Science (Pūtaiao)
Mā te whakaaro nui e hanga te whare; mā te mātauranga e whakaū
Big Ideas create the house; knowledge maintains it.
Compulsory: One Science is compulsory for Year 11. Students are welcome to choose both Level 1 Biology and Level 1 Physics/Chemistry if they wish. This can be selected from either:
(1SCI) Level 1 General Science
(1BIO) Level 1 Biology
(1PCS) Level 1 Physics/Chemistry
(1AGS) Level 1 Agricultural Science - this is found under Rural College.
(1SCI) Level 1 General Science
The course is about developing an understanding of the science that is relevant to everyday life. Students will study how humans and microorganisms interact and can be used. We will look at different types of reactions and how reactions can be classified. We will look at how some everyday things can be described and understood using physics principles.
Credits: 16 - 20 credits available.
Leads to: Level 2 General Science, Level 2 Biology, Level 2 Chemistry, Level 2 Physics, Level 2 Agricultural Science.
Approx cost: $30 - this cost is for workbooks to assist with the learning.
Contact: Stuart Gerritsen (sg@darfield.school.nz)
(1BIO) Level 1 Biology
This course is aimed at students intending to study Level 2 Biology. Students will learn about relationships between micro-organisms and the environment, genetic variation, and investigate scientific approaches.
Credits: There are up to 20 credits available, this will be confirmed at the start of 2024.
Leads to: Level 2 General Science, Level 2 Biology.
Approx cost: $30 - this cost is for workbooks to assist with the learning.
Contact: Stuart Gerritsen (sg@darfield.school.nz)
(1PCS) Level 1 Physics/Chemistry
This course is aimed at students intending to take Level 2 Physics and/or Level 2 Chemistry. Students will learn about chemical reactions and the properties of chemicals, energy, and an investigation into a physical phenomenon.
Credits: There are up to 20 credits available, this will be confirmed at the start of 2024.
Leads to: Level 2 Physics, Level 2 Chemistry, Level 2 General Science.
Approx cost: $30 - this cost is for workbooks to assist with the learning.
Contact: Stuart Gerritsen (sg@darfield.school.nz)
(2SCI) Level 2 General Science
Level 2 Science is a course for students wanting to do a Level 2 Science course for a career or interest without specialising in Biology, Chemistry, or Physics. Units of work include Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Earth and Space Science, and some units include ideas from two different sciences. The content is themed around hauora (health), both ours and our environment, with an emphasis on giving students a broad understanding of some useful science ideas and their applications.
Credits: 17 Internal credits and 4 External credits.
Leads to: Level 3 General Science.
Approx cost: $65 - Field trips.
Equipment: A laptop is strongly recommended for this course.
Contact: Jemma Rangi (jr@darfield.school.nz)
(2BIO) Level 2 Biology
Biology is the study of living things and how they are connected. This course is a foundation for further study in this subject. The course comprises a mixture of written work, research, and practical investigation.
Credits: 7 - 10 Internal credits and 8 - 12 External credits.
Leads to: Level 3 Biology, Level 3 General Science.
Approx cost: $30 - Workbook and Field Trip.
Equipment: A laptop is strongly recommended for the Internals.
Contact: Kath Wilson (kw@darfield.school.nz)
(2PHY) Level 2 Physics
In this course, students learn to make sense of the world around them by applying principles and theories of Physics to an understanding of familiar and unfamiliar situations. It builds on mechanics, electricity, and atomic structure from level 1 and explains acoustic and optical properties by explaining wave behaviour. All level 2 topics require sound mathematical competency, especially in algebra, graphing, and trigonometry.
Credits: 10 Internal credits and 12 External credits.
Leads to: Level 3 Physics, Level 3 General Science.
Approx cost: $53 - Workbook and Rutherford’s Den and UC Radioactive field trip.
Equipment: A laptop is strongly recommended for the Internals.
Contact: Matt Maude (mm@darfield.school.nz)
(2CHM) Level 2 Chemistry
Chemistry is the study of reactions and how they take place. In this course, knowledge is developed of the atom and how groups of chemicals react in similar ways. The course comprises a mixture of written work and practical investigation.
Credits: 7 Internal credits and 13 External credits.
Leads to: Level 3 Chemistry, Level 3 General Science.
Approx cost: $40 - workbook.
Contact: Stuart Gerritsen (sg@darfield.school.nz)
(3SCI) Level 3 General Science
Level 3 Science is a course for students wanting to do a Level 3 Science course for a career or for interest without specialising in Biology, Chemistry, or Physics. Units of work include Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Earth and Space Science. The content is themed around Kaitiakitanga—using science for guardianship of our earth, with an emphasis on the causes and effects of climate change. This issue will continue to grow and dominate our lives more and more, and an understanding of the relevant scientific ideas will help to demystify this issue.
University Approved.
Credits: 16 Internal credits and 4 External credits.
Leads to: Tertiary study.
Approx cost: $60 - Field Trips
Contact: Stuart Gerritsen (sg@darfield.school.nz)
(3BIO) Level 3 Biology
This course further develops skills and concepts in preparation for tertiary studies. The Year 12 course largely looks at the patterns that exist in nature; this course spends time looking at the many exceptions to these patterns.
University Approved Course.
Credits: 9 Internal credits (3 optional) and 13 External credits.
Leads to: Tertiary study.
Approx cost: $75 - Workbook and Field Trip/s.
Contact: Jemma Rangi (jr@darfield.school.nz)
(3CHM) Level 3 Chemistry
This course further develops skills and concepts in preparation for tertiary studies. Chemical families studied in Level 2 are briefly revisited and then extra examples are studied. The atom, and how its structure explains certain properties and trends of elements, are looked at in more detail.
University Approved Course.
Credits: 6 Internal credits and 15 External credits.
Leads to: Tertiary study
Approx cost: $35
Contact: Stuart Gerritsen (sg@darfield.school.nz)
(3PHY) Level 3 Physics
This course is a comprehensive course giving students an understanding of mechanics, waves, and electrical systems.
University Approved Course.
Credits: 4 - 7 Internal credits and 10 - 16 External credits.
Leads to: University physics, engineering, armed services, medicine, and much more.
Approx cost: $30 - Workbook.
Equipment: A laptop with Microsoft Excel is strongly recommended.
Contact: Matt Maude (mm@darfield.school.nz)
