Physics Secondary

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Physics

S4-S5 Physics

Description

In 2006 the European Council and European Parliament adopted a European Framework for Key Competences for Lifelong Learning. It identifies eight key competences which all individuals need for personal fulfilment and development, for active citizenship, for social inclusion and for employment: among them, related to physics, are the mathematical competence and the competence in science, technology and engineering.

The European Schools’ syllabi seek to develop all key competences in the pupils.

Course principles

The didactical principles of the European Schools are formulated in the teaching standards of the European Schools (réf. 2012-09-D-11-en-4). For delivery the teaching standards state that the teacher:

  • Uses teaching skills and creativity to inspire and motivate pupils
  • Delivers well-structured lessons.
  • Makes an effective use of teaching time
  • Employs a variety of teaching and learning methods, including technology, appropriate to the content
  • Motivates pupils to be actively involved in their own learning
  • Demonstrates good subject and curriculum knowledge including their national and European dimensions

The eight competences for Physics are knowledge, comprehension, application, analysis, experimental work, digital competences, communication and teamwork. To teach the competences for physics according to the teaching standards of the European Schools an inquiry-based approach to teaching and learning is strongly recommended in S4-S5. The learning objectives cannot be achieved without a large focus on practical work.

Course objectives

With learning in school, content is used to give the pupils competences to be prepared for society and work. Learning objectives for student performance therefore arise out of three dimensions: the European Framework for Key Competences for Lifelong Learning, the academic competences and the Cross-cutting concepts (Interdisciplinary Connections).

The European Framework for Key Competences for Lifelong Learning (see below).

The academic competences:

  1. Knowledge
  2. Comprehension
  3. Application
  4. Analysis
  5. Experimental work
  6. Digital and Information Competences
  7. Communication
  8. Teamwork

Cross-cutting concepts:

  1. Patterns
  2. Cause and effect Events
  3. Scale, proportion and quantity
  4. Systems and system models
  5. Energy and matter
  6. Structure and function
  7. Stability and change

S4 Content 

  • Electricity/Magnetism
  • Machanics
  • Waves

S5 Content  

  • Mechanics
  • Matter and Heat
  • Atomic and Nuclear Physics

S6-S7 Physics

Description

The 4-period option course is the last turn of the spiral of physics education in the European schools, which revisits many of the topics introduced in the 4th and 5th year, bringing more depth to them and adding links to other areas of the discipline. It is a final program of physics study for a significant number of pupils; and for some, a preparation to follow scientific courses at a higher level, at university or elsewhere.

Course objectives

Since the course is rooted in the 4th and 5th year work it shares the aims spelt out in considerable detail in the preamble to that course, to which reference should be made. To these must be added the requirement, imposed by the principle above, that pupils should reach a level of factual knowledge and intellectual skill which will enable them to begin a university science or engineering course with as good a chance of success as a pupil who has followed a 6thnth year physics course in a member state. In addition. the notion of a scientific model takes a very explicit place for the first time at this level. Pupils should understand the barrier which stands between model and reality and should come to appreciate the power and the limitations of models such as the wave model of light or the various models of the Hydrogen atom.

S6 Content  

  • Mechanics
  • Electric and magnetic fields.
  • Optional Study (One of: Special Relativity, Mechanics of Rigid Bodies, Alternating Current or Thermodynamics)

S7 Content  

  • Field Physics.
  • Waves.
  • The dual character of matter and radiation.
  • Atomic physics.
  • Nuclear Physics.

List of teachers of Physics and year

Teacher Class(es)
ALBANO Pietro S5-S7
BUDACIU Marinela S4-S5
CSONKA Dorottya S4-S5
GANCEDO Estrella S4-S5-S6-S7
GANGLBAUER Franz S4
JUTIER Arnaud Labo, S4-S5-S6-S7
HANSEN Karen Coordinator, S4-S5-S6-S7
LENTI Anna Chiara S4-S5-S6
LHUISSIER François S7
PIOTRZKOWSKA Grazyna S4-S5-S6-S7
RICH Sami S4-S6
SÄNGER Thomas S5-S6-S7
THEUNISSEN Michaël S4-S5-S6-S7

 

 Course title or description Document Link
 Physics programme 4th and 5th years (only for S4 this year)  https://www.eursc.eu/Syllabuses/96-D-164-en.pdf
 Attainment descriptors – Biology – Chemistry – Physics – S4-S5  https://www.eursc.eu/Syllabuses/2016-09-D-36-en-3_phys.pdf
 Physics Syllabus – S4-S5 (only for S5 this year)  https://www.eursc.eu/Syllabuses/2019-01-D-50-en-2.pdf
Physics Syllabus for 6th and 7th years https://www.eursc.eu/Syllabuses/1998-D-45-en.pdf
Attainment descriptors – Biology (4P) – Chemistry – Physics – S6-S7 https://www.eursc.eu/Syllabuses/2017-09-D-52-en-2_phys.pdf