Year 10 science links biology, space, physics and chemistry. Our programme explores genetics, evolution, the Big Bang, climate, Newton's laws and chemical reactions with examples from across NZ, from the kiwi and moa to the Southern Alps.

Key Topics Covered:

DNA and inheritance, mitosis and meiosis, evolution, the Big Bang, climate systems, Newton's laws, atomic structure, chemical reactions, reaction rates and scientific investigation.

Parent Tip:

Year 10 science builds the evidence and modelling skills used in senior biology, chemistry and physics. Strong foundations here make course choices in Year 11 much easier.

Explain DNA, mitosis, meiosis and simple inheritance

Explain evolution by natural selection using evidence

Describe the Big Bang model and the evidence for it

Explain the climate system and evidence of climate change

Apply Newton's laws to motion, safety and engineering

Write balanced equations and explain reaction rates

Parent and child practising Year 10 science at home in New Zealand

No.	Topic	What We Cover
01	DNA, Genes, Chromosomes and the Genome	Explain how DNA, genes, chromosomes and the genome relate and use models to show them.
02	Mitosis and Growth	Explain how mitosis supports growth, repair and cell replacement.
03	Meiosis, Fertilisation and Variation	Explain how meiosis and fertilisation mix genetic information from two parents.
04	Mendelian Inheritance	Use dominant and recessive alleles and Punnett squares to predict simple inheritance ratios.
05	Pedigrees, Sex-Linked Traits and Genetic Disorders	Read pedigree diagrams and link changes in DNA or chromosomes to inherited conditions, keeping the tone factual.
06	Evolution by Natural Selection	Explain variation, selection pressure, survival and reproduction in evolution.
07	Evidence for Evolution	Weigh fossil, anatomical, chemical and geographic evidence, including NZ's flightless birds, such as the kiwi and moa.
08	Adaptation, Selection and Biodiversity	Link inherited traits to survival and show how selection shapes biodiversity.
09	Genetics and Evolution Inquiry	Analyse inheritance or evolution data and build an evidence-based explanation.
10	Term 1 Review	Revise heredity, inheritance, natural selection and evidence through problem solving. A termly mock test and parent report follow.

Try a Free Lesson to See the Full Programme

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Student in a tutoring session with their tutor

Warm-up (5 min)

Quick review of the previous session and a what-do-you-notice question

Core Teaching (25 min)

New idea from the lesson eBook, with demonstrations and examples

Guided Practice (15 min)

Student works through a data set or investigation with tutor support

Independent Practice (10 min)

Student completes the in-class quiz independently

Wrap-up (5 min)

Summary, 2 take-home quizzes and a preview of the next session

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Year 10 Maths

See the full Year 10 Maths programme, with 40 live sessions aligned to the NZ Curriculum.

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No.	Topic	What We Cover
11	The Universe: Scale, Components and Measurement	Describe the parts of the universe and use astronomical units and light-years.
12	The Big Bang Model and Cosmic Timeline	Describe the Big Bang model and build a timeline from the early universe to stars and galaxies.
13	Evidence for the Big Bang	Analyse redshift, cosmic microwave background radiation and Hubble's observations.
14	Stars, Spectra and Astronomical Technologies	Explain how spectra and brightness reveal star properties, including telescopes such as those at Mt John Observatory near Lake Tekapo.
15	Earth's Climate System and Energy Flow	Model energy flow among the atmosphere, oceans, living things and land.
16	Evidence and Indicators of Climate Change	Analyse changes in temperature, sea level, ice and species ranges, including glacier retreat in the Southern Alps.
17	Ocean Circulation, Energy Balance and Climate Patterns	Explain how solar energy and ocean currents shape climate patterns.
18	Climate Modelling, Prediction and Responses	Use data and models to make predictions and weigh ways to reduce climate change.
19	Science, Technology and Earth-Space Research	See how satellites and computing expand what we know about Earth and space.
20	Term 2 Review	Revise cosmology and climate evidence through a supported scientific argument. A termly mock test and parent report follow.

No.	Topic	What We Cover
21	Motion: Distance, Time, Speed and Acceleration	Analyse motion with distance, time, speed and acceleration, using graphs and calculations.
22	Newton's First Law and Inertia	Investigate inertia and balanced and unbalanced forces, such as a passenger lurching forward when a bus brakes.
23	Newton's Second Law: Force, Mass and Acceleration	Use F = ma with data, graphs and algebra to solve force and motion problems.
24	Newton's Third Law and Interacting Forces	Explain action and reaction pairs in sport, rockets and transport.
25	Newton's Laws in Safety and Engineering	Apply the laws to seatbelts, airbags, tyres and crumple zones.
26	Atomic Structure and the Periodic Table	Use the Bohr model to link electron arrangement to the layout of the periodic table.
27	Periodic Trends, Groups and Properties	Spot patterns in groups and periods and link outer electrons to similar properties.
28	Types of Chemical Reactions	Identify and write synthesis, decomposition and displacement reactions with word and balanced equations.
29	Predicting Products and Reaction Patterns	Use reaction patterns to classify reactions and predict products.
30	Term 3 Review	Revise motion, forces, atoms and reactions through calculations and investigations. A termly mock test and parent report follow.

No.	Topic	What We Cover
31	Rates of Reaction	Investigate how temperature, concentration, surface area and catalysts change reaction rate, such as salty sea air and rust.
32	How Science Is Validated and Refined	Explain peer review, replication and evidence using examples from genetics and astronomy.
33	Science and Technology: Mutual Development	See how computing, satellites, gene technology and new materials push science forward.
34	Science Adoption, Values and Society	Examine why scientific ideas are adopted or contested and how values and needs shape them.
35	Questions, Predictions and Hypotheses	Write investigable questions and hypotheses about motion, reaction rates and inheritance.
36	Planning Valid and Reproducible Investigations	Control variables, manage error and risk and design fair, repeatable methods.
37	Precision, Calibration and Sample Size	Choose and calibrate equipment, record precise data and plan sample sizes.
38	Data, Graphs and Mathematical Models	Organise data with tables, graphs, statistics and equations and model relationships.
39	Patterns, Anomalies and Uncertainty	Find patterns and anomalies in data, make predictions and describe uncertainty.
40	Year 10 Review and Year 11 Readiness	Revise genetics, space, climate, forces and chemistry in an integrated task and preview Year 11 science. A termly mock test and parent report follow.

Year 10 Science Tutoring Across New Zealand

By Term 4 of Year 10 Science, Your Child Will...

Year 10 Science Curriculum, Term by Term

Try a Free Lesson to See the Full Programme

Try a Free Lesson to See the Full Programme

Try a Free Lesson to See the Full Programme

Try a Free Lesson to See the Full Programme