Tg physical science - overview  (Page 10/5)

Overview

Dear educator, welcome to the force of educators that make a difference by unlocking the marvels of the Physical Sciences to learners. What a privilege you have to guide the learners in becoming critical thinkers!

To improve curriculum implementation and to meet the vision for our nation, the National Curriculum Statement Grades R - 12 (NCS) was revised, changed and is replaced by a national policy document developed for each subject. All Physical Sciences educators in the country have to use the National Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement for Physical Sciences. This policy document replaces all old Subject Statements, Learning Programme Guidelines and Subject Assessment Guidelines in Grades R - 12. These changed curriculum and assessment requirements come into effect in January 2012. As a Physical Sciences educator for Grade 10, you need to have a sound understanding of the National Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement for Physical Sciences.

This teachers' guide is divided into two main parts:

• Part 1 deals with the policy document; and
• Part 2 with the learners’ textbook.

Part 1

The National Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement for Physical Sciences has four sections:

Section 1: Curriculum overview

Section 2: Physical Sciences

Section 3: Physical Sciences Content (Grades 10 - 12)

Section 4: Assessment

This part will assist you in getting to grips with the objectives and requirements laid down for the Physical Sciences at national level, and how to implement the prescribed policy document.

Part 2

The Grade 10 Physical Sciences textbook is divided into Chemistry and Physics. Each chapter in the textbook addresses prescribed content, concepts and skills. The range of activities includes practical activities, experiments, and informal and formal assessment tasks.

Curriculum overview

From the beginning of January 2012, all learning and teaching in public and independent schools in South Africa is laid down in the National Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statements (January 2012) (CAPS) document. National Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statements were developed for each subject and replace all previous policy statements including:

• National Senior Certificate: a qualification at Level 4 on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF);
• An addendum to the policy document, the National Senior Certificate: a qualification at Level 4 on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF), regarding learners with special needs, published in the Government Gazette, No. 29466 of 11 December 2006;
• The Subject Statements, Learning Programme Guidelines and Subject Assessment Guidelines for Grades R - 9 and Grades 10 - 12.

The following sections in this document set out the expected norms and standards and minimum outcomes, as well as processes and procedures for the assessment of learner achievement in public and independent schools.

The national agenda and how the curriculum can serve this agenda: