Year 10 Science Extension follows the same Australian Curriculum v9 content as Science Foundation, but it is designed to take students further. Students explore major scientific ideas such as heredity and evolution, the universe and climate patterns, motion and forces, and the periodic table and chemical reactions, while working with greater depth, precision and independence. They are encouraged to ask more complex questions, think more critically, analyse evidence more carefully, and communicate scientific ideas with increasing accuracy. This creates a stronger academic pathway for students who enjoy challenge and are ready to move beyond the core expectations of the regular course.
The subject is intended to prepare students for the academic senior sciences, including Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Marine Science and Psychology, by building stronger foundations in scientific inquiry, problem- solving, data analysis and evidence-based reasoning. It suits students who may wish to continue into senior study and, later, university-linked pathways such as health, engineering, environmental and marine fields.
Unit 1: Chemistry
Students will develop explanatory models to explain chemical phenomena, patterns and trends in the periodic table, predict the products of chemical reactions based on these trends, and to explain the effect of changing conditions on the rate of reactions using particle and collision theory. Students will conduct experiments using reproducible methods and selected equipment to collect data that will then be analysed. Students will evaluate methods, conclusions and claims for their validity with these findings communicated to diverse audiences using appropriate scientific language and formats.
| Unit 1 Assessment
Exam & structured student experiment.
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Unit 2: Physics
Students will learn about Newton
' s laws of motion; analyse interactions between science and technology in car safety. They will develop inquiry skills of planning, data recording, analysis, constructing logical arguments and concluding.
| Unit 2: Physics Students will learn about Newton's laws of motion; analyse interactions between science and technology in car safety. They will develop inquiry skills of planning, data recording, analysis, constructing logical arguments and concluding.
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Unit 3: Biology
Students will learn about inheritance and genetics, and evolution. They will develop their inquiry skills of developing a research question, analysing a variety of data, evaluating validity, and constructing logical arguments using scientific language and information.
| Unit 3 Assessment
Exam & Structured Research Investigation.
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Unit 4: Earth and Space Students will learn about theories explaining the origin of the universe. They learn to view Earth as part of a larger celestial system. Students also explore the interactions and interdependencies of the systems that comprise the Earth system: the geosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere. They appreciate that living things depend on sustainability of the Earth system and investigate the influence of human activity on key processes, cycles and relationships focussing on trends in Earth's climate. | Unit 4 Assessment
Climate change exam. Origins of the universe exam.
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