The shaded area indicates a University Pathway.

The Year 10 Science program is based upon the Australian Curriculum: Science. This curriculum has three strands: Science Understanding, Science Inquiry Skills and Science as a Human Endeavour. The three strands of the curriculum are interrelated and their content is taught in an integrated way. The Science Inquiry Skills strand addresses the skills of scientific inquiry through five sub-strands. These are:

1. Questioning and predicting
2. Planning and conducting
3. Processing and analysing data and information
4. Evaluating
5. Communicating

The Science Understanding strand involves the selection and integration of scientific knowledge to explain and predict phenomena, and to apply that knowledge to new situations. This strand consists of four sub-strands.

Biological Sciences
Students understand that:

• The transmission of heritable characteristics from one generation to the next involves DNA and genes.
• The theory of evolution by natural selection explains the diversity of living things and is supported by a range of scientific evidence.

Chemical Sciences
Students understand that:

• The atomic structure and properties of elements are used to organise them in the Periodic Table .
• Different types of chemical reactions are used to produce a range of products and can occur at different times.

Physical Sciences
Students understand that:

• Energy conservation in a system can be explained by describing energy transfers and transformations.
• The motion of objects can be described and predicted using the laws of physics.

Earth and Space Sciences
Students understand that:

• The universe contains features including galaxies, stars and solar systems. The Big Bang Theory can be used to explain the origin of the universe.
• Global systems, including the carbon cycle, rely on interactions involving the biosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere.

The Science as a Human Endeavour strand reflects that scientific understanding, including models and theories, are contestable and are refined over time through a process of review by the scientific community. It acknowledges that advances in scientific understanding often rely on developments in technology, and technological advances are often linked to scientific discoveries. This strand also recognises that people can use scientific knowledge to evaluate whether they should accept claims, explanations or predictions, and that advances in science and emerging sciences and technologies can significantly affect people’s lives, including generating new career opportunities.

Streaming

There are two streams in Year 10 Science:
a) Mainstream
b) General

The General stream is suited to students who have achieved a D/E grade in Year 9 Science and whose learning needs are best suited to the CareerLink pathway in Years 11 and 12.

Course Structure
The Year 10 Science course is deliberately structured to enable students to become increasingly independent learners and to be more proactive in their learning in preparation for Year 11 and 12 studies. Students will develop their understanding of important scientific concepts and processes and be given the opportunity to make informed choices regarding their Year 11 WACE course subject selections.

Semester One
During Semester One all Mainstream and General classes will study Biological Sciences, Chemical Sciences, Physical Sciences and Earth & Space Sciences.

Semester Two
In Semester Two, the General classes will study Forensics Sciences for the entire semester.

Students in Mainstream classes will select two topics of study in Semester Two. Students can select from Biology, Chemistry, Human Biology, Physics and Psychology. These topics are based on the Australian Curriculum at Year 10 level and will enable students to engage in areas of interest with greater depth. It is strongly recommended that a student study the relevant Year 10 topic in Semester Two if seeking to take the subject in Year 11.

Assessment
Students will be assessed using a range of formative and summative assessments throughout the year to provide feedback on their learning. Summative assessments typically consist of tests, inquiry-based assignments and scientific investigations. Students will also sit an examination at the end of each Semester.

Prerequisites for Year 11 Science Subjects
Students will need to demonstrate certain levels of academic performance in Year 10 Science to meet the following prerequisites for entry into Year 11 Science subjects.

• Physics ATAR – B grade or better in Year 10 Mainstream Science
• Chemistry ATAR – B grade or better in Year 10 Mainstream Science
• Biology ATAR, Human Biology ATAR, Psychology ATAR and Marine and Maritime Studies ATAR – High C grade or better in Year 10 Mainstream Science
• Human Biology General – C grade or better in Year 10 Mainstream Science or a B grade or better in Year 10 General Science
• Marine and Maritime Studies General – no prerequisite.