Stage 1 Earth and Environmental Science
LENGTH OF COURSE: Semester Only
ASSUMED BACKGROUND: Successful Completion of Year 10 Science with a C grade or better
SUBJECT CHARGES: Nil
CONTENT
Course content will be a selection of the following:
1. The Atmosphere – Understanding and analysing the earth’s atmosphere, including how it has evolved over time, current atmospheric conditions and modelling.
2. The Hydrosphere – Understanding the role of water, including its effects on living and non-living environments, the role of ocean circulation systems and the interconnections with world climate patterns.
3. The Biosphere – Understanding how the Earth’s ecosystems are impacted by the interactions between the atmosphere, geology and oceans.
4. The Geosphere – Understanding the composition of the Earth in terms of mineralogy and rock types, and how it relates to the physical landscape, including soil development and surface water.
5. Processes in the Geosphere – Understanding how energy transformation in the Earth’s interior drives movements of tectonic plates in the geosphere, which causes volcanic and earthquake activity.
6. Turbulent Earth – Understanding how Earth hazards, such as earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions, impact both the human and physical landscape.
ASSESSMENT TYPES
Investigations Folio:
Includes practical and field activities, with written reports
Skills Tasks:
Includes supervised tasks and activities