Science is mandatory for all students from Year 7 to Year 10.
Science 7-10 provides a way of inquiring about the world around us. It explores evidence and investigates ways to discover, develop and produce solutions to real-world problems. Science emphasises the skills for working scientifically, as well as critical and creative thinking to address scientific issues.
In Years 11 and 12, students can choose from different science disciplines, including:
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Earth and Environmental Science
- Investigating Science
- Physics.
In Year 12, students who are studying at least one other science subject may also choose to study Science Extension.
Science is embracing technology with three state of the art laboratories and all laboratories having interactive whiteboards installed. The teachers are all motivated, dedicated and experienced.
The Science Department aims to develop students who are lifelong learners with skills to help them solve problems and process information.
Science Skills
- Analyse - identify components and the relationships among them, draw out and relate implications.
- Assess - Make a judgement of value, quality, outcomes, results or size.
- Compare - Show how things are similar or different.
- Contrast - Show how things are different or opposite.
- Design - Provide steps for an experiment or procedure.
- Discuss - Identify issues and provide points for and / or against.
- Explain - Relate cause and effect, make relationships between things evident.
- Investigate - Plan, inquire information and draw conclusions.
- Justify - Support an argument or conclusion.
- Predict - Suggest what may happen based on available information.
- Present - Provide information for consideration.
- Specify - State in detail.
Junior Courses - Years 7 to 10
Science is a compulsory subject of study in Years 7 to 10 as in all schools. We attempt to perform plenty of practical work to reinforce students' learning.
Senior Courses - Years 11 and 12
Science subjects students may choose include Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Senior Science. Macintyre High School is well resourced to deliver each of these subjects with past students achieving well in the HSC. Staff are all experienced in delivery and fully trained to teach these courses.
We offer many enrichment activities and excursions at Macintyre High School in Science including:
Year 8
- Fossicking & Tourist Information Centre
- Sawn Rocks
- GRASS Science investigation Awards
Year 9
- Science in the Bush at UNE
- Science & Engineering Challenge
- Green Valley Excursion
Year 10
- Science & Engineering Challenge
- GRASS Science Investigation Awards
Year 11 & 12
- Physics in Motion
- Physics Excursion
- Kickstart on the Road
- HSC Booster Day at UNE
- Biology Lake Inverell Field Trip
- Chemistry Water Treatment Field Trip
Physics
Year 11 and 12
Physics provides students with a contemporary and coherent understanding of energy, matter, and their interrelationships. It focuses on investigating natural phenomena and then applying patterns, models (including mathematical ones), principles, theories and laws to explain the physical behaviour of the universe. It uses an understanding of simple systems (single particles and pairs of particles) to make predictions about a range of objects from sub-atomic particles to the entire universe and aims to reveal the simplicity underlying complexity.
Physics aims to provide learning experiences through which students will:
Acquire knowledge and understanding about fundamental concepts related to natural phenomena and their causes. The historical development of these concepts and their application to personal, social, economic, technological and environmental situations is explored. Studies progress from the consideration of specific data and knowledge to the understanding of models and concepts and the explanation of generalised physics terms. Studies also move from the collection and organisation of information to problem-solving, and from the use of simple communication skills to those that are more sophisticated and develop positive attitudes towards the study of natural phenomena and their causes and opinions held by others. The course recognises the importance of evidence and the use of critical evaluation of differing scientific opinions related to various aspects of physics.
Students will develop knowledge and understanding of:
- the history of physics
- the nature and practice of physics
- applications and uses of physics
- the implications of physics for society and the environment
- current issues, research and developments in physics
- kinematics and dynamics
- energy
- waves
- fields
- matter
Students will develop further skills in:
- planning investigations
- conducting investigations
- communicating information and understanding
- developing scientific thinking and problem-solving techniques
- working individually and in teams.
Biology
Biology aims to provide learning experiencesthrough which students will acquire knowledge and understanding about fundamental concepts related to living things and their environments. The historical development of these concepts and their application to personal, social, economic, technological and environmental situations is explored. Studies progress from the consideration of specific data and knowledge to the understanding of models and concepts and the explanation of generalised biology terms. Studies also move from the collection and organisation of information to problem-solving, and from the use of simple communication skills to those which are more sophisticated and develop positive attitudes towards the study of living things, the environment and the opinions held by others. The course recognises the importance of evidence and the use of critical evaluation of different scientific opinions related to various aspects of biology.
Students will develop knowledge and understanding of:
- the history of biology
- the nature and practice of biology
- applications and uses of biology
- the implications of biology for society and the environment
- current issues, research and developments in biology
- cell ultrastructure and processes
- biological diversity
- environmental interactions
- mechanisms of inheritance
- biological evolution
Students will develop further skills in:
- planning investigations
- conducting investigations
- communicating information and understanding
- developing scientific thinking and problem-solving techniques and
- working individually and in teams.
Students will develop positive values about and attitudes towards themselves, others, learning as a lifelong process, biology and the environment.
Chemistry
Year 11 and 12
Chemistry provides students with a contemporary and coherent understanding of matter and its interactions. It focuses on investigating the physical and chemical properties of substances, chemical reactions and processes, and the interaction of energy and matter, and attempts to explain and predict events at the atomic and molecular level.
The study of Chemistry provides learning experiences through which students will acquire knowledge and understanding about fundamental concepts related to matter and its interactions. The historical development of those concepts and their application to personal, social, economic, technological and environmental situations is explored. Studies progress from the consideration of specific data and knowledge to the understanding of models and concepts and to the use of generalised terms related to chemistry in their explanations. Studies also move from the collection and organisation of information to problem-solving and from the use of simple communication skills to those which are more sophisticated and develop positive attitudes towards the study of matter and its interactions, the environment and opinions held by others. The course recognises the importance of evidence and the use of critical evaluation of differing scientific opinions related to various aspects of chemistry.
Students will develop knowledge and understanding of:
- the history of chemistry
- the nature and practice of chemistry
- applications and uses of chemistry
- the implications of chemistry for society and the environment
- current issues, research and developments in chemistry
- atomic structure, the periodic table and bonding
- energy
- chemical reactions, including acid/base reactions and chemical
- equilibrium
- carbon chemistry
- stoichiometry.
Students will develop further skills in:
- planning investigations
- conducting investigations
- communicating information and understanding
- developing scientific thinking and problem-solving techniques
- working individually and in teams.
Senior Science
Year 11 and 12
At Macintyre High School incorporates the study of the collection, storage and conservation of water resources, and the structure and function of plants, with an emphasis on Australian native plants. It examines issues associated with the protection of the body in the workplace and the interactions between organisms in local ecosystems.
The course investigates the importance of a range of biological molecules found in humans and other organisms, the physical and chemical properties of chemicals used by people on and in their bodies, and information systems. The options draw on the increased information and understanding provided by improved technology to examine a variety of interest areas.
Senior Science caters for students requiring a broad overview across all disciplines of science and focuses on encouraging them to become scientifically literate citizens. It emphasises skill development.