Year+9



**//INTRODUCTION, EXCURSIONS AND ASSESSMENT://** The 2012 Year 9 Agriculture will study the Board of Studies’ 200 hour Stage 5 Course and be a combination of practical work, field trips, theory and research lessons. It is a course that uses a variety of learning modes and methods, including the use of digital media and laptops, in accordance with the Knox Learning Policy. This Course should be viewed as a two year course spread of Years 9 & 10. Two field trips are planned for 2012. The first utilises the resources of Camden Agricultural and Education Centre, which is a joint venture by N.S.W. Agriculture and The Department of Education and Training, on the historic site of John and Elizabeth Macarthur’s original farm. This field day will be held in Term 1. The second field trip is a FOUR DAY venture to the north west of the state, based near Gunnedah. This will involve coach travel, and visiting some large scale grain, cotton and cattle production units, as well as the “Ag-Quip Field Day”. This trip is organised for Term 3. Both trips are key parts to achieving the course outcomes, and are considered a mandatory part of this year’s studies. Achievement will be recorded formally by the completion of FOUR Assessment Tasks. The details of these tasks, along with examples of previous year’s tasks (where relevant), will be made available by your class teacher. Hard copies of the task details are also enclosed in this booklet. An outline of the four tasks is provided below:
 * Task 1 (Term 1, Week 8): Agriculture Report
 * Task 2 (Term 2, Week 4): Semester One Exam.
 * Task 3 (Term 3, Week 9): Poultry Presentation.
 * Task 4 (Term 4, Week 4): Semester Two Exam

In 2012 the study of Agriculture at Knox in Year 9 will include a combination of animal and plant enterprises, each of which will include practical, research and theory lessons. Over the year FOUR units are studied in depth: Each student is responsible for completing and storing work in a Portfolio. Course work forms part of the formal assessment and is submitted at the end of each unit, as per the Assessment Outline. Course work is to be submitted to the class teacher in a hard (paper) form. Should students or parents have any questions, help should be sought immediately from the class teacher or subsequently from the Head of Agriculture. Class Teacher and Head of Agriculture: Mr. I. Bryson 94870124. brysoni@knox.nsw.edu.au
 * Introduction to Australian Agriculture
 * Prime Lamb Production
 * Poultry Production
 * Viticulture