Science

Years 7 - 10

The study program for Years 7-10 closely aligns with the Australian Curriculum and covers the three interrelated strands: Science Understanding, Science as a Human Endeavour and Science Inquiry Skills. Teaching and learning in Science at TGS integrates: Biological sciences, Chemical sciences, Earth and Space sciences and Physical sciences.

Year 7

Students in Year 7 study topics such as:

• Welcome to Science in the laboratory
• Separating mixtures
• The Earth in space
• Water - a precious resource 
• Forces and simple machines
• Ecosystems and classification

Year 8

Students in Year 8 study topics such as:

• Introduction to Science
• Rocks and Minerals
• Analysing Graphs
• Cells, Tissues, Organs & Systems
• Matter and its Properties
• Energy

Year 9

Students in Year 9 study topics such as:

• Scientific Research
• Light and Sound
• Human Body (Reproduction
• Immunology
• Fundamental Chemistry
• Ecosystems
• Earth Systems

Year 10

In Year 10 students are offered two Science subject options as preparation for their Senior QCAA subject selections. This dual Science offering allows students to cover a deeper body of knowledge prior to entering their QCAA senior subjects.

Physical Science - preparatory pathway for QCAA Physics and Chemistry. Topics include:

• Scientific Research
• Chemistry Fundamentals
• Acids and Bases
• Forces and Motion
• Radiation and Nuclear Science

Natural Science - preparatory pathway for QCAA Biology and Earth and Environmental Science. Topics include:

• Scientific Research
• Cells and Genetics
• Body Systems -  Homeostasis and Immunology
• Space and Geological Time
• Earth Processes

More detailed information is available in the Years 7-10 Subject Handbooks.

YEARS 7-10 SUBJECT HANDBOOKS

Students in Years 11 & 12 can choose a variety of Science subjects aligning to either the QCAA or the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program pathway.

QCCA subjects include:

Biology provides opportunities for students to engage with living systems. In studying Biology, students will learn about:

• Cells and multicellular organisms
• Maintaining the internal environment
• Biodiversity and the interconnectedness of life
• Heredity and continuity of life

Chemistry is the study of materials and their properties and structure. In studying Chemistry, students will learn about:

• Chemical fundamentals - structure, properties and reactions
• Molecular interactions and reactions
• Equilibrium, acids and redox reactions
• Structure, synthesis and design

Earth & Environmental Science is an interdisciplinary subject that provides opportunities for students to engage with the dynamic interactions in and between four systems - geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere and biosphere. In studying Earth & Environmental Science, students will learn about:

• Introduction to Earth systems
• Earth processes - energy transfers and transformations
• Living on Earth - extracting, using and managing Earth resources
• The changing Earth - the cause and impact of Earth hazards

Physics provides opportunities for students to engage with classical and modern understandings of the universe. In studying Physics, students will learn about:

• Thermal, nuclear and electrical physics
• Linear motion and waves
• Gravity and electromagnetism
• Revolutions in modern Physics

International Baccalaureate Science subjects include:

• Biology - the study of life. Biologists attempt to understand the living world at all levels using many different approaches and techniques.
• Physics - is the most fundamental of the experimental sciences, as it seeks to explain the universe itself from the very smallest particles - currently accepted as quarks, which may be truly fundamental - to vast distances between galaxies.
• Chemistry - is often called the central science, as chemical principles underpin both the physical environment in which we live and all biological systems.

All subjects are offered at both standard level (SL) and high level (HL).

More detailed information is available in the Years 11-12 Subject Handbook and IB Handbook.

YEARS 11-12 SUBJECT HANDBOOKS

International Baccalaureate subjects:

• Biology involves the study of organisms from the molecular to biosphere levels. Topics studied include Evolution, Structure, Function and Diversity
• Physics explores the use of scientific methodology to understand the working world. Topics studied include Mechanics, Themal Physics and Electric Currents and Fields.
• Chemistry combines academic study with the acquisition of practical and investigative skills. Topics studie include Acids and Bases, Bonding and Stoichiometry.  

More detailed information is available in the IB Handbook.

IB HANDBOOK