Science

SCIENCE 

"Equipped with his five senses, man explores the universe around him and calls the adventure Science." 

~Edwin Powell Hubble, The Nature of Science, 1954 

The Science Faculty at Servite College attempts to develop our students' wonder and awe at the amazing world around them. Our experienced, dedicated and enthusiastic Science staff take students on an adventure that journeys through wonderful worlds including the human body, the atom, space and the environment.

GOALS OF THE SCIENCE COURSES

"In the Science learning area students learn to investigate, understand and communicate about the physical, biological and technological world and value the processes that support life on our planet. Science helps students to become critical thinkers by encouraging them to use evidence to evaluate the use of science in society and the application of science in daily life."

~Curriculum Framework, 1998

Our Lower School Science courses aim to teach students about advances in the various fields of Science and to teach them the necessary skills required to conduct investigations of their own about the world around them.

The courses also aim to equip students with the necessary skills to analyse information of a scientific nature so that they can be proactive members of their community. 

Finally, the courses aim to provide students with the necessary knowledge and process skills to pursue Science based courses in Years 11 and 12 and ultimately at education post-secondary schooling and career pathways that involve a Science background.

THE COURSES

The Science programmes for Year 7, 8 and 9 include Biology, Chemistry, Human Biology and Physics topics. Year 10 students can select from semester units from a range of topics such as Chemistry, Consumer Science, Environmental Science, Life Sciences, Physics and Physical Sciences. Programmes for Year 11 and 12 include Biological Science, Chemistry, Human Biological Science, Integrated Science and Physics.

Years 7, 8 and 9

The Years 7, 8 and 9 courses are general programmes of work with a focus on Working Scientifically as an avenue to provide students with the necessary skills to work as a scientist. The programmes include a fusion of general Science knowledge in the areas of Biology, Chemistry, Human Biology and Physics.

Students are arranged into Support, Mainstream and Extension classes (Year 7 and 8 students are arranged into Support and Mainstream only) with the opportunity for students to move between classes should the need arise. There may be slight differences in the programmes for these classes but a general programme of study is covered so as to not hinder students moving between these classes. 

Year 10

Year 10 students are provided with the opportunity to select from a range of semesterised units. An acceptable standard of achievement must be demonstrated in Year 9 Science to select certain units* from the list below. The units offered are:

• Chemistry*
• Consumer Science
• Environmental Science
• Life Sciences
• Physical Sciences, and
• Physics*

Chemistry

The Chemistry unit provides students with some foundation practical skills and knowledge necessary to study the 2A and 2B Chemistry course of study in Year 11. Concepts covered include the structure of the atom, chemical formula writing, chemical reactions and equations and calculations involving the mole.

Consumer Science & Environmental Science

These units have been designed for those students who may have struggled in Year 9 Science and who would benefit from a course more designed to their specific needs.

Topics covered in the Consumer Science course include product labeling, product testing and scientific statements in the media associated with products.

Topics covered in the Environmental Science course include climate change, environmental degradation, air and water pollution and some ecology concepts.

Life Sciences

This unit has been designed to cater for those students who wish to study the 2A and 2B Biology or Human Biology courses of study in Year 11. The unit covers a mixture of biology and anatomy concepts including ecosystems, animal and plant adaptations and systems of the human body.

Physical Sciences

This unit has been designed for those students who wish to study Chemistry and/or Physics in Year 11 but who may not have demonstrated an acceptable standard of achievement in the relevant parts of the Year 9 Science course. The unit encompasses foundational practical skills and knowledge from both Chemistry and Physics.

Physics

The Physics unit provides students with some foundational practical skills and knowledge necessary to study the 2A and 2B Physics course of study in Year 11. Concepts covered include the physics of motion, electricity, work, energy and power.

Years 11 and 12

Courses offered in Year 11 and 12 endeavor to provide students with foundational skills and knowledge in their selected area for post secondary study in the Sciences. The courses offered at Servite College are listed below.

Descriptions of the above courses can be found at the Curriculum Council website www.curriculum.wa.edu.au/nternet/Senior_Secondary/Courses

USEFUL WEBSITES

Science Network, Western Australia http://www.sciencewa.net.au/

Science Teachers Association of Western Australia http://www.stawa.net/

Scitech http://www.scitech.org.au/

Cosmos Magazine http://www.cosmosmagazine.com/

CSIRO Double Helix Club www.csiro.au/products/DoubleHelixClub.html