Riccarton High School
This course requires 2 options.
Level 2 Biology / Mātauranga Koiora
Although next year timetables are yet to be finalised, course selection is now finished. Any changes to student courses will now take place in January.
Subject Description
Teacher in Charge: Mr R. Baars.
Biology is the study of living things, how they function, and how they are connected. Many of the big issues facing society today have a biological component; for example: antibiotic resistance, climate change, pandemics, extinction, management of both endangered species and invasive pests/weeds, food production, individual and population health, etc. In this course, you will refine the biological skills and knowledge you developed in Year 11 and build a foundation for further study in this subject.
Subject Overview
Term 1
Community patterns - exploring why things grow there they do and how they are adapted to grow there. This involves a 3-day trip to Temple Basin Ski Area, including time for data collection on plant distribution along an altitudinal gradient (B2.6 Community Patterns) and also for a second internally assessed Standard (B2.1 Investigation).
Term 2
Cells - linking form to function for these building blocks of life, as well as the life-sustaining processes that they carry out and the factors that affect them.
Term 3
Genetic variation and change - you know this as evolution.
Term 4
This is a combination of revision and there is also the possibility of completing an internally assessed option for those students who do not want to attempt two papers in the external exam.
Note that whichever option you choose, you will only be assessed using four standards, for a total of 15 credits.
Recommended Prior Learning
Entry is dependent on completing ALL 4 BIOLOGY COLLECTOR PIECES available throughout the 1SCI course.
Students in 1SCR are still able to access these collector pieces; please talk to your science teacher if you want to gain entry to this course.
Exceptions to the above must be discussed with Mr. Baars.
Approximate Costs and Equipment/Stationery
Voluntary contribution of $250.00 for 3-day trip to Temple Basin - final cost TBC (depending on transport costs).
Pathway
The concepts you learn at Level 2 will be developed further at Level 3. That is also where we explore some of the exceptions to the rules!
Credit Information
You will be assessed in this course through all or a selection of the standards listed below.
This course is eligible for subject endorsement.
External
NZQA Info
Biology 2.1 - Carry out a practical investigation in a biology context, with supervision
NZQA Info
Biology 2.3 - Demonstrate understanding of adaptation of plants or animals to their way of life
NZQA Info
Biology 2.4 - Demonstrate understanding of life processes at the cellular level
NZQA Info
Biology 2.5 - Demonstrate understanding of genetic variation and change
NZQA Info
Biology 2.6 - Investigate a pattern in an ecological community, with supervision
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