Monday the 4^th of March saw the Science Faculty participate in the Magdalene Catholic College Annual Open Night. This night was aimed at advertising the fantastic opportunities that are available to students of the college to potential future students. Student-led tours were treated to an amazing array of Science demonstrations conducted by the Science teachers. Needless to say, there were many amazed and disgusted expressions on faces. Some photographs are included.

Class News

Year 7 students learned about safety and functioning of the Bunsen Burner in their Science classes and have since been awarded their Bunsen Burner Licences. Year 7 students will be able to put this learning into practice over the next few weeks as they carry out experiments that require the use of a Bunsen Burner.

Year 7 students have been undertaking their IDEAL saturation week during Week 7. Across this week Year 7 students were practising paragraph writing skills by applying the IDEAL paragraph structure to activities in all their subjects.

Year 8 students continue learning about plant and animal cells, with the focus this fortnight on how cells replicate through cell division. Students in Year 8 will then be applying their knowledge of cells to understanding how different systems in plants and animals function.

Year 9 have been investigating the phenomenon of global warming, linking cause and effect as well as looking toward the future and researching possible implications and solutions. Year 9 will be transitioning concepts to ecosystem dynamics this fortnight where they will begin to look at the biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) features of an ecosystem and the interactions between them.

Year 10 continue their focus on Chemistry, finishing up their learning about patterns and trends of the periodic table and starting to apply this learned knowledge to understanding the types of chemical reactions.

Year 11:

Biology students are learning about the differences between active and passive transport and have been conducting experiments in class to model these.

Chemistry students have been busy finalising and submitting their Depth Study Assessment Tasks and are concluding their learning about chemical bonding. Over the next fortnight, they will begin a study on investigating intermolecular and intramolecular forces.

Physics students have been working on their understanding and ability to analyse vectors in two dimensions.

Year 12:

Biology students are currently learning about non-infectious disease epidemiology and disease prevention.

Chemistry students are building upon their understanding of acids and bases and applying this to the skill of performing titrations. These students will also investigate the utilitarian value of common natural indicators.

Physics students will begin exploring concepts of gravitational forces.