Australian Curriculum Geography

Consider the Australian Curriculum Geography concepts, skills & scope & sequence for P – 7 ;

Consider the process of geographical inquiry;

Engage in the process of planning & writing your school’s Geography Learning Area Overview

Network, share ideas and moments of brilliance!

Goals for this session……

‘Geography is a living topic discipline….not just the stuff of the everyday, such as shop locations, the countryside & parking issues;

What is Geography?

…… is also the things that have wider regional, national & global impacts.’

Geography…..

Geography examines topical matters & concerns to provide insight into our own & the wider world….

Geography has topicality….

Why is Geography important?

‘Geography helps us makesense of the planet we live onand discover all we can to understand our ‘home’….

Matthews et al. (2009)

Every day Geographies…..foster children’s curiosity and interest in the world;put their everyday geographies in context and to share them.

Everyday geographies are about how we use the environment, our connections with people and places, the goods we consume and the decisions we make about how we go about our everyday life.

Activity : Record how much water you think it takes to make your morning latte?http://www.wwf.org.au/our_work/people_and_the_environment/human_footprint/

Geography ….Informs their knowledge & use of our local surroundings;Fosters what places mean to them – sense of placeExtends children’s knowledge / understanding of the wider world;Develops their ‘World Knowledge’ – where places are;Challenges stereotypes, partiality and bias about others….

Activity – Let’s test your ‘World Knowledge’!http://www.jetpunk.com/quizzes/how-many-countries-can-you-name.phphttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4snT568DVYhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r43yCiKlbCo

World Knowledge …..

Fieldwork…Develops students spatial awareness through map work, using GIS (Global Information Systems) and other visual sources;Engages students locally and further afield;Allows students to observe geographical features, patterns & relationships on the ground & in a ‘real life’, relevant way.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCaQ-O04ym4

And Fieldwork ~

Geography…Develops students’ understanding of what environments & places are like, why they are like that & why & how they are changing;Develops their appreciation of the Earth’s environments andHelps them recognise the ways people treat the Earth & how environmental decisions are made & their impact.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QD2WTK94c1Uhttp://earthengine.google.org/#intro/LasVegashttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QD2WTK94c1U

Environmental Awareness….

Geography …Encourages students to think about their own decisions, how these affect their lives and the lives of others – a sense of informed concern;Helps them understand why sustainable approaches are important – a sense of personal responsibility for the Earth, locally and more widely.http://worldwildlife.org/videos/how-your-t-shirt-can-make-a-differencehttp://worldwildlife.org/videos/change-the-way-you-think-about-your-laptophttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28hZkIHTnnAhttp://www.showusyourclips.com/change-the-way-you-think-about-food-a-wwf-animated-short/http://www.wwf.org.au/what_you_can_do/change_the_way_you_live/sustainable_living/

And Sustainability Awareness….

Geography…Develops students’ understanding of what environments & places are like, why they are like that & why & how they are changing;Develops their appreciation of the Earth’s environments andHelps them recognise the ways people treat the Earth & how environmental decisions are made & their impact.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QD2WTK94c1Uhttp://earthengine.google.org/#intro/LasVegashttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QD2WTK94c1U

Environmental Awareness….

Australian Curriculum -Geography

Rationale for Teaching Geography

Activity : 10 minutesGoals :1.To compare the Rationale for the Australian Curriculum History & the Rationale for Geography.2.Record observations in a Venn diagram.3.Discuss observations

Comparing Rationales for Teaching History &

Geography

• Inquiry based• 2 integrated strands• Local, national, global

contexts• Focus Inquiry Questions• Skills based• Folio of Evidence• Use of a range of ICTs• Cross curriculum priorities• General capabilities• Critical Thinking skills• Relevant learning

History Geography

Fieldwork

Analysis of data

Analysis of primary & secondary sources from the past.

Analysis of primary sources e.g maps, photographs

Let’s look at

s

‘The key geographical concepts are developed through investigations enabled by skills…..’

Catling, S (2013)

Geographical Skills

Skills ComparedHistoryChronology, terms & conceptsHistorical questions & research - Analysis & use of primary & secondary sourcesPerspectives & interpretationsICT skillsExplanation & communication

GeographyoFormulate a question & research planoRecording & data representation skills.oInterpret & develop maps, tables, photographs, satellite images, diagrams, graphs & other data.oUse a variety of spatial technologies – ICT skillsoCommunicate using geographical vocabulary.

Prep to Year 2Local context1.Focus ?2.Environmental Characteristics?3.Human Characteristics?Years 3 & 4National context1.Focus?2.Environmental Characteristics?3.Human Characteristics?Years 5 & 6Global context1.Focus?2.Environmental Characteristics?3.Human Characteristics?

Australian Curriculum Geography

Scope & Sequence -A Thematic Approach

Spend 10 minutes reviewing the Geographical Knowledge & Understanding & Geographical Inquiry & Skills Scope & Sequences.Comment / discuss observations.

Australian CurriculumGeography Scope &

Sequence

An Inquiry Model for Geography

Observing, questioning and planning

Collecting, recording, evaluating and representing

Interpreting, analysing and concluding

Communicating

Reflecting & responding

Geographical Inquiry Process

Identifying an issue or problem & developing geographical questions to investigate the issue or find an answer to the problem.

Collecting information from primary & secondary sources, recording the information & evaluating it for reliability & bias.

Making sense of information gathered, identifying order, diversity, trend, patterns, anomalies, generalisations & cause/ effect relationships. Interpret results of this analysis & develop conclusions.

Using combinations of methods – written, audio, graphical, visual & mapping – appropriate to the subject matter, purpose & audience.

Reflecting on the findings of the investigation & evaluating what has been learned against the criteria of environmental sustainability, economic costs & benefits and social justice.

Using ICT in History & Geography

HistoryResearchPresenting dataAccessing primary sourcesMulti-modal presentations

GeographySpatial Technologies e.g:GIS - Geographic Information SystemsGPS - Global Positioning SystemsGoogle MapsGoogle EarthAnalysis of dataResearchMulti-modal presentations

Can be purchased from AGTA website & local book

distributors.

AGTA – Australian Geography Teachers’ Association website.

Contour Education website. ‘Keys to Geography – Essential Skills & Tools’

– AGTA (2011) Macmillan ‘Keys to Fieldwork – Essential Skills & Tools’

– AGTA (2008) Macmillan Your local area! QSA website

Other Geography Resources…

(for teachers of Geography)

Six Characteristics of Good Geography Teaching

That geography teaching and children’s learning is purposeful. 1.That geographical topics are frequently problem, puzzle, issue or topically based. 2.That geographical learning is structured through inquiry. 3.That children work co-operatively in their geographical investigations. 4.That geographical inquiries involve children’s active engagement with the world. 5.That children are stimulated by using good quality resources.

Connect History with Geography where ever it fits!!!