Course Outline
Year 10
Queen Margaret College
Year 10
Business & Economics 2025
Middle Years Programme International Baccalaureate
Unit Title
Type of Assessment
Internal features of a small business Inquiry – Presentation Term 1 Week 7/8
Market research and Marketing
Business activity – Market Day
Basic Economics, Sustainability and Consumer Law
Course details
Formative Term 3 Preparation for Market Day
Market Day Project – Marketing, Business plan, Selling and reflection - Terms 2 – 3
Term 3-4 – Portfolios and short question examination
Business is the study of decision making within an organisation. It examines how business decisions are influenced by factors internal and external to an organisation, and how these decisions impact upon its stakeholders, both internally and externally.
The course is designed to teach the basic principles of business. Students work in a combination of individual and group work in a creative and collaborative way, in much the same way that most businesses operate. Topics will investigate the role of a responsible consumer, skills to operate a micro business such as mark-up, profit and cashflow. How producers are influenced by changes in technology and how they innovate to get ahead of the competition, and the different qualities that successful entrepreneurs possess.
Term 2 and 3 will see students create their own business that involves students researching and deciding on a product, writing a business plan and launching it in an oral presentation competition. Students work in teams to create a hypothetical product, set up a company and prepare a business strategy to produce and sell their product.
Course Information:
• Students in Year 10 have four lessons each fortnight.
• Workbooks are provided but lined and graph paper is needed as well as something to organise the years notes into
• Teams and OneNote is used for sharing of documents, links and uploading of projects
Homework expectations
Students should complete at least 45 minutes of homework each weeknight, across all subjects.
Head of Department: Adrian Hardy
Queen Margaret College
Year 10 MYP Chinese Programme 2025
Levels 2-3 of the New Zealand Curriculum
Phases 2-3 of the Middle Years Programme International Baccalaureate
Unit Title
School and extra-curricular life
Birthday celebration
Land, People and Travel
Health, Leisure & culture
Course details
Students will study the following topics:
• School and extra-curricular life
- school & school life in NZ and China
- extra-curricular activities
• Birthday celebration
- organising and holding a birthday party
- conventions of birthday celebration
• Land, People and Travel
- Cultural exchange
• Health, leisure & culture
- Leisure activities, sickness and health
- cultural celebration events
Course Information:
Proposed assessment date
In the final two weeks of each term, students will be assessed on the language skills they have developed throughout the unit. Listening, reading, writing, and speaking will each be assessed twice during the year.
• In 2025, Year 10 Chinese Class is an option subject.
• Each class has 6 lessons per 10-day timetable for the whole year.
Homework expectations
Students are expected to complete some homework during the week. Your child should be learning at home for a total of 90 minutes per weeknight across all subjects and separate to this is the Community Project during Terms 2 and 3. The key to language learning is ‘little and often’. Homework might include:
• Learning a few words, verbs or phrases
• Sentence or text level of activities, such as Jigsaw activities, cloze exercises etc.
• Reading and grammar exercises to do or a short paragraph to write
• Before an assessment, students will be expected to revise their notes or to practise their spoken Chinese
• Revision of vocabulary learned in class with www.educationperfect.com
• Catching up on work missed due to absence
Students will purchase a Year 10 Chinese Workbook at a cost of around $10.
Head of Learning Area: Caroline Harding
Queen Margaret College
Year 10 Digital and Electronics Technology 2025 Level 5 of the New Zealand Curriculum
Year 4 of the Middle Years Programme International Baccalaureate
Unit Title
Electronics / Web Design (First half year)
Web Design / Electronics (Second half year)
Course Overview
Proposed assessment date
Criteria A and B – Term 1, Week 9
Criteria C and D – Term 2, Week 7
Criteria A and B – Term 3, Week 6
Criteria C and D – Term 4, Week 6
In course we aim to instil the idea that our students be creators rather than just consumers of digital technology. In the Digital Technology section of the course, students will be introduced to HTML/CSS and JavaScript code, which will be used to create a fully functioning website. They will also learn about computer programming. In the Electronics section of the course students will gain knowledge and skills of electronic circuitry, basic computer science, and develop computer programming skills which will be applied in a ‘good cause’ context that may include robotics and the IoT (Internet of Things).
Course Details:
• The course is an option subject, and each class has 4 lessons per 10 day timetable.
• Each class will rotate through two major topics over the year
• Assessment is via the MYP Design Assessment criteria
• There is a $30+gst consumables fee for Technology. This will be charged to your school account.
Students may also wish to participate in extra outside the classroom STEAM challenges such as the ePRO8 Team. Technology competition, Robocup, and Codeclub. Details will be published as opportunities become available during the year.
Assessment Criterion: Design MYP
Over the course of the year students will be assessed according to the following criterion. There are 4 criterion in MYP Design – all based on the Design Cycle.
Criterion A
Inquiring and analysing
Criterion B Developing ideas
Criterion C Creating the solution
Criterion D Evaluating
Maximum 8
Maximum 8
Maximum 8
Maximum 8
Each of these criteria will be assessed once in each of the unit topics (ie twice in the year). Students will be given specific assessment schedules for these criteria at the start of each unit.
QMC Technology Safety Rules:
Student safety and wellbeing is paramount at QMC. Accordingly, no student is allowed to operate any equipment without teacher supervision and safety instruction. When using specialist equipment there are some rules to be followed:
• Tie hair back.
• No blazers on.
• Aprons to be worn.
• Safety eye-goggles on if required.
• Covered shoes / PE shoes are acceptable.
• Protective gloves to be worn if needed.
• Persons operating equipment are to be given a clear working space around them. No crowding, talking to or distracting persons operating equipment.
• Students will be supervised always by a teacher if hazardous equipment is being operated.
• Turn equipment off at the wall and unplug from the wall when finished.
• Spaces used must be vacuumed / swept clean for the next person.
Homework expectations
At Year 10, students should be learning at home for a total of at least 90 minutes per weeknight across all subjects and separate to this is the Community Project during Terms 2 and 3. To achieve at a high level in Design, students are expected to complete some homework during the week.
Homework might include:
• Online tutorials for keyboard, software, and coding skill development
• Carrying out individual project - written, research or design sketching / digital manipulation tasks.
• Attending lunchtime workshops to complete any practical work or to access extra help with practical work.
• Completing a self-evaluation reflection sheet at the end of each unit that enables the student to assess their projects.
• Catching up with work not completed during class time
of Learning Area: Richard Knuckey
Queen Margaret College
Year 10 French Programme 2025
Levels 3-4 of the New Zealand Learning Languages Curriculum Phases 2-3 of the Middle Years Programme International Baccalaureate
Unit Title
‘Relations sociales’ - The people in my life
‘Les vacances’ – Holidays
‘L’environnement’ – Sharing the planet
‘Le monde francophone’ – French speaking countries
Course details
Proposed assessment date
In the final two weeks of each term, students will be assessed on the language skills they have developed throughout the unit. Listening, reading, writing, and speaking will each be assessed twice during the year.
The Year 10 course is designed to considerably extend the four key skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing throughout the year. The students work in a target language environment and focus on expanding their work using complex grammatical structures and higher-level vocabulary. In addition, they use a range of digital resources and authentic material in French
Students will study the following topics:
• Relations sociales
o Describe how you get on with your family and friends
o Talk about household chores and pocket money
o Write an Agony Aunt letter
• Les vacances
o Talk about past and future holidays
o Describe your dream holiday or a holiday disaster
• L’environnement
o Discuss global and local issues
o Offer possible solutions to protect the environment
• Le monde francophone
o Research a French-speaking country to present to the class
o Learn about the rich cultural heritage of French-speaking countries and discuss the impacts of colonisation.
Course Information
• In 2025 Year 10 French is an option subject.
• Each class has 6 lessons per 10 day timetable
Homework expectations
Students are expected to complete some homework during the week. Your child should be learning at home for a total of at least 90 minutes per weeknight across all subjects and separate to this is the Community Project during Terms 2 and 3. The key to language learning is ‘little and often’.
Homework might include:
• Learning a number of words, verbs or phrases
• Reading and grammar exercises to do or a short paragraph to write.
• Before an assessment students will be expected to revise their notes or to practise their spoken language.
• Revision of vocabulary learned in class with www.educationperfect.com
• Catching up on work missed due to absence.
Head of Learning Area: Caroline Harding
Queen Margaret College
Year 10 Humanities (Individuals and Societies) Programme 2025
Level 5 of the New Zealand Curriculum
Year 4 of the Middle Years Programme International Baccalaureate Unit Title
Contested Places and Spaces
We’ve Got Issues
Citizenship Rights and Responsibilities
Making a Change - Role of Women
Course details
Term 1 Week 11
Term 2 Week 3
Term 3 Week 8
Term 4 Week 4
Humanities (Individuals and Societies) encourages learners to respect and understand the world around them and equips them with the necessary skills to inquire into historical, contemporary, geographical, political, social, economic, religious, technological and cultural factors that have an impact on individuals, societies and environments.
The IB’s approach to Humanities (Individuals and Societies) includes a strong focus on inquiry and investigation. Students collect, describe and analyse data used in the study of societies; they test hypotheses; and learn how to interpret increasingly complex information, including original source material. This focuses on real-world examples, research and analysis is an essential aspect of the subject group.
The study of Humanities (Individuals and Societies) helps students to develop their identities as individuals and as responsible members of local and global communities. Studies in Individuals and Societies are essential for developing empathy and international-mindedness, including the idea that “other people, with their differences, can also be right” (IB mission statement).
Course Information
• In 2025 Year 10 Individuals and Society is a compulsory subject.
• Each class has 7 lessons per 10 day timetable.
• Each class covers 4 units over the year.
• Each unit topic will be approximately 9 weeks in length.
• Students are assessed on 4 key skills:
o Knowing and Understanding,
o Investigating,
o Communicating
o Thinking Critically.
Homework expectations
Your child should be learning at home for a total of at least 90 minutes per weeknight across all subjects and separate to this is the Community Project during Terms 2 and 3.
To achieve at a high level in this subject, students are expected to complete some homework during the week. Homework might include:
• Completion of or extension of work done in class
• Reading
• Research
• Revision of material covered in class
• Written responses
Head of Learning Area: Adrian Hardy
Queen Margaret College
Year 10 Japanese Programme 2025
Levels 4-5 of the New Zealand Curriculum
Phases 2-3 of the Middle Years Programme International Baccalaureate
Unit Title
‘My town’
‘Birthday Celebration’
‘Shopping and Eating Out’
‘Travel’
Course details
Proposed assessment date
In the final two weeks of each term, students will be assessed on the language skills they have developed throughout the unit. Listening, reading, writing, and speaking will each be assessed twice during the year.
The Year 10 course is designed to develop the four key skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing. Students consolidate their knowledge of Hiragana and Katakana symbols and are introduced to Kanji symbols. The topics covered give students exposure to a variety of contexts, the Japanese Culture and situations related to their personal experiences. In addition, they engage in eLearning, using their laptops to record work and to access various language learning resources. Students may study the following topics:
• My town
o Places in town
o Where things are in town
o Describing your town and people
o Directions
o Activities in town
• Birthday Celebrations
o Items for the birthday party
o Buying a present for a friend
o What you want/don’t want
o Activities at the party
• Shopping & Eating out
o Shopping at a department store
o How much?
o Eating out
o Invitation to a party
• Travel
o Japanese geography
o The weather
o Leisure activities
o Planning a holiday trip
Course Information
• In 2025 Year 10 Japanese is an option subject
• Each class has 6 lessons per 10 day timetable
Homework expectations
Students are expected to complete some homework during the week. Your daughter should be learning at home for a total of at least 90 minutes four times a week, across all subjects. The key to language learning is ‘little and often’.
Homework might include:
• Learning a number of words, verbs or phrases
• Reading and grammar exercises to do or a short paragraph to write.
• Before an assessment, students will be expected to revise their notes or practise their spoken language.
• Revision of vocabulary learned in class with www.languageperfect.com
• Completion of assignments started in class
• Catching up on work missed due to absence
• Researching on the internet
Students will purchase a Year 10 Japanese Workbook for around $10.
Head of Department: Caroline Harding
Queen Margaret College
Year 10 Language and Literature Programme 2025
Level 5 of the New Zealand Curriculum
Year 4 of the Middle Years Programme International Baccalaureate
Unit Title
Kiwiana Brands and Literacy
IDU Next Goal Wins
Shakespeare Under the Microscope
Cultural Poetry
Course details
Proposed Assessment Date
Refer to assessment calendar on Managebac
The study of English helps students engage with and enjoy language and literature in all its varieties. A case study of a Kiwi brand will begin a literacy unit on representation of culture. Students will identify connections across texts through common themes and messages. They also study Shakespeare’s Othello and the film Next Goal Wins. Students will develop skills in a range of analytical reviews and literary essay writing, and in oral speaking and visual text production
Course Information:
• Read and study a play and poetry
• View and study a film
• Interdisciplinary focus on the language of sport during the film unit
• Create and deliver an oral speech
• Write essays and short critical responses
• Creative engagement in zine making and poetry writing.
Homework expectations
Your child should be learning at home for a total of at least 90 minutes per weeknight across all subjects and separate to this is the Community Project during Terms 2 and 3.
To achieve at a high level in this subject, students are expected to complete some homework during the week. Homework might include:
• Completion of extension work done in class
• Reading
• Research
• Revision of material covered in class
• Written responses and essays
Head of Learning Area: Mrs. Annabel Harris
Queen Margaret College
Year 10 - Materials Technology Option Programme 2025
Level 5 of the New Zealand Curriculum
Year 4 of the Middle Years Programme International Baccalaureate
Style Sudoku
Zipper Bags - Textile project
Course overview
Criteria A and B – Term 1 Week 9
Criteria C and D – Term 2 Week 7
Criteria A and B – Term 3 Week 6
Criteria C and D – Term 4 Week 6
Design (Materials Technology) is about making a difference in our world – through developing designs, products and systems that meet the requirements of a design brief. The Design Cycle is a key development process that is followed at all year levels in Technology. In the Year 10 Materials Technology option course, students will cover two major units and an introductory skills revision unit.
Design theme for the year: Kaitiakitanga Sustainability, guardianship, stewardship for living things and resources.
Style Sudoku - Sustainable Fashion project: Hoody
• How can I contribute to sustainable fashion practices?
• Fashion illustration skills
• Personalised screen-printing
• Using commercial patterns
• Construct a garment (Hoody)
Skills - Getting Started / Revision:
• Materials Technology basic skills
• Sewing Machinery and equipment
• Using the Over-locker
• Safety
• Screen-printing skills
Textile project – Zipper Bags
• Design and create a textiles product to meet the need of an identified end user
• Zips / Embellishment techniques
Skills - Creative Projects:
• Individual mini projects – at conclusion of assessed units of work.
Extension Opportunities:
• Design competitions – Students may opt to enter any secondary school design competitions as become available during the year. Work for any competitions will be completed in own time / with lunchtimes available for teacher help.
Course details:
• Materials Technology classes have 4 lessons per 10 day timetable.
• There is a $30+gst consumables fee for Materials Technology. This will be charged to your school account.
• Students will be expected to purchase some own resources for practical project work. Specific details are noted in the resources required information at the end of this course outline and will be discussed with students at the outset of each unit.
Assessment Criterion: Design MYP
Over the course of the year students will be assessed according to the following criterion. There are 4 criterion in MYP Design – all based on the Design Cycle.
Criterion A
Inquiring and analysing
Criterion B Developing ideas
Criterion C Creating the solution
Criterion D Evaluating
Maximum 8
Maximum 8
Maximum 8
Maximum 8
Each of these criteria will be assessed once in each of the unit topics (ie twice in the year). Students will be given specific assessment schedules for these criteria at the start of each unit.
Technology eFolio / and clear file
A OneNote eFolio (as provided by your teacher) will be used as the student’s core workbook. The A4 Clear file will be used for storing design work, illustration tasks and practical lesson documentation as directed by your teacher. All class and homework will be completed / attached / scanned as required into the OneNote eFolio or clear file as directed. Assessment schedules will be attached and marked via the student OneNote eFolio.
QMC Technology Safety Rules:
Student safety and wellbeing is paramount at QMC. Accordingly, no student is allowed to operate any equipment without teacher supervision and safety instruction. When using specialist equipment there are some rules to be followed:
• Tie hair back.
• No blazers on.
• Aprons to be worn.
• Safety eye-goggles on if required.
• Covered shoes / PE shoes are acceptable.
• Protective gloves to be worn if needed.
• Persons operating equipment are to be given a clear working space around them. No crowding, talking to or distracting persons operating equipment.
• Students will be supervised always by a teacher if hazardous equipment is being operated.
• Turn equipment off at the wall and unplug from the wall when finished.
• Spaces used must be vacuumed / swept clean for the next person.
Materials Technology Practical Equipment:
Printing inks, dyes, basic sewing threads, pins, interfacing, skirt zips, elastic, velcro, hooks and eyes, class consumables…etc…will be provided at school.
Student project work and resources can be stored safely at school in the W4 storeroom in the labelled class baskets.
Personal sewing equipment must be kept in a small named container with a lid.
Resources required:
• Style Sudoku Hoody project
o Students will order their Hoody fabric through school from available supplies. The cost of the Hoody fabric will be charged back to student accounts.
o School provides the Hoody pattern – only this pattern may be used.
• Textiles project
o Students may be required to purchase some own materials / sewing supplies depending on the project selected.
o School provides various sewing consumables and decorative resources.
• Skills – End of year creative projects
o Students may be required to purchase some own materials / sewing supplies depending on the project selected.
o School provides various sewing consumables and decorative resources.
Homework expectations
Your child should be learning at home for a total of at least 90 minutes per weeknight across all subjects and separate to this is the Community Project during Terms 2 and 3. To achieve at a high level in this subject, students are expected to complete some homework during the week.
Homework might include:
• Carrying out individual project - written, research or design sketching tasks.
• Attending lunchtime workshops to complete any practical work or to access extra help with practical work.
• Catching up with work not completed during class time.
• Sourcing materials and resources for practical construction work.
Head of Learning Area: Richard Knuckey
Queen Margaret College
Year 10 Mathematics 2025
Level 5 of the New Zealand Curriculum
Year 4 of the Middle Years Programme International Baccalaureate Unit Title
Number and Problem Solving (Patterns)
Measurement and Geometry
Algebra and Graphing
Number
AS91944, 1.1
Apply mathematics and statistics in a range of everyday situations.
Explore data using a statistical enquiry process
Course details
Refer to assessment calendar on Managebac
Term 4, Week 7.
The academic curriculum for Middle School mathematics at Queen Margaret College has the New Zealand Curriculum as its foundation. The mathematical content of courses and the way we measure student progress with mathematical skills is derived from the New Zealand Curriculum. The IB Middle Years Programme informs our approaches to teaching and learning and the way that students engage with the mathematical content at a particular curriculum level.
The curriculum in Year 10 is designed as a continuing mathematical step from the Primary School through the Middle School and onto the Senior School. Classes are streamed, and teachers differentiate learning for individual student needs.
The main topics covered throughout the year are statistics, number knowledge and skills, geometry and measurement, and algebra. In Year 10, we stress the importance of critical thinking skills and the ability to understand answers in context. Additionally, students will have the opportunity to sit the NCEA Numeracy CAA (Standard 32406: Apply mathematics and statistics in a range of everyday situations, worth 10 credits, assessed externally in Term 2, Week 5) and Achievement Standard 1.1 (AS91944: Explore data using a statistical enquiry process, worth 5 credits, assessed internally in Term 4, Week 7).
These additional assessments allow students to achieve NCEA Numeracy and explore data analysis using real-world contexts, further supporting their mathematical growth and preparation for Senior School.
Course Information
• Mathematics is a compulsory subject in Year 10 with 8 lessons each fortnight.
• The Mathematics Help Room is staffed by teachers every week during Wednesday lunch times and after school on a Wednesday. Students can attend to do their homework or receive some extra help.
• There will also be the opportunity to take part in the following activities and competitions:
✓ The Otago Junior Mathematics Competition is held in March (entry fee approximately $10.00).
✓ International Competition and Assessment for Schools (ICAS) for Mathematics (entry fee approximately $25.00).
✓ The Australian Mathematics Competition is held in August (entry fee approximately $15.00).
✓ A team will be selected to compete at The Wellington Mathematics Association MathsWell Competition held in August (entry fee approximately $25.00).
✓ The Kiwi Maths Competition is held in September (entry fee approximately $15.00).
✓ QMC Mathematic Badge (badge on completion is approximately ($10.00).
• All students will receive a subscription to an electronic MYP textbook and DrFrost ($30.00 approximately) and an NCEA Numeracy workbook ($10.00 approximately). These are used for classwork, homework and for independent study.
• A scientific calculator is required (preferably a Casio FX82AU calculator).
Homework expectations
Students should be learning at home for a total of at least 90 minutes per weeknight across all subjects and separate to this is the Community Project during Terms 2 and 3.
Head of Learning Area: Matthew Kavanagh and Mike Lockwood.
Queen Margaret College
Year 10 Music Programme 2025
Level 5 of the New Zealand Curriculum
Year 4 of the Middle Years Programme International Baccalaureate
Unit Title
The Language of Music
Musical Cultures research
Performance
Composing
Presenting a class concert
Course details
Proposed assessment date
Term 1, Week 7
Term 2, week 2
Term 2, week 8
Term 3, week 6
Term 4, week 4
The Year10MYPcourseisdesigned to prepare students for NCEA Level1Music, as well as provide opportunities for students to develop their practical skills in a variety of ways, including group and solo performance, composition, and presenting a public concert. It is expected that all students will be learning voice or an instrument concurrently with this course, and that students will participate in extra-curricular music activities at the College.
The students learn:
• The theory of music, to an intermediate level.
• An understanding of the elements and features of Western music and how these enhance musical expression
• An appreciation of the elements and features of music from a variety of different cultures.
• To further develop and apply their solo and group performance skills.
• To further develop and apply their composition skills, including a familiarity with music notation software and Digital Audio Workstations (DAW’s)
• The collaborative process of planning, rehearsing, organising and presenting a concert of group performances for other students in the College and/or parents and whanau.
Course Information
• Year 10 Music is an optional course in 2025
• Students have 4 lessons per 10-day timetable
• It is expected that all students will be learning voice or an instrument concurrently with this course, and students should be involved in at least one extracurricular activity.
Homework expectations
Your child should be learning at home for a total of at least 90 minutes per weeknight across all subjects and separate to this is the Community Project during Terms 2 and 3.
To achieve at a high level in this subject, students are expected to complete some homework during the week. Homework might include:
• Practising solo or group performance
• Completing composition tasks
• Completing theory exercises
• Research tasks
Head of Learning Area: Tim Jenkin
Queen Margaret College
Year 10 Physical Education Programme 2025
Level 5 of the New Zealand Curriculum
Year 4 of the Middle Years Programme International Baccalaureate
Unit Title
Fitness Trends
Invasion Games (Interdisciplinary Unit)
Cheerleading
Challenging Stereotypes
Striking and Fielding
* These assessment dates may be subject to slight variation
Course details
Term 1, Week 10
Term 2, Week 5
Term 2, Week 9
Term 3, Week 5
Term 4, Week 5
The Physical Education programme encourages students to participate in a variety of physical activities and allows the application of knowledge in both practical and written contexts. The students learn about:
• Training principles, basic anatomy and physiology and apply their learning while taking part in an investigation around the fitness trends in order to develop their own fitness video.
• What team strategy is and how these can be used in sporting contexts to gain a competitive advantage.
• Working collaboratively to create a movement composition with the use of props and a cheerleading routine
• Roles within sporting settings by taking on different individual responsibilities and leadership roles
• Health topics including sexuality education, mental health, and illegal drugs with presentations from outside agencies to support the learning.
Course Information
• In 2025 Year 10 Physical Education is a compulsory subject
• Each class has 4 Physical Education lessons and 2 Health lessons per 10 day timetable
• Correct uniform to be worn all term. Failure to do so will result in the following:
• 1st time a warning
• 2nd time a lunchtime detention
• 3rd time a Deans detention
Homework expectations
Your daughter should be learning at home for a total of at least 90 minutes four times per week, across all subjects. On occasion PE homework will include:
• Extra physical tasks
• Creation of routines
• Written tasks to support practical work
Head of Department: Aimee Francois
Queen Margaret College
Year 10 Product Design and DVC (Design and Visual Communication) 2025
Level 5 of the New Zealand Curriculum
Year 4 of the Middle Years Programme International Baccalaureate
Unit Title
Flat Pack Lighting (First half year)
Biomimicry: When Architecture Imitates Nature (Second half year)
Course Overview
Criteria A and B – Term 1 Week 9
Criteria C and D – Term 2 Week 7
Criteria A and B – Term 3 Week 6
Criteria C and D – Term 4 Week 6
This course offers students the opportunity to explore existing design solutions, refine their design practice, and enhance their design thinking within the fields of graphic, spatial, and product design.
In the first unit, students engage in research, design, development, and creation of a flat-pack, laser-cut lighting solution that addresses a real-world issue or demand.
The second unit emphasises the advanced development and presentation of design concepts, incorporating hand-drawn techniques alongside furthering understanding of computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) tools. Students apply these skills to produce a physical scale model (at 1:100). Areas of exploration may include architectural design, engineering, and graphic design.
Course Details
• The course is an option subject, and each class has 4 lessons per 10-day timetable.
• Each class will rotate through two units over the year
• Assessment is via the MYP Design Assessment criteria
• There is a $30+gst consumables fee for Technology. This will be charged to your school account.
Students may also wish to participate in extra outside the classroom STEAM challenges such as the ePRO8 Team. Technology competition, Robocup, and Codeclub. Details will be published as opportunities become available during the year.
Assessment Criterion: Design MYP
Over the course of the year students will be assessed according to the following criteria. There are 4 criteria in MYP Design – all based on the Design Cycle.
Criterion A Inquiring and analysing
Criterion B Developing ideas
Criterion C Creating the solution
Criterion D Evaluating
Maximum 8
Maximum 8
Maximum 8
Maximum 8
Each of these criteria will be assessed once in each of the unit topics (ie twice in the year). Students will be given specific assessment schedules for these criteria at the start of each unit.
QMC Technology Safety Rules:
Student safety and wellbeing is paramount at QMC. Accordingly, no student is allowed to operate any equipment without teacher supervision and safety instruction. When using specialist equipment there are some rules to be followed:
• Tie hair back.
• No blazers on.
• Aprons to be worn.
• Safety eye-goggles on if required.
• Covered shoes / PE shoes are acceptable.
• Protective gloves to be worn if needed.
• Persons operating equipment are to be given a clear working space around them. No crowding, talking to or distracting persons operating equipment.
• Students will be supervised always by a teacher if hazardous equipment is being operated.
• Turn equipment off at the wall and unplug from the wall when finished.
• Spaces used must be vacuumed / swept clean for the next person.
Homework expectations
At Year 10, students should be learning at home for a total of at least 90 minutes per weeknight across all subjects and separate to this is the Kaupapa Hapori Community Project during Terms 2 and 3. To achieve at a high level in Design, students are expected to complete some homework during the week.
Homework might include:
• Learning new software such as CAD drawing software (Computer Aided Design).
• Carrying out individual project - written, research or design sketching / digital manipulation tasks.
• Attending lunchtime workshops to complete any practical work or to access extra help with practical work.
• Completing a self-evaluation reflection at the end of each unit that enables the student to assess their projects.
• Catching up with work not completed during class time.
Head of Learning Area: Richard Knuckey
Year 10
Queen Margaret College
Religious Education Programme 2025
Level 5 of the New Zealand Curriculum
Year 4 of the Middle Years Programme International Baccalaureate Unit
Unit 1
Dharmic Religions
Unit 2
Term 2 Week 10
Religious expressions through visual art N/A
Course details
The aim of R.E. in Y10 is to introduce the Dharmic faiths of Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism, focusing on concepts of dharma, karma and samsara. This leads on to an exploration of religious symbolism through mandalas and stained-glass imagery.
Course Information:
R.E. is compulsory for all Y10 students
Each class has 2 lessons per 10-day timetable cycle.
Students are assessed on 4 key skills:
• Knowing and Understanding
• Investigating
• Communicating
• Thinking Critically
Homework expectations
Your child should be learning at home for a total of at least 90 minutes per weeknight across all subjects and separate to this is the Community Project during Terms 2 and 3.
Completion of or extension of work done in class: reading, research, revision of material covered in class.
Head of Department: Deborah Wilson
Queen Margaret College
Year 10 Science Programme 2025
Level 5 of the New Zealand Curriculum
Year 4 of the Middle Years Programme International Baccalaureate
Unit Title
Science Matters
This topic assesses Criteria A, B and C
Microbes
This topic assesses Criteria D
Forces
This topic assesses Criteria B and C
Plastics and other Polymers
This topic assesses Criteria A and D
Ecology
This topic assesses ATL communication, research and thinking skills
Proposed
Test – Week 6, Term 1
Practical investigation – Weeks 7/8, Term 1
Research Task – Weeks 3/4, Term 2
Practical investigation – Week 1/2, Term 3
Test – Week 8, Term 3
Research Task –Week 9, Term 3 – Week 1, Term 4
Portfolio throughout the topic during Term 4
* these assessment dates may be subject to slight variation
Course details
The aim of the Year 10 Science programme is to allow students to see what it takes to become an effective Scientist and appreciate how Scientists work, whilst also preparing the students to continue science in the Senior School. Throughout the year, they develop their knowledge of science ideas and concepts as they explore the skills and knowledge used by different types of scientists, whilst also learning to communicate science ideas appropriately An important aspect of science is scientific methodology, and students develop their understanding of this by designing and carrying out investigations, and analysing and evaluating their results. They learn to independently research how Science affects us not only individually and locally but the Earth as a whole.
Course Information
• In 2025 Year 10 Science is a compulsory subject.
• Each class has 7 lessons per 10 day timetable
• Each class covers 5 units over the year
• Each unit topic will be approximately 6-8 weeks in length
• Students are assessed on 4 key skills. These are Knowledge and Understanding, Inquiring and Designing, Processing and Evaluating, and Reflecting on the Impacts of Science.
Homework expectations
Your daughter should be learning at home for a total of at least 90 minutes four times per week, across all subjects. To achieve at a high level in this subject, students are expected to complete some homework during the week.
Homework might include:
• Reading and researching science concepts studied in class
• Completion of assignments started in class
• Practising new skills learned in class
• Catching up on work missed due to absence
• Revising material covered in class in preparation for tests
Head of Department: Rebecca Hickey
Queen Margaret College
Year 10 Spanish Programme 2025
Levels 3 - 4 of the New Zealand Curriculum
Phases 2-3 of the Middle Years Programme International Baccalaureate Unit Title
‘My holidays’
‘My pastimes’
‘Daily life’
‘Future plans’
Course details
Proposed assessment date
In the final two weeks of each term, students will be assessed on the language skills they have developed throughout the unit. Listening, reading, writing, and speaking will each be assessed twice during the year.
The Year 10 course is designed to develop the four key skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing. Students consolidate their knowledge of the present tense and learn to talk about events in the past and future. The topics covered give them exposure to a variety of situations related to their personal experiences. They have regular conversation sessions in class time with our Spanish language assistant to help develop their speaking and listening skills. In addition, they engage in eLearning, using their laptops to record their work and to access various language learning resources. Students may study the following topics:
• My holidays
Tourist attractions and past holidays
• My pastimes
My hobbies and favourite music
• Daily life
Talking about your week and daily life
• Future plans
Talking about part-time work and future plans.
Course Information
• Year 10 Spanish is an option subject.
• Each class has 6 lessons per 10-day timetable.
Homework expectations
Students are expected to complete some homework during the week. Your daughter should be learning at home for a total of at least 90 minutes four times a week, across all subjects. The key to language learning is ‘little and often’.
Homework might include:
• Learning a number of words, verbs or phrases
• Reading and grammar exercises to do or a short paragraph to write.
• Before an assessment, students will be expected to revise their notes or to practise their spoken language.
• Revision of vocabulary learned in class with www.educationperfect.com
• Completion of assignments started in class
• Catching up on work missed due to absence.
• Researching on the internet.
Head of Department: Caroline Harding
Queen Margaret College
Year 10 Te Reo Māori Programme 2025
Levels 2-5 of the New Zealand National Curriculum
Phases 1-2 of the Middle Years Programme International Baccalaureate
Unit Title
Te huarere
Proposed assessment date
In the final two weeks of each term, students will be assessed on the language skills they have developed throughout the unit. Listening, reading, writing, and speaking will each be assessed twice during the year.
Course details
During the year, students will build on from year 9 Te Reo Māori and be introduced to more basic vocabulary and more slightly complex sentence structures to describe the weather in difference places across Aotearoa and draw conclusions, describe a school timetable and give opinions, describe physical appearances of a pet, as well as introduce themselves and extended family members. An understanding of tikanga Māori will also be a key part of the course. In class, students are encouraged to speak te reo Māori and work towards improving the other key skills of reading, writing and listening. In addition, they engage in e-learning, using their laptops to work on OneNote and to access various language learning resources. Students will study the following topics:
- Te huarere
o Numbers from 0-30
o Weather
o Days of the week
o Place names
o Verbs
o Adjectives
- Ko tōku kura
o Telling the time
o School subjects
o Likes and dislikes
o Verbs
- Ko au
o Family members
o Pets
o Months
o Colours
o Body parts
o Clothing
o Adjectives
- Poi
o Commands
Directions
Poi song
Course Information:
• In 2025 Year 10 te reo Māori is an option subject.
• Each class has 6 lessons per 10-day timetable for the whole year.
Homework expectations
Students are expected to complete some homework during the week. Your daughter should be learning at home for a total of at least 90 minutes four times a week, across all subjects. The key to language learning is ‘little and often’.
Homework might include:
• Learning a number of words, verbs or phrases
• Learning prayers (karakia), songs (waiata) and proverbs (whakatauki)
• Reading and grammar exercises or a short paragraph to write
• Watching te reo Māori language programmes on Māori Television
• Before an assessment, students will be expected to revise their notes or to practise their spoken te reo Māori
• Revision of vocabulary learned in class with www.educationperfect.com, www.linguascope.com and Tipu
• Catching up on work missed due to absence
Head of Department: Caroline Harding
Theatre form
Page to stage
Devising
Techniques
Course details
Queen Margaret College
Year 10 Theatre Programme 2025
Level 5 of the New Zealand Curriculum
Middle Years Programme International Baccalaureate
Unit Title Proposed assessment date
Term 1, Week 9
Term 2, Week 6
Term 3, Week 4
Term 4, Week 2
The aim of the Year 10 Drama course is to introduce some key concepts, performance skills, production knowledge and terminology in a practical environment. There is a focus on verbal and non-verbal skills along with small group collaborative skills, the development of independent work skills as a support to other curricular areas. Students will learn how to develop performance skills to create effect, study a specific theatre form and further their ability to create a strong narrative through the use of drama conventions and elements. Some of their work will be shown in a performance for parents in mid Term 4. The year concludes with a study of Naturalism through both origins and application in performance.
Course Information
• Each class has 4 lessons per 10 day timetable for the whole year.
• The programme will cover 4 topics over the course of the year.
Homework expectations
Your child should be learning at home for a total of at least 90 minutes per weeknight across all subjects and separate to this is the Community Project during Terms 2 and 3. Written reflections will generally be completed in class. However, it is vital that when approaching performance assessment that homework time is used to learn lines and rehearse any material needed
Teacher in Charge of Theatre: Benjamin Gibson
Queen Margaret College
Year 10 Visual Arts 2025
Level 5 of the New Zealand Curriculum
Year 4 of the Middle Years Programme International
Unit Titles and Skills Taught
Term 1 and 2
Meet the Heroes – Investigation and Collage
• Explore tools, materials and basic collage techniques
Authentic Me - Expressionist Painting
• Colour theory
• Acrylic Paint techniques
Term 3 and 4
Behind the Scenes – Cultural Mask Sculpture
• Thinking conceptually
• Exploring clay media in 3D
Who am I – Photography portrait
• Learning Photographic conventions
• Exploring lens-based art forms
All Units
• Ongoing workbook exploration which includes, notes, sketches, plans, etc.
• Evaluation of own and other students’ artworks using art terms
• Discussion of artist models and artworks using appropriate art terminology
Course Information
• In 2025 Year 10 Art is an optional subject.
• Each class has 4 lessons per 10 day timetable.
Baccalaureate
Proposed assessment date
Summative assessment at end of Term 2 and Term 3
• Each class will rotate through three different unit topics over the year.
• Students are assessed on 4 key skills. These are Knowing and Understanding, Developing Skills, Thinking Creatively, and Responding
• There is a consumables fee of $100 which will be charged to the student’s account.
• Students in this course have the option to purchase the Adobe Creative Cloud suite for approx. $42. This gives them a one year subscription to industry standard software such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. This will be installed at school and charged to students' school accounts.
Course details
The aim of this course is for students to develop an enthusiasm for and a confidence in art making, building on the skills acquired in each successive year. The Year 10 Visual Arts course is a practical course of study that continues the students’ study of the Year 5 MYP framework. The artistic fundamentals that students develop form a foundation on which to build further skills and understanding of the MYP Arts Curriculum. They will be encouraged and enabled to:
• create and present art
• develop skills specific to the discipline
• engage in a process of creative exploration and (self-)discovery
• make purposeful connections between investigation and practice
• understand the relationship between art and its contexts
• respond to and reflect on art
• deepen their understanding of the world.
Homework expectations
Your child should be learning at home for a total of at least 90 minutes per weeknight across all subjects and separate to this is the Community Project during Terms 2 and 3. To achieve at a high level in this subject, students are expected to complete some work outside of class time. This work may include:
• Completion of assignments already worked on in class
• Catching up on work missed due to absence
• Researching on the internet
• Completing a formative or summative reflection sheet that enables the student to assess her own projects
Teacher in Charge of Visual Arts: Anna Faulknor