Year 9 Core Program

In Year 9 English students build on the skills developed in Years 7 and 8, and learn to read, understand and write more sophisticated texts. Students study current events; looking at how a current issue is covered in the media and analysing how a point of view is presented persuasively. Students present their own point of view on different issues raised in the classroom.  We study a range of different texts across the year, including visual texts. 

Students use a variety of strategies to analyse these texts and demonstrate their understanding of the key ideas explored in the text. They build their essay writing skills in preparation for Senior English.  Students also respond creatively, using their understanding of genre, audience and language to present creative responses to the texts they are studying. Both analytical and creative work is intended to introduce students to new ideas, language structures and vocabulary. This includes students continuing to read a wide range of texts at home.

Year 9 Health and Physical Education enables students to gain valuable, applicable lifelong knowledge and skills. Students will participate in a variety of individual and team sports. Skills learnt and enhanced include; athletics, striking and fielding, outwitting opponents and fitness lessons. These will be done by participating in various traditional and non-traditional sports and activities.

Students have to plan and implement ways to improve their skills and performance in a variety of more technically demanding movements, and participate in peer led activities. 

In health classes students examine many current societal health issues, including drug and alcohol (mis)use, sexuality in modern day society and resilience, rights and respectful relationships. The focus is on harm minimisation and strategies to help themselves, friends and the community.

The Year 9 Home group curriculum builds on concepts, skills and techniques introduced in Year 8.

History

The Year 9 curriculum provides a study of the history of the making of the modern world from 1750 to 1918.  Students investigate how life changed in the period through the study of the Industrial Revolution, the colonisation of Australia, Federation and World War 1. 

Geography

In Year 9 students investigate the biomes of the world, their alteration and significance as a source of food and fibre, and the environmental challenges and constraints on expanding food production in the future.  The distinctive aspects of biomes, food production and food security are investigated using studies drawn from Australia and across the world.

In the geographies of interconnection, students examine the effects of people’s travel, recreational, cultural or leisure choices on places, and the implications for the future of these places.

Civics and Citizenship / Business and Economics

In Year 9 students focus on their role within the Australian political system.  They investigate human rights, how citizens can influence the world they live in and play an active part within their local community.  In Business and Economics students explore the world of work and managing personal finances.

The Year 9 Mathematics curriculum builds on concepts, skills, and techniques introduced in Year 8.  These topics are extended and new topics are introduced to provide a sound basis for the study of mathematics in Years 10-12.   All students are required to have a scientific calculator.  The recommended scientific calculator is the Texas Instruments TIXB30 multiview. 

The curriculum is presented in 6 -8 units of study across these interrelated strands:

• Number and Algebra – index laws and scientific notation, the simple interest formula, algebraic techniques,  linear and other relationships (equations and graphs).

• Measurement and Geometry – surface area and volume of 3D objects, similarity of shapes, Trigonometry and extension of Pythagoras' Theorem.

• Statistics and Probability –  calculating probabilities and data representation.

In Year 9 Science students explore how the nervous and endocrine systems maintain balance within the body. Examine the differences between infectious and non-infectious disease and compare different infectious disease control measures. 

Students investigate how ideas about the structure of the atom have changed over time, and model natural radioactive decay to illustrate how stable atoms are formed. They demonstrate the Law of Conservation of Mass in chemical reactions and write chemical equations for these reactions. 

Students analyse interactions within and between Earth’s interrelated systems and how these affect the carbon cycle. They examine trends in patterns of global climate change and propose strategies to mitigate contributing factors.

Students analyse and represent energy conservation, including efficiency, in systems, and model how different forms of energy are transformed into electrical energy.

Students will learn that scientific understanding, including models and theories, are contestable and are refined over time through a process of review by the scientific community.