What is Science?
Science at Winmalee High School enables students to develop skills to observe, infer, predict, measure, classify, analyse and to think scientifically which helps them to apply their knowledge critically to life's challenges. These are essential skills for all students so that they may become future innovative and industrious citizens, parents, and leaders in this rapidly changing world. Science education matters!
What does learning look like in Science?
Winmalee High School has five well-equipped laboratories as well as timetabled access to two computer rooms. These rooms have data projectors and one computer room has an interactive data projector. The Science faculty has a class set of computer data loggers with a large number of probes and sensors that will further enhance first-hand data gathering in experimental work. Wherever possible, we provide a stimulating first-hand experience approach, combining an experimental and research focus. Students learn in an enjoyable and relevant environment by being actively involved. This helps to ensure that students take responsibility for their learning, understand themselves and the world around them and are able to apply their understandings in unfamiliar situations and solve problems in creative ways.
Science Stage 4 & 5 (Years 7-10)
Science is a mandatory subject in Years 7 to 10 and provides a logical view about our world. Science is an evolving body of knowledge organised as an interrelated set of models, theories, laws, systems, structures and interactions. It is through this body of knowledge that Science provides explanations for a variety of phenomena and enables sense to be made of the biological, physical and technological world. An understanding of Science and its social and cultural contexts provides a basis for future choices and ethical decisions about local and global applications and implications of Science.
Students discover the relationships and relevance Science has to their everyday lives by studying aspects of biology, geology, physics, chemistry and astronomy. Students develop their inquiry skills through experimentation and their knowledge and understanding of the responsibilities of scientists. To achieve this, the committed staff of the Science faculty employ a range of teaching strategies and assessment techniques in order to develop in students a deep level of understanding whilst providing meaningful feedback on their progress. Teachers also recognise that students have different learning styles and cater for them by delivering varied lessons integrating traditional lessons with technology-based activities. The topics in Years 7 to 10 range between four and six weeks in duration. Each unit of work has both core and extension activities. The extension activities allow capable students to explore concepts in greater depth and develop skills in teamwork, problems solving and working scientifically.
