science develops a deeper understanding of the world around us and allows students to have an informed opinion of scientific issues in the media.

Each Science course is built around experiments, practicals, and explaining the world around us.

There is a focus on the Key Competencies and Nature of Science found in the New Zealand Curriculum and covers Biology, Chemistry, Physics as well as Planet Earth and Beyond. There is a focus on socio-scientific issues in the real world such as climate change, organ donation and transplant, how green are electric vehicles and how do we ensure Southland’s species are still here for our grandchildren.

Due to the practical nature of the course students will gain more confidence carrying out scientific investigations which will lead to a Science Fair investigation in Year 10..

In 2025 all courses will be trialling new material offered in Year 11 but this will not affect assessment.

There are three courses offered in Level 1 Science. Talk to your teacher for advice on which one is most suited for you.

COURSE DESCRIPTION: Year 11 Science includes a range of topics based in the Material World (Chemistry); Physical World (Physics); Living World (Biology) and Earth and Space Science.

The Level 2 course is constructed for students interested in going into courses that lead into the trades or other courses run by institutes of technology. It will help keep options open for vocational career planning and will help students continue to develop their scientific literacy. Level 2 Science leads into the Level 3 Science course.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
The curriculum focus of this course includes a mixture of Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Earth and Space Science. The course is intended to prepare students to follow a career pathway through institutes of technology rather than university. Students will be eligible to take Level 3 Science if they gain a minimum of 12 credits from Level 2 Science.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

The course offers an introduction to Biology by covering a range of topics including community ecology, practical investigations, adaptation of plants or animals to their way of life, gene expression and genetic variation and change.

A range of activities including, practical investigations, field surveys, research and reporting.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
The curriculum focus of this course includes atomic structure and bonding; energy in reactions; rates of reaction; equilibrium; acids and bases; organic chemistry; oxidation and reduction, and the analysis of substances to measure concentration levels of different chemicals.

This course is intended to prepare students for Level 3 Chemistry and potentially study at university. It is designed to develop understandings of chemical concepts, knowledge and skills, and also to develop technical competency in handling glassware and some hazardous chemicals.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

• Carry out a practical physics investigation that leads to a non-linear mathematical relationship
• Demonstrate understanding of waves
  Includes the study of lenses, mirrors and the behaviour of waves
• Demonstrate understanding of mechanics
  Includes the study of straight line, projectile and circular motion, forces, energy and momentum
• Demonstrate understanding of atomic and nuclear physics
  Includes the study of the atomic structure and radioactive decay
• Demonstrate understanding of electricity and electromagnetism
  Includes the study of DC and static electricity, magnetism and the force on electrical charges in a magnetic field

The Level 3 course is constructed for students interested in going into courses that lead into the trades or other courses run by Institutes of Technology. It will allow them to keep their options open for vocational career planning and will help them continue to develop their scientific literacy. Much of this course will be focused on socio-scientific issues that are faced in everyday life.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
The curriculum focus of this course includes a mixture of Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Earth and Space Science.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

A variety of topics are covered including, responses of plants and animals, how an animal maintains a stable environment, human evolution, a biological investigation, and researching the biological implications of the manipulations of genetic transfer.

The course builds on skills and knowledge gained during Level 2 but also includes many new areas. Biology scholarship content will also be covered.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

The curriculum focus of this course includes atomic structure and bonding; energy in reactions; oxidation and reduction; equilibria and acids and bases; organic compounds, and the quantitative analysis of substances to measure concentration levels of different chemicals.

This course is intended to further develop the understandings of chemical concepts, knowledge and skills from Level 2 Chemistry. It has the additional aim of preparing students for tertiary study in this subject.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

• Demonstrate understanding of wave systems
  Builds on the work done at Level 2 with many applications to sound, music and light.
• Demonstrate understanding of mechanical systems
  Parallels much of the straight line motion done at Level 2 with rotational motion
• Demonstrate understanding of Nuclear and Quantum Physics
  Covers much of the classic theories of Modern Physics
• Demonstrate understanding of electrical systems
  Provides a deeper look at electrical components and their function