Year 12 General Science (SCI)
Course Description
Teacher in Charge:
Year 12 General Science (SCI)
WHAT WILL I LEARN:
- An understanding of how humans survive, looking at cell structures and basic life processes and factors that affect these.
- The techniques and skills to investigate (prepare, observe and record) cells and their structures using light microscopy.
- How to carry out a practical biological investigation relevant to human life processes.
- An understanding of the physics involved in supporting human survival in situations with significant temperature challenges.
- How organisms survive in extreme environments such as outer space. What makes these environments extreme and how technological modifications and innovations allow humans to survive there.
- The structure and processes of the Earth and how these result in specific geological events in Aotearoa New Zealand and how these impact our lives and environment. Events, such as the Napier, Christchurch and Kaikoura earthquakes, Taupo and other volcanic eruptions and a variety of tsunamis are studied.
HOW IS THE COURSE ASSESSED:
4 or 5 Level 2 Achievement Standards - 16 to 20 credits:
3 or 4 internally assessed Achievement standards make up 12 to 16 credits
1 externally assessed Achievement standard makes up 4 credits
WHO COULD TELL ME MORE?
Mrs Metelerkamp or Ms Grellman
Recommended Prior Learning
WHAT SHOULD I HAVE ALREADY DONE:
Level 1 Science with Achievement
Level 1 English with consistent Achievement
Contributions and Equipment/Stationery
WHAT ARE THE COURSE COSTS?
Workbooks are provided as part of the course.
There is a highly recommended field trip for 2 days to the Tongariro Volcanic Plateau. The approximate cost of the trip is $120 dollars. This trip is an excellent opportunity to experience Science out in the real world and supports learning across all standards in this course.
Pathway
WHAT COULD THIS SUBJECT LEAD TO?
Level 3 General Science
Credit Information
You will be assessed in this course through all or a selection of the standards listed below.
External
NZQA Info
Biology 2.1 - Carry out a practical investigation in a biology context, with supervision
NZQA Info
Biology 2.8 - Investigate biological material at the microscopic level
NZQA Info
Physics 2.2 - Demonstrate understanding of physics relevant to a selected context
NZQA Info
Earth and Space Science 2.4 - Investigate how organisms survive in an extreme environment
NZQA Info
Earth and Space Science 2.5 - Demonstrate understanding of the causes of extreme Earth events in New Zealand