Science is both a body of knowledge and a process.  Science is a way of discovering what's in the universe and how those things work today, how they worked in the past, and how they are likely to work in the future. Scientists are motivated by the thrill of seeing or figuring out something that no one has before.

Science at Queen’s is about asking questions, making predictions and trying out solutions for real-life problems.  Science is about doing experiments, making models, role-playing processes and deep thinking.  It is about working in teams, or working alone.  It can answer questions or create more questions.  It is a dynamic, practical subject based on a core of knowledge.     

Science is ongoing. Science is continually refining and expanding our knowledge of the universe, and as it does, it leads to new questions for future investigation. Science will never be "finished."

Year 9: Science

Science in Year 9 covers the following topics:

  • I am A Scientist 
  • My Chemical World 
  • What Am I Made Of?
  • I Am What I Eat 
  • Zip Zap
  • Am I Alive?
  • My Planet Earth
  • Biotechnology
Year 10: Science

Mā te whakaaro nui e hanga te whare; mā te mātauranga e whakaū
Big ideas create the house; Knowledge maintains it.

Topics:

  • Living World:
    • Genetics and Inheritance
    • Body Works
  • Physical World:
    • Waves
    • I’m On The Move
  • Material World:
    • Introduction to Chemistry
    • Chemical reactions

Skills: 

  • Planning                                             
  • Information Processing                       
  • Communicating

 

Year 11: Science

Topics:

  • Chemistry – Acids & Bases
  • Biology – Genetics
  • Astronomy
  • Microbiology
  • Physics

Skills: 

  • The practical skills assessed in Level 1 Science include planning, carrying out and interpreting investigations in a variety of contexts, in order to reach sound conclusions. 
  • Students will learn, use and apply the language of Science to explain scientific phenomena, with a focus on writing extended answers.
Year 12: Biology

Topics:

  • Cell Biology
  • Gene Expression
  • Ecology
  • Genetic Variation and Change 

Skills: 

  • Skills established in Level 1 Science are extended in this Level 2 course. This includes designing and carrying out investigations, and then processing and interpreting data to reach valid and reliable conclusions. 
  • Microscopy, biological drawing and graphing are also part of the skill set of this subject, along with dissection and fieldwork. There is a continued focus on building and extending scientific literacy, and on using biological ideas to support and justify conclusions.
Year 12: Chemistry

Topics: 

  • Chemistry is about understanding the properties of substances and how these substances can change.

Skills: 

  • Carry out quantitative analysis. 
  • Carry out procedures to identify ions present in a solution. 
  • Demonstrate understanding of bonding, structure, properties and energy changes. 
  • Demonstrate understanding of the properties of selected organic compounds. 
  • Demonstrate understanding of chemical reactivity. 
  • Demonstrate understanding of oxidation-reduction.
Year 12: Physics

Topics:

  • Studying Level 2 Physics will give students a greater understanding and awareness of the physical world around them.

Skills: 

  • Demonstrate understanding of Physics relevant to selected context. 
  • Carry out a practical Physics investigation that leads to a non-linear relationship.
  • Understanding of waves and mechanics.
  • Understanding of atoms and nuclear physics.
  • Understanding of electricity and electromagnetism.
Year 13: Biology

Topics:

  • Animal and Plant Responses
  • Independent Investigation – The Crab Study
  • Genetic Manipulation
  • Evolution and Speciation
  • Homeostasis
  • Human Evolution

Skills:

  • This course continues to build on the skills and knowledge established at Level 2.  This includes each student carrying out an independent investigation which involves the development of hypothesis, planning and carrying out lab or field work, collection and analysis of data and the writing of a justified conclusion. 
  • Lab skills are developed further, and students have the opportunity to carry out some practical work in University laboratories as part of the course. 
  • Research skills are also built on in this course, including the skills associated with referencing material.  There is an ongoing focus on developing scientific literacy, as writing extended answers is essential to success at this level.
Year 13: Chemistry

Topics: 

  • This course aims to extend the skills and knowledge developed at Level 2 and seeks to lay a firm foundation for those advancing to tertiary studies.

Skills: 

  • Investigation in Chemistry involving quantitative analysis. 
  • Understanding of spectroscopic data in chemistry. 
  • Demonstrate understanding of thermochemical principles and the properties of particles and substances. 
  • Understanding of the properties of organic compounds. 
  • Equilibrium principles in aqueous systems. 
  • Demonstrate understanding of oxidation–reduction processes.

 

Year 13: Physics

Topics: 

  • This course is an extension of the Level 2 course with some new areas of study.

Skills:

  • Carry out a practical investigation to test a physics theory relating two variables in a non-linear relationship. 
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the application of Physics to a selected context. 
  • Understanding of wave systems and mechanical systems. 
  • Demonstrate understanding of modern Physics. 
  • Use Physics knowledge to develop an informed response to a socio-scientific issue.

 

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