With the increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and rising temperatures, the topic of climate change can often seem contentious and somewhat like a looming apocalypse. In this subject, students will determine how to be the agents of change in a challenging new environment. This approach will begin with day-by-day impacts and build up to large-scale global efforts. Students will also learn how to conduct themselves in a scientific debate about climate change.
The aim of this subject is to take a practical approach to current environmental issues we face. Students will:
research the natural cycling of atoms, temperature and living things in our world
use of renewable and non-renewable energy sources
sea levels rising
argue issues related to climate change.
Determine the impact of a damaging environmental issue and investigate solutions.
Students will also engage in Particle theory Chemistry, Ecosystems, Food webs and chains and Forces.
Student achievement will be measures by a range of tasks and assessments as well as a negotiated project in the later parts of the subject.
This subject runs for the entire year.
This subject is designed to introduce and develop the skills and knowledge needed to be successful in VCE Biology Unit 1 and 2.
The skills taught will be based around those prescribed by the current VCE Biology Study Design in conjunction with the Victorian 7-10 Curriculum. These include:
develop aims and questions, formulate hypotheses and make prediction
plan and undertake investigations
Use appropriate scientific equipment
collect, analyse, record and evaluating data
analyse and evaluate data, methods and scientific models
draw evidence-based conclusions
communicate and explain scientific ideas.
The topics to be covered may include:
cell structure
cellular process
DNA /genetics
evolution
Students will lead their discovery of these topics through experimentation, course work and extended individual and group investigations. This includes practical experiments, research assignments and classwork.
Pre VCE Biology is a semester-long subject.
Chemistry is the study of matter. In this semester-long subject, students will learn the foundations of atoms, the periodic table, bonding, reactions and acid/ base chemistry to lead into VCE Chemistry Units 1 and 2.
The skills taught will be based around those prescribed by the current VCE Chemistry Study Design. These include:
develop aims and questions, formulate hypotheses and make predictions
plan and undertake investigations
use appropriate scientific equipment
collect, analyse, record and evaluating data
analyse and evaluate data, methods and scientific models
draw evidence-based conclusions
communicate and explain scientific ideas.
The topics to be covered will be taken from the VCE Chemistry Study Design and may include:
the elements of the Periodic Table
bonding (ionic, metallic, covalent, polarity and hydrogen bonds)
reactions
balancing equations
acid and bases (equilibrium basics)
Students will lead their discovery of these topics through the experimentation, coursework, extended individual and group investigations, and topic tests.
Pre VCE Chemistry is a semester-long subject.
Psychology is the study of mental processes and behaviour. In this course, students will be given the opportunity to explore the main concepts covered in VCE Psychology Units 1 to 4 in a fun and engaging way.
The topics to be covered may include:
the nature of psychology
types of psychology
mental health/illness
mental disorders
the brain and nervous system
ethics and moral development.
Students will drive their own learning within Pre VCE Psychology through individual and group research tasks, coursework, investigations, psychological experiments, surveys, films and interactive classes.
Key skills developed in this subject:
develop aims and questions, formulate hypotheses and make predictions
plan and undertake investigations
conduct investigations to collect and record data (complying with safety and ethical guidelines)
analyse and evaluate data, methods and scientific models
draw evidence-based conclusions
communicate and explain scientific ideas.
Pre VCE Psychology is a semester-long subject.
This course is designed to give students a core foundation in the main topics covered in VCE Physics Units 1 to 4.
The skills taught will be based around those prescribed by the current VCE Physics Study Design. These include:
develop aims and questions, formulate hypotheses and make predictions
plan and undertake investigations
use appropriate scientific equipment
collect, analyse, record and evaluating data
analyse and evaluate data, methods and scientific models
draw evidence-based conclusions
communicate and explain scientific ideas.
The topics to be covered will be taken from the VCE Physics Study Design, and include:
motion
forces
energy transfer and transformations
electricity.
Students will lead their discovery of these topics through the experimentation, course work, investigations and topic tests.
Pre-VCE Physics is a semester-long subject.
How do we break down food? How does our hair grow? Why can't some people drink milk? The answers lie in the molecules in our cells. Biology is the study of life and chemistry is the study of matter. The combination - Biochemistry - covers matter in living things, such as molecules like enzymes and DNA in cells.
Using knowledge of chemistry, the molecular building blocks of life are discussed. This information is essential for the understanding of any living things at the cellular level and on a whole body scale. Students will learn to appreciate the structure of biological building blocks such as amino acids, DNA, carbohydrates and lipids.
During this elective, students will be able to explore biological concepts through experimentation and research.
Student achievement in this elective will be measured through the completion of a range of tasks including peer-peer learning and teaching, topic tests and written assignments, inquiry and scientific report writing and adapted scientific experiments and reports on results.
Did you know that about 71 percent of the Earth is covered by salt water? And in this water, specifically in the oceans, it is predicted that there will be more plastic than fish in 2050?
In this subject, students will dive into the scientific study of Marine Science. This science elective will introduce students to the tremendously varied range of organisms that are found in marine environments. Students will investigate how the features common to aquatic organisms are the result of living in a watery world. The course will allow students to investigate the importance of the world’s oceans as sources of food, reservoirs of minerals, a major supplier of oxygen, and as a regulator of climate.
This subject will consist of a combination of directed learning and student-led activities, which are designed to introduce students to the concepts of:
properties of water
the diversity of marine life
deep sea biology
Earth structure
continental drift
climate change
human impacts.
Student achievement in Blue Planet will be measured through the completion of a range of tasks including dissections (virtual or physical depending on preference), experiments and written reports and projects and presentations based on individual interests.
Food. We eat it three times a day when we can and know intuitively a lot about it. But how does this translate into the lab and the kitchen? What makes an egg go hard? What makes a cake rise?
This subject aims to cover the basics of food science to explain what is going on in our body and the kitchen. By roasting an onion you break down the long chain carbohydrates into simple sugars, making it sweeter. By cooking toast, you combine amino acids with reducing sugars to produce both the smell of toast and that brown colour. Learn this and more to discover the beauty of science in food.
Topics covered include taste buds and tongue anatomy, food acids and bases, bacteria, yeast as our friend, fermentation in cooking, Maillard reactions, carbohydrate cooking, emulsifiers and much more.
This class will run only in the science laboratory.
Forensic Science is the application of scientific knowledge and methodology to criminal investigations. The evidence collected and analysed can be used in a court of law and could potentially lead to a person being found guilty of a crime. Students completing this course will explore and use forensic science techniques and psychological analysis to understand how to catch culprits of criminal activities. Students will be required to conduct blood spatter analysis, virtual dissections, blood and DNA typing activities and many other forensic and psychological investigations.
The course will consist of a number of practical components, research assignments, case studies and student presentations. Assessment will be based on these tasks.
Earth was formed around 4.5 billion years ago, modern humans emerged around 300,000 years ago and then, in the blink of an eye (in geological time, at least) we landed on the moon. From the Big Bang to becoming an astronaut, science is all around us, both on earth and far beyond.
This science elective will introduce students to the Big Bang Theory and our Solar System, including how matter came into being, how the planets got themselves organised, and how this helps us understand why the tides wane and the seasons turn. Students will develop an understanding of light and radiation and how forces and motion are used to launch a spaceship.
The course will consist of a number of practical components and research assignments. Assessment will be based on these tasks.
Did you know a red blood cell goes around the body and passes through the heart every 45 seconds?
In Medicine and Disease, students will learn how diseases are caused and prevented, focusing on the respiratory and circulatory systems. Students will also develop and refine their skills in conducting scientific investigations.
Note: Dissections are required in this class. For those students who are not comfortable in partaking in a physical dissection, virtual dissections can be done as a substitute.
Students will explore:
Microbiology
Body systems
Immune system
Vaccines and immunity
Respiratory system and heart diseases
Circulatory system
The course will consist of a number of practical components, research assignments, case studies and student presentations. Assessment will be based on these tasks.
Ever wanted to know about the fascinating world of Psychology and Physics?
In this subject, students will dive into the captivating realms of light, sound, magnetism, and the intriguing workings of the human mind.
Students will venture into the realm of Psychology, where they'll uncover the mind-bending Stroop effect, the curious Serial Position effect, and explore the power of attitudes.
Through interactive labs, research projects, and teamwork, students will not only grasp scientific principles but also develop critical thinking skills in the dynamic topics across Psychology and Physics.
Please note that you cannot take this elective if you have previously completed Lab Rats.