Year 12 Environmental Science

This course will allow you to develop knowledge and skills needed to tackle complex environmental challenges that affect the local community and to contribute to sustainable solutions. It is becoming increasingly crucial to have knowledge of how human activities can impact the environment and how to prevent future destruction. 

A wide range of topics are explored in this course. You will learn the importance of sustainability and its effects on vital local ecosystems, and then explore deep-sea conditions and the remarkable creatures that inhabit them. You will also investigate the influence of salt levels on plant growth, and learn how to critically evaluate online information about climate change. You will then study the causes and impacts of natural disasters in New Zealand. 

This course offers a field trip to the Waikanae Estuary to study the local flora and fauna. Students will also have to design and carry out a practical investigation. 

Your work will be assessed through four internal achievement standards and one external achievement standard. 

• Standard AS90811 - Estuary sustainability study (internal) - UE Lit Reading

• Standard AS91187 - Salt water intrusion practical (internal)

• Standard AS91188 - Climate change (internal)

• Standard AS91189 - Volcanoes, Tsunamis and Earthquakes (external)

• Standard AS91191 - Deep sea environment/animals (internal)

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