Adopt-a-Scientist
- Learning Area:
- Science
- Course Level:
- Year 9, Year 10
- Year(s):
- 2024
- Approx Cost:
- Possible field trips of $50. Whānau are expected to cover the cost associated with each student’s project. This may include travel costs, trifold board, koha (gift) to recognise their mentor scientist.
$25 access to the online resource ‘stile’ is recommended
- Technology Requirements:
- A laptop is essential for this course
- Entry Recommendations:
This subject is open entry to Year 9, and Year 10. One course will run in 2023. Students will need to have a strong curiosity for the world around them and be willing to use the scientific method to investigate their burning questions. Students need to be able to travel to their host scientist and to locations of possible fieldwork, both during class time and/or outside of school hours. Students will be highly independent, motivated and self-starters.
- Course Outline:
Students will connect and collaborate with a mentor scientist (from industry) to develop and complete a science investigation, or a piece of research, that is unique to each student's interests and passion. There is an opportunity to complete these investigations individually or as a pair (if mutual interest is reached).
This programme will include:
Developing critical thinking around a question that each student/pair has identified that is of importance to them.
Develop their communication skills by networking and working alongside their mentor scientist, teacher, and other participating students.
Lab work and/or fieldwork during class time and outside of class time (where applicable) to collect relevant and meaningful data, that will allow students to complete their investigation/research.
Completing an investigation that follows the scientific method.
Analysis of data and/or research collected to draw relevant conclusions and where possible, the implications to our local community.
Student’s completed science investigation will be communicated three ways via a visual, verbal, and written presentation. This culminates with a final presentation to whanau, scientists, and other classmates.
Projects will be entered in the Canterbury/Westland Science fair, where significant prizes and local recognition are awarded.
- Where Does It Lead:
This is a course that could be completed over subsequent years (from Year 9 and Year 10), as students refine and develop more curious questions into an area of passion and interest. It will provide a platform for students to develop a body of work that could be used to enter national and international science competitions. By working alongside their mentor scientist, students will be able to explore first-hand, the wonderful opportunities that a career in science can offer.
- For further information see:
- Ms Whiting/Mrs Knowles
In Year 9 students start the first year of their two year junior programme. Year 9 consists of two semesters (half year-long) with a combination of compulsory courses and option courses chosen by the students.
In Year 9 students will take 12 semester (half-year) courses that include:
a) Compulsory Courses - Two semesters of Health & PE, Mathematics, Science, and one Semester of English and Social Studies. (the reverse happens in Year 10, the second year of the junior programme).
b) Option Courses - Four semesters of option courses (note: students choose 5 option courses in Year 10, the second year of the junior programme).
Languages: We strongly recommend students do all 3 Junior Semesters of their selected language if they intend doing Languages from Year 11 -13. This will provide a very good foundation that will support student success at NCEA Level 2 and 3.
In Year 10 students complete their junior program by studying a combination of compulsory and option courses, see below. Students are not in core classes when studying their compulsory courses. Classes are mixed, similar to option courses.
Compulsory courses: Students are assigned one semester of Health & PE, Mathematics and Science and two semesters of English and Social Studies.
Option Courses: Students choose five semester courses. They can choose to do one semester course from a subject area e.g. Drama - b or take two semester courses from a subject area, which is equivalent to a whole year course e.g. Drama - b & c.
Languages: We strongly recommend students do all three Junior Semesters of their selected language if they intend doing Languages from Year 11 -13. This will provide a very good foundation that will support student success at NCEA Level 2 and 3.
Enrichment: Most courses provide opportunities for enrichment tasks. Some students may want to study a/some Year 11 semester courses. They should contact the Year 10 Tutor (Fiona Bamford, FBA) first before completing their course selections, to ensure they are adequately suited to studying Year 11 courses.
Please note:
- A few Year 10 semester courses (e.g. languages and music) require you to complete semester a first, before doing semester b or, semester b before semester c. Please read the course recommendations carefully to be aware of these details.
- As part of the Health & Physical Education curriculum, students attend a three-day camp in Term Four.
- Placement into next year’s Year 11 courses is dependent on Year 10 results.
- It is important to check recommendations and associated fees for all courses in the course descriptions.
Students don’t complete NCEA Level 1 in Year 11. Instead, we focus on all students having NCEA literacy and numeracy (most will have achieved this in Year 10). In addition, students get to experience a variety of courses that can be studied in depth. In some Year 11 courses there may be a small number of Level 2 credits on offer. The content covered in each course will include the knowledge required to continue into Year 12 for that particular course. In summary, Year 11 and 12 are dedicated to the completion of Level 2 NCEA.
Semester Courses:
Year 11 students study 12 semester (half year) courses. This equates to six year-long courses. English and Mathematics are compulsory, but Science is also strongly recommended. Students are required to select two English and two Mathematics semester courses (a year of each). The remaining eight semester courses can be made up of:
- selecting single courses from a subject area eg: 11BIOa (Biology-Human)
or
- selecting two courses from a subject area eg: 11BIOa and 11BIOb. This equates to a whole year of Biology.
A few semester two courses require you to complete semester one first, before doing semester two.
These semester two courses have an * at the end of their code:
-
- Visual Arts (11ARTb*)
- Chinese -Part 2 (11CHIb*)
- French – Part 2 (11FREb*)
- German – Part 2 (11GERb*)
- Japanese – Part 2 (11JPEb*)
- Māori Performing Arts - Part 2 (11MPAb*)
- Materials Technology Engineering - Part 2 (11MTEb*)
- Materials Technology Resistant Materials - Part 2 (11MTRb*)
- Electronic Music Making - Drop the Beat! (11MUEb*)
- Pūoro Music Sound Creation! (11MUSb*)
- Pūoro Music Part B (11MUPb*)
Note: It is important to check recommendations and associated fees for all courses in the course descriptions.
In English, you will choose two English courses. One from Group A and one from Group B.
If you need more support with literacy, you can choose 11ENL English Literacy as one of your courses.
You can choose 11ENW “The ‘Write’ Stuff: Writing in English in addition to your Group A and Group B Course.
|
GROUP A Close Viewing assessment |
GROUP B Connections Across Texts assessment |
OPTION |
|
· 11ENGa English – General A · 11ENY Dystopian · 11ENC War and Conflict |
· 11ENGb English – General B · 11ENS Sport and Exploration (new course) · 11ENM Myths and Legends |
· 11ENW Writing · 11ENLa Literacy - Reading . 11ENLb Literacy - Writing |
Year 12 students study six year-long courses (see individual course details and Course Planning Chart). There are no compulsory courses, however, English and Mathematics are strongly recommended.
Students have the option of studying five courses. In such cases, students will be placed in the Independent Learning Project (ILP001) course, in addition to their five courses, so that they can be mentored and have their progress monitored.
Prior to selecting courses online, students should consider discussing their possible options with this year’s teachers as well as attend the Course Selection afternoon.
Note: It is important to check recommendations and associated fees for all courses in the course descriptions.
Year 13 students study five year-long courses (see individual course details and Course Planning Chart) and have an Independent Study (IST). A sixth course can be selected in place of IST. Students have the option of studying four courses. In such cases, students will be placed in the Independent Learning Project (ILP001) course, in addition to their four courses, so that they can be mentored and have their progress monitored.
For students that are intending to gain University Entrance it is strongly recommended that they select at least four University Entrance approved courses. Refer to individual course details to check if a course is a University Entrance approved subject
Year 13 (IST) is independent, unsupervised learning that can take place at school or at home. Students are responsible for managing their work during this time.
Prior to selecting courses online, students should consider discussing their possible options with this year’s teachers as well as attend the Course Selection afternoon.
Students who have not completed NCEA Level 2 while in Year 12 may receive a customised timetable to support the completion of NCEA Level 2 while in Year 13.
Note: It is important to check recommendations and associated fees for all courses in the course descriptions.