Science
Common Unit
Unit Description
Year 9 Science extends the knowledge and skills developed in Year 8, with greater disciplinary depth across Chemistry, Physics and Biology. Explicit teaching is balanced with practical investigation and inquiry, allowing students to engage with more demanding concepts while refining their experimental, analytical and communication skills.
In Semester 1, students study atomic structure, including protons, neutrons, electrons, isotopes, ions and compounds. They then investigate electricity, exploring static and current electricity, voltage, resistance and the design of practical investigations.
In Semester 2, students examine communication and coordination in the human body, including neurons, the nervous system, stimulus-response pathways, hormones and homeostasis. They also investigate chemical reactions, acids and bases, reaction types and the representation and balancing of chemical equations, before studying light as part of the electromagnetic spectrum, including reflection and refraction.
Throughout the course, students further develop their scientific literacy and numeracy, interpret increasingly complex data, evaluate evidence and communicate conclusions with precision. Independent inquiry, collaborative learning, and opportunities for extension and enrichment support greater confidence, rigour and readiness for senior science pathways.
Assessment
Students apply their knowledge and increasingly independent inquiry skills through a balanced program of low-stakes formative assessment and more formal assessment tasks. These may include:
• Tests of scientific knowledge and application
• Research investigations
• Practical skills assessments
• Practical investigation reports
• Data analysis and evaluation tasks
• Scientific and media responses
• Collaborative problem-solving tasks
