Curriculum Studies Guide 2018

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Curriculum Studies Guide 2018
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OBJECTIVE 1
(Year 9) Describe the structure and functioning of
a variety of cells.
(Year 10) Describe the structure and functioning
of human organ systems that carry out key life
processes.
OBJECTIVE 2
(Year 9) Describe the structure and life processes
of plants.
(Year 10) Describe the structure and functioning
of the human reproductive system, and how
hereditary information is passed from one
generation to the next.
OBJECTIVE 3
(Year 9) Describe basic ecological principles.
(Year 10) Describe basic ecological principles.
YEAR 11
Status Optional
Prerequisites Year 10 Biology pass
Periods per week Four
Description
We have chosen the Level 1 Biology course to be
relevant, challenging and interesting. It provides
students with a range of learning contexts and
provides an excellent foundation for further
study in the subject. Biology is a subject that is of
universal interest, but is vast, and ever expanding.
Although the specialist vocabulary required to be
a confident biologist can be daunting, the Biology
teachers support students in this area through
explicit literacy skills training that helps develop
confidence and general NCEA examination skills.
We recommend students take this course if they
are considering taking Biology in the senior school
due to the synergy that comes from having a
broader biological knowledge to draw from.
The Level 1 curriculum includes:
• An extended laboratory practical investigation
• The biology of mammals, focusing on the life
processes of digestion, circulation and respiration
• The biology of flowering plants
• DNA, genetics, and cell division processes
• Investigate life processes of plants and how
these are affected by environmental factors
• Investigate howmicro-organisms affect humans
The Year 11 Biology course will be assessed
against the following NCEA Level 1 Biology and
Science achievement standards:
AS 90925
Carry out a practical investigation in a biological
context. (4 credits – internal)
AS 90928
Demonstrate understanding of the life cycle of
flowering plants. (4 credits – external)
AS 90929
Demonstrate understanding of biological ideas
relating to a mammal as a consumer.
(3 credits – external)
AS 90948
Demonstrate understanding of genetic variation.
(4 credits – external)
AS 90950
Investigate biological ideas relating to interactions
between humans and micro-organisms.
(4 credits – internal)
This course offers the students a total of 19
credits of which 8 credits are assessed internally,
and 11 credits are assessed externally through
external examinations in November. The three
external examinations come from both biology
and science areas. Two of the examination papers
are sat during the biology examination time slot.
The remaining examination paper will be sat
during the science three-hour examination time
slot, which takes place on a different day. In the
case of Biology, this is the genetics paper (Science
1.9). This means that for boys doing any of the
specialist science subjects, they will be sitting
external papers on at least two of the examination
days in November.
Boys who enrol for both Level 1 Science and
Biology can only gain credit for any overlapping
science achievement standards once (in
particular, the genetics externally assessed
paper).