SCIENCE AT DANNEVIRKE HIGH SCHOOL
Junior Science at Dannevirke High School is a course whose aim is to get students to 'learn by doing'. We try and give students the opportunity to participate in as many practical activities, making learning fun and emphasising links to everyday life.
- The Living World (life processes, ecology, classification and evolution)
- The Material World (properties of matter, the structure of matter and Chemistry in Society)
- The Physical World (energy - focusing on light, heat and sound)
- Plant Earth and Beyond (Earth systems and our Solar System)
At Year 10 topics covered include:
- The Living World (microscope skills, Plants, Animals - how we catch and use food, Ecology, Conservation and reproduction in Plants and Animals)
- The Material World (Acids and Bases, Elements, Mixtures and Compounds, Atomic structure, Body Chemistry and the uses of Acids in Society.
- Plant Earth and Beyond (The Structure of the Earth, The Rock Cycle and Astronomy)
At Year 11
In Year 11 students begin their journey on NCEA, and, as confidence and ability levels vary, we offer our students four variations of the Science course, and they are placed in the one that we feel best suits their needs. Whilst the content of the courses may be similar, with more confident students being asked to complete courses where many of their examinations are sat at the end of the year and marked externally, while less confident students will find many of their credits coming through internal assessment processes.
A large variety of assessment standards are available and, whilst some are common to all students, many vary depending on which course is undertaken.
Practical assessments are taken attempted in Chemistry, Physics and Biology by the majority of students. Other standards include Mechanics, Heat, Metals and their uses. Understanding aspects of acids and bases, genetic variation, humans and microorganisms, biological impact on the New Zealand ecosystem, the Christchurch Earthquake.
Level 2 Biology
At this level the ideas being studied range from the very small (understanding life processes at the cellularlevel) to the very large (investigation patterns in an ecological community). To aid in the study of cells, microscope skills are revisited and improved and an assessment based on this is undertaken. Geonetic variation, gene expression and adaption of plants and animals is also studies.
In Level 3 Biology understanding how humans manipulate genetic information of other species for our own end, and any socio scientific issues surrounding this are looked at. We also look at human evolution and how animals maintain stable internal environments.
Level 2 Chemistry
At this level we take a more detailed look at some of the topics that have been encountered lower in the school. Analyse of what substance (qualitative), and how much of a substance (Quantitative) is present is attempted through practical and mathematical methods. The structure of an atom is revisited and we look at how to predict behaviour of a substance from the combination of atoms present. The control of a chemical reaction is looked at by considering the factors that effect it, and organic chemistry (the study of compounds containing carbon) is introduced.
We also look at how chemical ideas are changing as technology develops.
Level 3 Chemistry
A new skill for this year is Spectroscopy, which is a method of identifying organic compounds using a variety of spectroscopic methods.
Level 2 Physics
Again, many of the topics taught at this level have been touched on lower down the school but the level of detail and complexity of the explanations increase. Topics taught this year include an understanding of waves, an understanding of mechanics and an understanding of electricity and electromagnetism. Atomic and nuclear Physics are looked at and practice is gained in experimental techniques and the mathematical manipulation of generated data.
Level 3 Physics
Again we practice scientific experimental techniques and the manipulation of the generated data in a practical investigation.