The subject of Physical Science focuses on investigating physical, chemical phenomena through scientific enquiry.  By applying scientific models, theories and laws it seeks to explain and predict events in our physical environment.  This subject also deals with society’s desire to understand how the physical environment works, how to benefit from it and how to care for it responsibly.  It seeks to stimulate the learners curiosity and their interest in the natural and physical world in which they live.


Learning Outcomes:

1.   Practical Scientific Inquiry and Problem-solving Skills

This will involve conducting investigations and interpreting data to draw conclusions, solving problems, communicating and

presenting information and scientific arguments.

2.  Constructing and Applying Scientific knowledge
This will involve recalling and stating specified concepts, indicating and explaining relationships as well as applying knowledge to everyday concepts.

3.   The Nature of Science and its relationship to Technology, Society and the Environment
This will involve the learner’s ability to identify and critically evaluate knowledge on the quality of socio-economic environmental and human development


Themes to be covered in Grades 10–12.   

1. Mechanics                                                                      2. Waves, Sound and Light
   Motion in one dimension                                                      Transverse pulses
   Gravity and Mechanical Energy                                            Transverse waves
   Force, Momentum and Impulse                                            Geometrical optics
                                                                                            Longitudinal waves
3. Electricity and Magnetism                                                   Sound
    Magnetism                                                                         Physics of music
   Electrostatics                                                                     Doppler effect
   Electric circuits                                                                  2D and 3D wavefronts
   Electromagnetism                                                              Wave nature of matter
    Electronics
    Electromagnetic radiation                                                4. Matter and Materials

                                                                                           Observing, describing, classifying and using materials
5. Chemical change                                                               Atomic structure                                                    
    Physical and chemical change                                            The combining of atoms                                             

   Balanced chemical equations                                              Electronic properties of matter                                     

   Quantitative aspects of chemical change                              Ideal gases and thermal properties                        

   Energy and chemical change                                              Optical phenomena and properties of materials       
    Types of reactions                                                              Organic molecules and macro molecules    
    Rates and extent of Reaction including                                 Mechanical properties    

   chemical equilibrium  
    Electro chemical reactions                                                    
        

6. Chemical systems
   Global cycles : Water cycle and Nitrogen cycle
   The hydrosphere
   Exploiting the earths crust : mining, energy sources and their use
    The atmosphere
   Chemical industry


Assessment

1.   Baseline Assessment

     This is used at the beginning of a learning cycle to establish what learners know and can do.

2.   Diagnostic and Summative assessment

     2.1   Self assessment:  work is pre-assessed by the student prior to final assessment by the educator.

     2.2   Peer assessment: learners evaluate their own and other learners performance using a checklist or rubric.

    2.3   Group assessment: This involves looking for how learners co-operate in a group, assist one another, divide work and combine individual contributions into one composite product.

3.   Summative assessment

    3.1   Observations based assessment: This is based on tasks that require students to interact with one another in order to find a solution.

    3.2   Task based assessment: This aims to show whether or not learners can apply skills and knowledge they have learnt in unfamiliar contexts.  This determines how learners put theory into practice.  The task is assessed by means of a rubric or task check list.

4.   Formative assessment

    This monitors and supports the learning process and creates evidence of learning by means of tests and exams.  Evidence of learning is verified by a specific score.

Special Notes

Physical Science is essential for most job opportunities and is increasingly becoming a prerequisite for tertiary education in this modern, fast developing technological age.  Physical Science is essential for further studies in Medicine, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, Radiography, Agriculture, Chiropractics, pure sciences, all engineering fields, as well as Architecture.