Stage 2 (Years 3 & 4): Topic 2: The Earth's environment
Unit 1: Planet Earth – An Introduction
Content focus:
Students are introduced to planet earth. This study forms the basis of a subsequent focus on the climate, natural vegetation and native animals of places in Australia and elsewhere. In completing this unit, students develop skills in acquiring, processing and communicating geographical information. |
Geographical concepts:
- Place: the significance of places and what they are like. For example: places students live in and belong to and why they are important.
- Space: the significance of location and spatial distribution, and ways people organise and manage the spaces that we live in. For example: location of a place in relation to other familiar places.
- Environment: the significance of the environment in human life, and the important interrelationships between humans and the environment. For example, how and why places should be looked after.
- Interconnection: no object of geographical study can be viewed in isolation.
For example: local and global links people have with places and the special connection Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples maintain with Country/Place.
- Scale: the way that geographical phenomena and problems can be examined at different spatial levels. For example: various scales by which places can be defined such as local suburbs, towns and large cities.
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Syllabus content area:
Different environments
- Students investigate the natural characteristics of Australia and a country in Asia.
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Key inquiry questions:
- What are the key natural features of planet earth?
- What are the processes producing the earth’s distinct landforms and environments?
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Outcomes:
A student:
- identifies and describes key natural features and characteristics of places and environments
- explains, in simple terms, the processes responsible for the formation of natural features and environments
- acquires and communicates geographical information using geographical tools for inquiry.
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Inquiry skills:
Acquiring geographical information
Processing geographical information
- represent data using maps and diagrams
- draw conclusions based on interpretation of geographical information
Communicating geographically
- present findings in a range of communication forms
- reflect on their learning and suggest responses to their findings.
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Geographical tools:
Maps
- large-scale maps, world map, globe
Spatial technologies
Visual representations
- photographs, illustrations, story books, multimedia and web-based tools.
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>> Download Planet Earth – An Introduction cover sheet
