Science

Science

Science courses at Campbell High School provide highly engaging learning experiences where students develop the skills to conduct experiments safely. Teachers of Science provide a rich and diverse learning programme where developing skills of inquiry are a key focus. Students across all year levels develop the ability to conduct scientific investigations and write scientifically.

All Science units follow the Australian Curriculum Version 9. Each year level has two extension classes and a number of general classes, however all classes of the same year level study the same curriculum. Students are selected for extension classes on the basis of their results in a previous year, on teacher recommendation or following personal interest indicated by the student.

There are many opportunities for excursions to extend learning beyond the classroom. Yearly excursions include visits to the CSIRO Discovery Centre, Tidbinbilla Wetlands, ANU, ANSTO, Questacon and Geoscience Australia. Science classes take care to include Aboriginal perspectives. Local experts visit our classes to give presentations on First Nation Astronomy, and to provide professional learning to ensure the science staff are well resourced for their classes.

Enrichment and extension in Science is offered through a range of activities including participation in competitions such as the National Chemistry Quiz, engaging in optional excursions such as the WINGS Girls in STEM event and the Visit an Engineer for a Day program, and providing links to external opportunities such as the Mount Stromlo MSATT program and other work experience opportunities.

In 2024 Campbell High School introduced science electives for students in Years 9 and 10. Forensic Science is an applied unit where students investigate how science is applied to real world legal concepts. College Preparation Science is an elective that runs in the second semester for students who intend to study Science at College.

The following topics are covered in alignment with Australian Curriculum Science for the respective year group:

Students access a wide range of scientific equipment, current texts, computer hardware and software to support and enhance their learning in science. Students also use their Chromebooks or other digital devices to digitally record practical activities and manipulate experiment results into tables and graphs. The science faculty is committed to developing units of work that are based in Google classroom and utilise many of the features of Google-suite (G-suite).

Students have opportunities to participate in a number of science competitions such as the Science Challenge, RACI's Australian National Chemistry Quiz and the Big Science Competition.  A variety of science enrichment options are offered to encourage student elective participation in chemistry, engineering and science competitions.

STEM is an educational approach that incorporates Science, technology, Engineering and Mathematics to guide students learning through the use of Project Based tasks. By adding Art to the equation, STEM transforms into STEAM. Students that are exposed to experiential learning are proven to be better problem solvers, more creative, and develop higher level critical thinking skills. These attributes are essential for all students, in order to meet the needs and expectations of the 21st Century workforce and future careers. STEM is an area that can incorporate a wide array of interests and skills, from developing new technologies to focussing on processes and efficiency in a huge variety of human endeavours.

The STEM facility is home to a Trotec Speedy 300 Laser Cutter and two MakerBot Z18 3D printers. As students (and staff) learn the ins and outs of these machines they are starting to be utilised in a wide variety of ways to support student projects, from building model car bodies to designing and printing small components that can be used to secure a stylus to student Chromebooks.