Learning Areas > Sciences
Head of Learning Area - Sciences: Ms Kahli Trist
P: +61 3 9816 1013 E: kahli.trist@carey.com.au
About the Learning Area
Science at Carey fosters curiosity, wonder and an appreciation of the natural and designed world. Students develop the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to participate thoughtfully in a society increasingly shaped by scientific discovery, technology and innovation. Learning is carefully designed to provide challenge, extension and support, while encouraging intellectual independence and a sustained interest in how the world works.
Explicit teaching is balanced with inquiry-based learning. Students are introduced to core scientific concepts, methods and conventions, then apply them through individual inquiry, practical experimentation, collaborative investigation and STEM problem solving. They learn to ask purposeful questions, make predictions, design and refine investigations, analyse evidence, evaluate methods and communicate justified conclusions.
Literacy and numeracy are central to the program and are taught through a scientific lens. Students read, interpret and evaluate scientific and media texts, use precise terminology, construct evidence-based explanations and communicate for different audiences. They represent ideas and findings through reports, tables, graphs, diagrams, models and scientific posters. Numeracy is developed through measurement, estimation, calculation, proportional reasoning, pattern recognition, graphing, data analysis and the evaluation of accuracy, precision, uncertainty and error.
The program includes fieldwork, research, modelling, simulations, case studies, data analysis and collaborative projects. Students learn to work safely and responsibly, distinguish evidence from opinion, recognise the limitations of scientific knowledge and consider the social, environmental and ethical implications of scientific developments.
The curriculum draws on Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Earth and Environmental Science and Psychology where appropriate. This breadth allows students to recognise connections across disciplines while progressively developing a more precise understanding of the concepts, methods and forms of communication distinctive to each branch of science.
Year 7 Science
Year 7 Science establishes the foundations of scientific thinking and practice. Students learn how to work safely, use laboratory equipment, make accurate measurements, record observations and communicate findings. They investigate particles and substances, mixtures and separation, forces, ecology, classification, seasonal patterns, the Moon and ocean tides. First Nations perspectives are embedded throughout, supporting a richer understanding of Country, natural systems and ways of knowing.
Year 8 Science
Year 8 Science broadens students’ disciplinary knowledge and introduces greater conceptual demand. Students study cells and body systems, atomic structure, elements and compounds, physical and chemical change, energy transformations and Earth systems. Through more complex practical work and data interpretation, they strengthen their capacity to plan investigations, identify patterns, evaluate evidence and present scientific ideas with increasing precision.
Year 9 Science
Year 9 Science provides a more specialised introduction to Chemistry, Physics and Biology. Students examine atomic structure, ions, compounds and reactions; electricity, light, reflection and refraction; and coordination in the human body, including the nervous system, hormones and homeostasis. Greater independence is expected as students refine experimental design, solve unfamiliar problems, assess the quality of evidence and communicate with the rigour required for senior science pathways.
Core Enrichment
In addition to the core science subjects, students in Years 8 may select an optional Core Enrichment unit for a semester. AstroScience is offered, which focus on the field of astronomy with an emphasis on all disciplines of science.
