LEVEL: Year 9
LENGTH: Full Year
Content:
In Year 9, students consider the operation of systems at a range of scales. They explore ways in which the human body as a system responds to its external environment and the interdependencies between biotic and abiotic components of ecosystems. They are introduced to the notion of the atom as a system of protons, electrons and neutrons, and how this system can change through nuclear decay. They learn that matter can be rearranged through chemical change and that these changes play an important role in many systems. They are introduced to the concept of the conservation of matter and begin to develop a more sophisticated view of energy transfer. They begin to apply their understanding of energy and forces to global systems such as continental movement.
Topics studied include:
- The Structure of the Atom
- Types of Chemical Reactions
- Energy Transfer
- Heat, Light and Sound
- Multicellular Organisms
- Ecosystems
- Earthquakes and Plate Tectonics
Assessment:
Students’ performance will be determined according to the Australian Curriculum Achievement Standards. Grades A to E will be used for reporting purposes.
Students’ understanding and skills will be assessed in a variety of tasks including; practical reports; research and inquiry-based learning tasks; tests; and various forms of communication including essays, videos and oral presentations.
Leads to: Year 10 Science