Level 1 Science
Course Description
Head of Faculty/Teacher in Charge: Mr T. Hill.
Science is about people exploring and investigating their biological, chemical, physical, and technological worlds and making sense of them in logical and creative ways.
This course will enable students to get a good grounding for the study of Science subjects at Level 2 & Level 3 (Physics, Chemistry, Psychology, and Biology).
Topics include Genetics, Microorganisms, Physics, Chemistry, and Earth's interactions with the sun and moon. Within each topic, opportunities exist to build the skills of Information Gathering, Processing & Interpreting, and Reporting.
Course Overview
What is taught in courses varies from year to year. This course could include:
Microorganisms: This is a case study about the micro-organism responsible for Kauri dieback. This topic involves several experiments, research and a report on the findings.
Physics investigation: This topic takes students through the process of designing and running a Physics investigation Students collect and process the data and write a report on the findings.
Chemistry: This topic continues from Year 10 chemistry giving students a good grounding of the fundamentals in preparation for L2 Chemistry. There is a written assessment at the end of the topic.
Genetics: This involves the fundamental processes of genetics including case studies of New Zealand native species and how genetics is used to assist in bringing organisms back from the risk of extinction. An external exam is sat at the end of the topic.
Interactions between the Earth, the Sun, and the Moon: This looks at how Earth interacts with the Sun and Moon and the effects of these interactions creating seasons, tides, and temperature changes. There is an external exam at the end of the topic.
Recommended Prior Learning
This course has no prerequisites; open entry to all.
Contributions and Equipment/Stationery
There are write-on booklets, that cover work for some of the external and internal assessments, which can be purchased for approximately $12 each. These booklets can be purchased from the school once classes are finalised.
Pathway
Assessment Information
Students will choose 3 of the 6 standards from the list above.There are 2 internal assessments and 1 external assessment.
All assessments are Achievement standards and provide the opportunity for Achieve, Merit, and Excellence.
Credit Information
You will be assessed in this course through all or a selection of the standards listed below.
This course is eligible for subject endorsement.
External
NZQA Info
Chemistry and Biology 1.1 - Demonstrate understanding of the relationship between a microorganism and the environment
NZQA Info
Chemistry and Biology 1.2 - Demonstrate understanding of chemical reactions in context
NZQA Info
Chemistry and Biology 1.3 - Demonstrate understanding of genetic variation in relation to an identified characteristic
NZQA Info
Physics, Earth and Space Science 1.1 - Demonstrate understanding of human-induced change within the Earth system
NZQA Info
Physics, Earth and Space Science 1.2 - Demonstrate understanding of a physical phenomenon through investigation
NZQA Info
Physics, Earth and Space Science 1.3 - Demonstrate understanding of the effect on the Earth of interactions between the Sun and the Earth-Moon system
Click on a career pathway tag to explore more....
Science Technician, Agricultural Technician, Environmental Scientist, Phlebotomist, Meteorologist, Medical Laboratory Scientist, Diver, Statistician, Forensic Scientist, Geologist, Food Technologist, Acupuncturist, Personal Trainer/Exercise Professional, Registered Nurse, Agricultural/Horticultural Consultant, Anaesthetist, Pathologist, Veterinary Nurse, Zoologist, Beekeeper, Chemist, Zookeeper, Arborist, Audiologist/Audiometrist, Microbiologist, Survey Technician, Agricultural/Horticultural Scientist, Air Force Officer, Mechanical Engineering Technician, Paramedic, Business Analyst, Software Developer, Aquaculture Farmer, Marine Biologist, Army Officer, Army Soldier, Medical Physicist, Electronics Engineer, Biochemist, Biomedical Engineer, Biotechnologist, Fabrication Engineer,
Disclaimer
Please note that courses will go ahead only if student numbers, staffing, and timetabling allow it. Where a subject is oversubscribed, and there are insufficient numbers or resources to create an extra class, a ballot system may be applied.
Costs
The Board of Trustees has again asked to opt into the Ministry of Education donation scheme. Doing so resulted in the ability to waive student fee donations. Kaiapoi High School aims to deliver quality educational courses over and above those that which is funded by the Ministry. It is likely the School will opt into the donation scheme for 2025, however parental contribution for the costs of trips and activities where participation is optional, and/or components not covered by the Government grant, may be requested. We appreciate the financial support our families make to the School.