Earth and Environmental Science
Stage 6
Syllabus
Amended October 2002

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Original published version updated:
August 2009 – Updated with minor amendments.
June 2009 – Assessment and Reporting information updated (2009356)
May 2007 - Board Bulletin/Official Notices Vol 16 No 2 (BOS 26/07) (2007264)
June 2004 - Board Bulletin/Official Notices Vol 13 No 3 (BOS 34/04) (2005035)
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ISBN 17409 9466 3
2009560

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Contents
1
The Higher School Certificate Program of Study............................................................. 5
2
Rationale for Earth and Environmental Science in the Stage 6 Curriculum ................... 6
3
Continuum of Learning for Earth and Environmental Science
Stage 6 Students................................................................................................................ 7
4
Aim ................................................................................................................................. 8
5
Objectives ......................................................................................................................... 8
6
Course Structure ............................................................................................................... 9
6.1 Preliminary Course.................................................................................................. 9
6.2 HSC Course........................................................................................................... 10
6.3 Overview ............................................................................................................... 11
6.4 Other Considerations............................................................................................. 15
7
Objectives and Outcomes ............................................................................................... 16
7.1 Table of Objectives and Outcomes ....................................................................... 16
8
Content: Earth and Environmental Science Stage 6 Preliminary Course....................... 18
8.1 Earth and Environmental Science Skills ............................................................... 18
8.2 Planet Earth and Its Environment – A Five Thousand Million
Year Journey.......................................................................................................... 21
8.3 The Local Environment......................................................................................... 25
8.4 Water Issues .......................................................................................................... 29
8.5 Dynamic Earth....................................................................................................... 32
9
Content: Earth and Environmental Science Stage 6 HSC Course .................................. 35
9.1 Earth and Environmental Science Skills ............................................................... 35
9.2 Tectonic Impacts ................................................................................................... 38
9.3 Environments Through Time ................................................................................ 42
9.4 Caring for the Country .......................................................................................... 46
9.5 Option – Introduced Species and the Australian Environment ............................. 50
9.6 Option – Organic Geology – A Non-renewable Resource.................................... 54
9.7 Option – Mining and the Australian Environment................................................ 57
9.8 Option – Oceanography......................................................................................... 61
10
Course Requirements...................................................................................................... 67
11
Post-school Opportunities............................................................................................... 68
12
Assessment and Reporting.............................................................................................. 69
13
Appendix......................................................................................................................... 70

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Earth and Environmental Science Stage 6 Syllabus
1
The Higher School Certificate Program of Study
The purpose of the Higher School Certificate program of study is to:
•
provide a curriculum structure which encourages students to complete secondary education;
•
foster the intellectual, social and moral development of students, in particular developing
their:
– knowledge, skills, understanding and attitudes in the fields of study they choose
– capacity to manage their own learning
– desire to continue learning in formal or informal settings after school
– capacity to work together with others
– respect for the cultural diversity of Australian society;
•
provide a flexible structure within which students can prepare for:
– further education and training
– employment
– full and active participation as citizens;
•
provide formal assessment and certification of students’ achievements;
•
provide a context within which schools also have the opportunity to foster students’ physical
and spiritual development.
5

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Earth and Environmental Science Stage 6 Syllabus
2
Rationale for Earth and Environmental Science in
Stage 6 Curriculum
Earth and Environmental Science in Stage 6 Science is the study of the Earth and its processes. The course
aims to provide an understanding of systems and processes in both aquatic and terrestrial environments. It
seeks to explore changes that have occurred during Earth’s history, including changes in the lithosphere,
atmosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere and biosphere, and the evolution of organisms since the origin of life
on Earth.
The study of planet Earth and its environments recognises that while humans are part of nature they continue
to have a greater influence on the environment than any other species. Earth and Environmental Science is
built on the premise that the natural environment is the host to all local environments and that, therefore, an
understanding of the natural environment is fundamental to any analysis of more specific local
environments.
The common factor in all of the environmental hazards that humanity faces is that they are derived from
peoples’ lack of awareness that society is part of an environment that is composed of the interactions of the
sub-systems: water, land, air, ice and living things. The history and philosophy of science as it relates to the
development of the understanding, utilisation and manipulation of sub-systems by humans is an integral part
of the study of contemporary Earth and Environmental Science.
Earth and Environmental Science is not isolated from the other science disciplines and the multi-disciplinary
nature of many aspects of the subject is recognised. Earth and Environmental Science in Stage 6 draws upon
and builds onto the knowledge and understanding, skills and values and attitudes developed in Stages 4–5
Science. It further develops students’ understanding of science as a continually developing body of
knowledge, the role of experiment in deciding between competing theories, the provisional nature of
scientific explanations, the interdisciplinary nature of science, the complex relationship between evidence
and ideas, and the impact of science on society.
The study of planet Earth and its environments involves students working individually and with others in
practical work, fieldwork and interactive media experiences that are related to the theoretical concepts
considered in the course. It is expected that students studying Earth and Environmental Science will apply
investigative and problem-solving skills, effectively communicate information and appreciate the
contribution that a study of planet Earth and its environments makes to our understanding of the world. The
course aims to assist students to recognise and understand our responsibility to conserve, protect and
maintain the quality of all environments for future generations.
The Earth and Environmental Science Stage 6 course is designed for those students who have a substantial
achievement level based on the Science Stages 4–5 course performance descriptions. The subject matter of
the Earth and Environmental Science course recognises the different needs and interests of students by
providing a structure that builds upon the foundations laid in Stage 5 yet recognises that students entering
Stage 6 have a wide range of abilities, circumstances and expectations.
6

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Earth and Environmental Science Stage 6 Syllabus
3
Continuum of Learning for Earth and Environmental Science
Stage 6 Students
Stages 1–3
Ex
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e
Science and Technology
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ie
nce
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a
ve rning a
Stages 4–5
Stage 5
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Science
Science Life Skills
b
For students with
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Stage 6
Stage 6
ills a ade
Earth and Environmental
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Science Preliminary
Skills
Vocational Edu
nd r nvir
and Training
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Stage 6
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Stage 6
Stage 6
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Senior
ing p
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HSC
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Workplace
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7

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Earth and Environmental Science Stage 6 Syllabus
4
Aim
The aim of the Earth and Environmental Science Stage 6 Syllabus is to provide learning
experiences through which students will:
• acquire knowledge and understanding about fundamental concepts related to planet Earth and
its environments, the historical development of these concepts and their application to personal,
social, economic, technological and environmental situations
• progress from the consideration of specific data and knowledge to the understanding of models
and concepts and the explanation of generalised Earth and Environmental Science terms; from
the collection and organisation of information to problem-solving; and from the use of simple
communication skills to those which are more sophisticated
• develop positive attitudes towards the study of planet Earth and its environments, and towards
the opinions held by others, recognising the importance of evidence and critically evaluating
differing scientific opinions related to various aspects of Earth and Environmental Science.
5
Objectives
Students will develop knowledge and understanding of:
1
the history of Earth and Environmental Science
2
the nature and practice of Earth and Environmental Science
3
applications and uses of Earth and Environmental Science
4
the implications of Earth and Environmental Science for society and the environment
5
current issues, research and developments in Earth and Environmental Science
6
the resources of the Earth, particularly air, soil, water, minerals, their distribution and their
role in supporting living systems
7
the abiotic features of the environment
8
models to explain structures and processes of change affecting the Earth and its environments
9
Australian resources
10 biotic impacts on the environment.
Students will develop further skills in:
11
planning investigations
12
conducting investigations
13
communicating information and understanding
14
developing scientific thinking and problem-solving techniques
15
working individually and in teams.
Students will develop positive attitudes about and values towards:
16
themselves, others, learning as a lifelong process, Earth and the environment.
8

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Earth and Environmental Science Stage 6 Syllabus
6
Course Structure
The Earth and Environmental Science Stage 6 Syllabus has a Preliminary course and an HSC
course. The Preliminary and HSC courses are organised into a number of modules. The Preliminary
modules consist of core content that would be covered in 120 indicative hours.
The HSC course consists of core and options organised into a number of modules. The core content
covers 90 indicative hours and one option covers 30 indicative hours. Students are required to
cover one of the options.
Practical experiences are an essential component of both the Preliminary and HSC courses.
Students will complete 80 indicative hours of practical/field work during both the Preliminary and
HSC courses with no less than 35 indicative hours of practical experiences in the HSC course.
Practical experiences must include at least one integrated open-ended investigation in both the
Preliminary and HSC courses.
Practical experiences should emphasise hands-on activities, including:
•
undertaking laboratory experiments, including the use of appropriate computer-based
technologies
•
fieldwork
•
research using the library, the Internet and digital technologies
•
using computer simulations for modelling or manipulating data
•
using and reorganising secondary data
•
extracting and reorganising information in the form of flow charts, tables, graphs, diagrams,
prose and keys
•
using animation, video and film resources to capture/obtain information not available in other
forms.
6.1 Preliminary Course (120 indicative hours)
The Preliminary course incorporates the study of:
•
Planet Earth and Its Environment – A Five Thousand Million Year Journey
(30 indicative hours)
•
The Local Environment (30 indicative hours)
•
Water Issues (30 indicative hours)
•
Dynamic Earth (30 indicative hours).
9

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Earth and Environmental Science Stage 6 Syllabus
6.2 HSC Course (120 indicative hours)
The HSC course builds upon the Preliminary course. The Preliminary course contains content that
is considered assumed knowledge for the HSC course.
The HSC course incorporates the study of:
a) the core, which constitutes 90 indicative hours and includes:
•
Tectonic Impacts (30 indicative hours)
•
Environments Through Time (30 indicative hours)
•
Caring for the Country (30 indicative hours)
b) ONE option, which constitutes 30 indicative hours and may comprise any one of the
following:
•
Introduced Species and the Australian Environment
•
Organic Geology – A Non-renewable Resource
•
Mining and the Australian Environment
•
Oceanography.
10

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Document Outline

• Contents
• 1 The Higher School Certificate Program of Study
• 2 Rationale for Earth and Environmental Science in Stage 6 Curriculum
• 3 Continuum of Learning for Earth and Environmental ScienceStage 6 Students
• 4 Aim
• 5 Objectives
• 6 Course Structure
  • 6.1 Preliminary Course (120 indicative hours)
  • 6.2 HSC Course (120 indicative hours)
  • 6.3 Overview
  • 6.4 Other Considerations
• 7 Objectives and Outcomes
  • 7.1 Table of Objectives and Outcomes
• 8 Content: Earth and Environmental Science Stage 6 Preliminary Course
  • 8.1 Earth and Environmental Science Skills
  • 8.2 Planet Earth and Its Environment … A Five ThousandMillion Year Journey
  • 8.3 The Local Environment
  • 8.4 Water Issues
  • 8.5 Dynamic Earth
• 9 Content: Earth and Environmental Science Stage 6HSC Course
  • 9.1 Earth and Environmental Science Skills
  • 9.2 Tectonic Impacts
  • 9.3 Environments Through Time
  • 9.4 Caring for the Country
  • 9.5 Option … Introduced Species and the Australian Environment
  • 9.6 Option … Organic Geology … A Non-renewable Resource
  • 9.7 Option … Mining and the Australian Environment
  • 9.8 Option … Oceanography
• 10 Course Requirements
• 11 Post-school Opportunities
• 12 Assessment and Reporting
• 13 Appendix

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