Courses offered (2)

Details

Published on Wednesday, 21 September 2011 12:21

The Middle School scheme is based on the wikidupd8 programme purchased from the UK.

The course has been designed to:

• Make all science relevant and contemporary.
• Produce students confident with Nature of Science skill.
• Raise student achievement and understanding.
• Provide context based units
• Produce increased student engagement.

Students from the Middle school will need to select a minimum of three trimesters of science over the two-year period. It is recommended that they pass four or more trimesters if they wish to continue on to do NCEA Level 1 science in year 11.

The topics to be covered over a 2-year period by middle-school students are as follows:

• Forensics
  A trainee forensic scientist, learning techniques for solving cases.
• Cook
  Becoming trainees to famous chefs Gordo and Jimella searching for perfect recipes.
• Extinction
  A trainee reporter for Planet TV, alerting audiences to the plight of endangered species.
• Electromancer (advanced)
  A Muggle magician mastering invisible forces.
• A & E
  A nurse treating emergency patients and babies.
• Alien (advanced)
  A planet hunter looking for evidence of extra-terrestrials.
• Species at war
  An ecologist in a national park, modelling and managing the ecosystem.
• Pyrotechnics
  A chemist designing a fireworks display.
• Catastrophe
  A geologist, trying to save people from volcanic eruptions.
• Live and kicking
  Making better lifestyle choices for yourself.
• Flight
  This module is designed to look at flight through the ages in an interdisciplinary study.

Pairs of these units will be offered as courses per trimester to the Middle school students. The courses will be paired as follows:

• Forensics and Cook
• Species at war and Live and kicking
• Pyrotechnics and Catastrophe
• A & E and Extinction
• Electromancer and Alien (advanced)
  
• Flight

Flight

Overview

This module is designed to look at flight through the ages in an interdisciplinary study. It will include the history of flight, the science and technology involved in making things fly, and the impact on human and environmental spheres. Students will be actively involved in planning their own way through the unit within each of four major topics. They will then carry out research, make models, and present their work in each topic. The topics are as follows:

1. Lighter than air flight
2. Fixed-wing and/or rotating-winged flight
3. Rocket and space flight
4. Personal project

Each topic will follow the same format so that students will be able to work on improving the way that they set about project planning, performing, communicating and evaluating.

This course is suitable for students of all ability levels.

Project management

The format for managing each of the four projects will be consistent and based on the following steps:

1. Inspiration gathering: Quick research, presentations, discussions etc. as a group to determine the scope of the topic and the opportunities for project development.
2. Formulation of a project plan: Interview with teacher to identify the direction that the project will take. It will include the main topic components including the historical setting, the model building, and the presentation method as well as whether the project is individual or group based (there must be at least one individual and one group project).
3. Gathering information: Students gather information for each section of the project. A learning log is kept to record the source of information, the date, and the main content, so that all information is verifiable. Essential components are an historical perspective (this could be an overview, or could be an aspect of the history, such as a New Zealand perspective) and a scientific or technological perspective (such as a ‘how it works’ or a detailed description of one particular aspect, such as flight control surfaces). An discussion on the impact on people and/or the environment should be included.
4. Model building: Students should build a model to illustrate each project. It could be a model of a vehicle or a model of the scientific nature of the method of flight (e.g. a model aerofoil). Computer modelling may be used as an alternative for some, but not all of the projects. Materials procurement is part of the process, although some may be available in the school.
5. Presentation of project: Students must choose a suitable method to present their work. It could be a written report, a Powerpoint slide show (with or without a talk), a You Tube clip, a Prezie presentation, etc.
6. Evaluation of project: Interview with teacher to identify the positive and negative aspects of the project and the management of it. Identification of goals prior to the start of the next project.

Assessment

There are two assessments in this unit.

Project management:
A - Demonstrates the ability to plan and execute a basic project.
M - Demonstrate the ability to plan and execute a project, covering all the required aspects.
E - Demonstrate a thorough understanding of project management on at least two occasions.

Communication:
A - Communicates basic ideas and concepts to an audience
M - Communicates ideas and concepts clearly to an audience
E - Communicates ideas and concepts clearly and concisely to an audience with some degree of innovation.

There will be multiple opportunities for assessment in the unit, but the final grade will be decided by the teacher in consultation with the student.

Resourcing

Some basic model making equipment will be required, as well as the materials for the beginning presentation sequence. Access to computers with internet capability will be required by some groups on a regular basis.

Introductory sequences

Lighter than air flight

• Density investigation
• Beginning of DVD ‘History of aviation’
• Demonstration of hair drier/shopping bag balloon

Fixed-wing, rotating wing flight

• Rest of DVD ‘History of aviation’
• Making model paper planes investigation and competition
• Demonstration of aerofoil with hair drier and card

Rockets and space flight

• DVD of ‘Apollo 13’ movie
• Demonstration of hydrogen rocket

Personal project

This can be selected by groups or individuals by negotiation with the teacher. Even a slight link to the main topic of flight may be appropriate. Discussion and brainstorming of potential topics will pre-empt the decision. Potential topics include the following:

• Hang gliders and paragliders
• Flight competitions and races
• Causes of aviation accidents
• Ticketing, seat allocation, fare structure programming
• Spoilers on racing and sports cars