Year 9 Science

Science is a journey of curiosity and discovery. In this course, ākonga (students) will explore the living, material, physical, and astronomical worlds through hands-on learning and real-life contexts. They will investigate questions such as “Why does that happen?”, “How does it work?”, and “What might the future look like?”. This course fosters curiosity, critical thinking, and a deepening understanding of our connection to the natural world, including Te Taiao (the environment) and celestial bodies, through a te ao Māori lens where appropriate.

Ākonga will develop key scientific skills: making observations, designing fair tests, working with scientific equipment, recording data, evaluating evidence, and communicating findings. These are essential skills for many future pathways, whether as kaitiaki (guardians) of the environment, engineers, doctors, data scientists, or curious citizens.

This course supports a wide range of learning styles, with differentiated activities and scaffolding for neurodiverse learners, including visuals, hands-on experiments, collaborative tasks, and opportunities for creative expression and inquiry-based projects.