YEAR 7, 8 & 9
At Forest Lake State
High School, we aim to give all students the essential mathematical skills they
will need in their personal, work and civic life. Students can also explore the
fundamentals of specialised and professional mathematics study. Mathematics has its own value and beauty and
we want to help students appreciate the elegance and power of mathematical
reasoning. Digital technologies are
helping us to explore mathematical ideas in new ways and by using old and new
technologies, we focus on developing skilled mathematical understanding,
fluency, logical reasoning, analytical thought and problem-solving skills. Students will see the way mathematics links
together as well as the relationship between mathematics and other disciplines.
While exploring these links students can develop critical skills and concepts
and become self-motivated, confident learners through inquiry and active
participation in challenging and engaging experiences.
YEAR 10
Mathematics
Mathematics is an essential part of your education because it gives you a foundation for developing an understanding of many aspects of your world. It also gives you the knowledge and skills to participate in, and make wise decisions about, issues in the world and the things that affect your life.
Year 10 Mathematics offers you opportunities to develop knowledge, processes, skills and attitudes relating to things such as:
· effective functioning as a member of society
· being numerate - in a wide range of contexts both in school and out of school
· engaging in further study in mathematics
· the enhanced use of technology as one of many tools for learning.
Mathematics Extension
The Extension Mathematics course extends the basic mathematics topics covered up to the end of year 9. As such, the course is designed to prepare students for the study of Mathematical Methods in year 11 and 12.
The course will focus on the more difficult and theoretical content required as a basis for Mathematical Methods. Topics are covered within the following strands:
· the understanding and use of index notation
· the algebra of rational numbers
· representing and working with functions
· application of trigonometric functions
· additional statistical analysis techniques (box and whisker plots)
· euclidean geometry (circle theorems).
Essential Mathematics
Mathematics is an essential part of your education because it gives you a foundation for developing an understanding of many aspects of your world. It also gives you the knowledge and skills to participate in, and make wise decisions about, issues in the world and the things that affect your life.
Year 10 Essential Mathematics offers you opportunities to develop knowledge, processes, skills and attitudes relating to things such as:
· effective functioning as a member of society
· being numerate - in a wide range of contexts both in school and out of school
· the enhanced use of technology as one of many tools for learning.
YEAR 11
& 12
General Mathematics – General Senior Subject
Networks and
matrices, building on the content of the P–10 Australian Curriculum General
Mathematics is designed for students who want to extend their mathematical
skills beyond Year 10 but whose future studies or employment pathways do not
require calculus. Students build on and develop key
mathematical ideas, including rates and percentages, concepts from financial
mathematics, linear and non-linear expressions, sequences, the use of matrices
and networks to model and solve authentic problems, the use of trigonometry to
find solutions to practical problems, and the exploration of real-world
phenomena in statistics. Students engage
in a practical approach that equips learners for their needs as future
citizens. They learn to ask appropriate questions, map out pathways, reason
about complex solutions, set up models and communicate in different forms. They
experience the relevance of mathematics to their daily lives, communities and
cultural backgrounds. They develop the ability to understand, analyse and take
action regarding social issues in their world.
Mathematical Methods – General Senior Subject
Mathematical
Methods’ major domains are Algebra, Functions, relations and their graphs,
Calculus and Statistics. Mathematical
Methods enables students to see the connections between mathematics and other
areas of the curriculum and apply their mathematical skills to real-world
problems, becoming critical thinkers, innovators and problem-solvers. Students learn topics that are developed
systematically, with increasing levels of sophistication, complexity and
connection, and build on algebra, functions and their graphs, and probability
from the P–10 Australian Curriculum. Calculus is essential for developing an
understanding of the physical world. The
domain Statistics is used to describe and analyse phenomena involving
uncertainty and variation. Both are the basis for developing effective models
of the world and solving complex and abstract mathematical problems. Students
develop the ability to translate written, numerical, algebraic, symbolic and
graphical information from one representation to another. They make complex use
of factual knowledge to successfully formulate, represent and solve
mathematical problems.
Specialist Mathematics – General Senior Subject
Specialist Mathematics
is designed for students who develop confidence in their mathematical knowledge
and ability, and gain a positive view of themselves as mathematics learners.
They will gain an appreciation of the true nature of mathematics, its beauty
and its power. Students learn topics
that are developed systematically, with increasing levels of sophistication,
complexity and connection, building on functions, calculus, statistics from
Mathematical Methods, while vectors, complex numbers and matrices are introduced.
Functions and calculus are essential for creating models of the physical world.
Statistics are used to describe and analyse phenomena involving probability,
uncertainty and variation. Matrices, complex numbers and vectors are essential
tools for explaining abstract or complex relationships that occur in scientific
and technological endeavours. Student learning experiences range from
practising essential mathematical routines to developing procedural fluency,
through to investigating scenarios, modelling the real world, solving problems
and explaining reasoning.
Essential Mathematics – Applied Senior Subject
Essential Mathematics’
major domains are Number, Data, Location and time, Measurement and Finance. Essential Mathematics benefits students
because they develop skills that go beyond the traditional ideas of numeracy. Students develop their conceptual
understanding when they undertake tasks that require them to connect
mathematical concepts, operations and relations. They learn to recognise
definitions, rules and facts from everyday mathematics and data, and to
calculate using appropriate mathematical processes. Students interpret and use
mathematics to make informed predictions and decisions about personal and
financial priorities. This is achieved through an emphasis on estimation,
problem-solving and reasoning, which develops students into thinking citizens.
If you require any further details, please contact:
Lex McBean - Head of Department (Mathematics) on 3714 2333 or lmcbe4@eq.edu.au