Western Australia

Year Eleven

Module 0

Module 1

Module 2

Introduction to scientific method (ongoing)

Diversity and classification

The organism and its environment

0.3 observe phenomena and describe, measure and record these as data.

0.5 locate, interpret and summarise information relevant to an investigation.

0.6 formulate hypotheses and make predictions based on them.

0.7 design, carry out and write a report of a scientific investigation;

0.8 distinguish between independent and dependent variables in a controlled experiment.

0.9 identify and explain the importance of the controlled and experimental variables in scientific investigations.

0.12 classify, collate and display both first and secondhand data.

0.13 use diagrams, graphs, flow charts and physical models as visual representations of phenomena and relationships arising from the data.

0.14 analyse and draw conclusions from simple data.

0.18 understand that the use of animals for scientific purposes has ethical and social implications.

1.1 explain why biologists classify living things and describe the general principles forming the basis for modern biological classifications.

1.7 describe and explain the importance of the Linnaean system of binomial nomenclature.

Option

• investigate the economic importance of selected groups for agriculture, medicine, food processing etc.

2.4 describe, and illustrate with examples, how the biotic environment affects survival and/or reproduction of organisms in aquatic habitats (marine and freshwater) and in terrestrial habitats.

2.8 describe reproductive processes as a combination of structural, physiological and behavioural adaptations.

Module 3

Module 4

Module 5

Populations and communities

Plant and animal structure

Reproduction, growth and development

3.10 analyse data on population size, density and distribution and draw valid inferences from them.

3.12 discuss, using examples, the consequences of changing population density on a population and on its environment.

3.17 describe the types of interactions and relationships that occur between organisms in a community.

Option

• conduct a detailed study on the effect that feral animal populations have had on natural communities and evaluate current management practices to control population size.

4.4 use a monocular microscope to observe cells and estimate their dimensions.

4.6 describe the basis for classifying cells as prokaryotic or eukaryotic and give examples of each type.

4.7 explain the importance of cell division (not the details of nuclear division) in the life of an organism.

Option

• investigate the applications of tissue culture techniques in horticulture, medicine etc.
• research abnormal cell/tissue growth in plants and animals.

5.1 define ‘reproduction’ and describe the differences between asexual and sexual reproduction.

Option

• define the term ‘cloning’ and describe this process.
• investigate the techniques in reproductive interference developed for agricultural husbandry which may have wider social and economic importance.