Description

This unit is designed to provide students with a variety of experiences in science with relevant links to the real world. They will further develop their general skills and knowledge related to the study of science with a focus on selected elements of Biological Science, Chemical Science, Earth and Space Science and Physical Science. An emphasis will be placed on laboratory work; students will learn by using equipment, making observations, gathering information, solving problems and performing experiments. Year 9 science aims to further develop the students’ understanding of the scientific method and purposeful investigation techniques.


Unit Topics

  • Investigate the interdependencies between biotic and abiotic components of ecosystems
  • Explore the ways in which the human body as a system responds to its external environment.
  • Begin to apply their understanding of energy and forces to global systems including continental movement.
  • Are introduced to the notion of the atom as a system of protons, electrons and neutrons, and understand how this system can change through nuclear decay
  • Learn that matter can be rearranged through chemical change and that these changes play an important role in many systems
  • Begin to develop a more sophisticated view of energy transfer.
  • Explore the physical evidence for different theories, such as the Big Bang theory.

Skill Development

  • Students formulate hypotheses and analyse data to draw and evaluate conclusions using primary and secondary sourced evidence.
  • Focus on explaining phenomena involving science and its applications.
  • Begin to evaluate current scientific views and construct evidence based arguments
  • Communicate science ideas for specific purposes

Possible Assessment Tasks

Scientific Reports, Practical investigations, Presentations, Unit tests, Scientific posters, models of concepts.


Activities/Camps/Excursions

Class discussion, group work, modelling, designing, investigating.


Career Options

Year 9 Science provides essential skills for further science studies in VCE in Chemistry, Physics and Biology. It also provides underpinning knowledge for a number of technology subjects and various trades.


Year 9