In Year 10 Science all students follow the same core course. This course is written to comply with the Australian Curriculum: Science.

While the same core curriculum is followed in all classes, different strategies and activities are used to meet the diverse needs of the students in each class.

This curriculum is based on the three strands: Science Inquiry Skills, Science as a Human Endeavour and Science Understanding. In practice these three strands are taught together to develop student’s Science understanding and skills within meaningful contexts.

The Science course concentrates on the development of an understanding of Science as a way of thinking critically, applying knowledge and creating explanations for observed phenomena. Today, students must be scientifically literate so they can question and seek evidence to confirm intuition and assess views arising in the popular media. They must develop skills to view change critically in the light of new evidence. The Year 10 course will expose students to learning within the biological, physical, chemical and Earth and space sciences.

Students develop new knowledge and skills within these areas by:

  • analyse the biological, geological and physical evidence for the theory of natural selection
  • analyse the biological, geological and physical evidence for Big Bang theory
  • applying physical laws to understanding and describing motion and forces
  • studying the relationships within the periodic table and using these to explain and predict important chemical processes and the properties of key materials
  • exploring the relationships between the living, physical and chemical world to analyse global scale systems such as the carbon cycle
  • independently developing questions to investigate scientifically
  • developing methods of inquiry, justifying conclusions and identifying alternative explanations for findings
  • evaluating the claims made by others and constructing evidence based arguments

 Additional information

Additional information regarding the Australia Curriculum – Science can be found at www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/Science/Curriculum/F-10)

A significant feature of studying Science at Daramalan College involves conducting Science investigations, where students learn how to work like a scientist. Science investigations involve designing methods of inquiry, evaluating information, solving problems, interpreting evidence, and communicating findings. Additionally, students are given the opportunity to participate in numerous external Science competitions and activities such as ICAS-Science, Big Science Competition, CSIRO CREST Science Investigation Awards, Australian National Chemistry Quiz, Australian Science Olympiad and many others. These provide opportunities for students to gain experience in external assessment situations, gain additional knowledge and skills, and identify a talent in Science.