Science

Science is mandatory for all students from Year 7 to Year 10.

The importance of scientific awareness in our everyday lives is increasing all the time and our informed decisions will have an impact on future generations. In Science, students are able to gain an understanding of the relationships between Science and Technology and their impacts on society. Students at JRAHS develop questions and seek solutions to problems about the world around us.

Students use scientific inquiry by developing and utilising working scientifically skills, to increase understanding of concepts.

The Years 7 to 10 science programs at James Ruse Agricultural High School have been developed using the inquiry based learning model with an emphasis on student centred learning and first hand investigations. Students learn how to apply the process of working scientifically by identifying problems, working collaboratively in practical investigations, processing and analysing data and communicating scientific ideas.

Students study one unit of work each term for stage 4, dealing with the following areas of science.

Year 7

Year 8

Stage 5 has units of varying length. These include:

Year 9

Year 10

In Years 11 and 12, students can choose from different science disciplines, including:

Biology

Biology is the study of life and the interactions that occur within and between organisms and their environment. There are four modules in Year 11 and four modules in Year 12 as well as a Depth Study in each year. The modules are interrelated and interdependent.

The preliminary course incorporates a study of the structure and function of organisms, the evolution of life on Earth and the biotic and abiotic features of the environment and the interdependence of organisms in an ecosystem.

The HSC (Higher School Certificate) course builds upon the preliminary course with a detailed study of reproduction, genetics and disease.

Chemistry

Chemistry is the study of matter, with a focus on substances and their interactions. There are four modules in Year 11 and four modules in Year 12 as well as a Depth Study in each year.

The preliminary course develops a knowledge of atomic structure, chemical changes, rates of reaction and relationships between substances.

The HSC course builds on the concepts developed in the preliminary course including the study of acids, organic and inorganic substances and their analysis as well as monitoring chemical reactions.

Physics

Physics investigates how the universe behaves. It endeavours to identify patterns and apply models, principles and laws to explain behaviour of phenomena.

The problem-solving nature of physics further develops students’ working scientifically skills by focusing on the exploration of models and the analysis of theories and laws, which promotes an understanding of the connectedness of seemingly dissimilar phenomena. (DET)

In Year 12, students who are studying at least one other science course may also choose to study Science Extension.

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James Ruse Agricultural High School

James Ruse Agricultural High School

Science

Year 7

Year 8

Year 9

Year 10

Biology

Chemistry

Physics

Competitions & Co-Curricular Activities

Competitions

Co-Curricular Activities

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