Australian Geography Unit

We’re rather excited to be ‘trekking around’ Australia with our Australian Geography Unit. Learning more about our nation and deepen our appreciation of this huge and diverse land we are blessed to live in. Over the past decade and a half we’ve embarked upon many unit studies, previously though our unit studies have centered around history, this time we’re focusing our studies from a geographical perspective.

I’m sharing my plans with you in the hope that you may inspired to also explore Australia. I designed these plans to be a ‘template,’ wishing to re-use them for travelling to other continents/countries/states, only needing to give the plans a minor/localised tweaking.

We will begin our studies with an overview of our nation and then travel individually to each state and territory. My initial intention when I first began planning was to spend two weeks on the nation and each of the states and territories, however as my plans grew I’ve realised that is an insufficient time to spend trekking about, so the timeline is open.

I’m confident the chances of us covering all of my plans are not high, that’s okay, it’s more about presenting ideas and trails and being semi-prepared to travel the roads of interest. Mostly I want our children to have a comprehension of what an incredibly beautiful and varied country they are privileged to live in.

 

*Booklist

I am still writing an indepth booklist and will share it as soon as complete.

*Cultural

I am still writing more detailed plans for this sub-topic and will share shortly:

• First Peoples
• Immigrants 
• Everyday Australians

Plan is to contact various blogging/instagram buddies around Australia asking if their children can provide basic information of their lifestyles and localities and pictures.

 

Resource Suggestions

• Australian Book Traveller
• Pinterest Unit Study Australia
• Our Worldwide Classroom Free Printables
• Suzie’s Home Education Ideas Australian Unit
• Pinterest Australian Study
• Trek n Trails Australian Geography
• Kids World Travel Guide Australia
• Enchanted Learning Australia
• Australian Unit Study
• Oz Curriculum
• Youtubes: search

 

Presentation

Ways in which the children may present their research, other presentations are of course also most welcome .

• Fact Sheets
• Notebooking Pages
• Posters
• Power Point Presentation

 

Maps

Mapping activities. Mega maps in particular have been rather popular previously.

• Purchase wall map of Australia.
• Mega Maps: Individual maps on the following: fill in physical & political details

Australia

States & Territories

• Purchase topographic map of our area

Map our property

• Suggested Activity

Geocaching

National/States & Territories

Research the following and fill in fact sheets, create Notebooking Pages or colour.

• National & State/Territory Facts

Our Worldwide Classroom Free Printables

Suzie’s Home Education Ideas

• National Anthem
• National, Indigenous & State/Territory Flags

Flag Protocols – Older children

National Flag – Colour

Indigenous Flag – Colour

State/Territory Flags – Colour

State/Territory Flags Colour

• State/Territory Emblems
• National & State/Territory Coat of Arms

Australian Coat of Arms – Colouring

Northern Territory Coat of Arms Fact Sheet and Activities

• National & State/Territory Birds

State/Territory Bird Colouring

• National & State/Territory Animals

Australian State Animals Colouring

• National & State/Territory Flowers

State/Territory Flowers Colouring

Floral Emblems of Australia Education Kit

• National & State/Territory Holidays/Special Days

 

Nature Study

Research any of the following of your choice, watch videos, then fill in fact sheets, create Notebooking Pages or colour. Read books from booklist.

• Australian Animals
• Flora and Fauna
• Australian Trees

Australian Geographic Videos

Educational Videos About Australia

• Suggest Activity

Nature Walks/Journaling

Science 

The following are suggested areas of study; research topics of your interest. Read, watch youtubes etc, then fill in fact sheets or create Notebooking Pages. Read books from booklist.

• Inventions
• Questions explore – ie Why won’t boomerangs come back?

5 Aussie Science Video Channels

• Read

Dr. Karl’s collection of great Australian facts & firsts

 

Biomes

Research briefly each of the following Australian biomes/ecosystems, watch videos, fill in fact sheets or create Notebooking Pages. Read books from booklist.

• Coastal/Beach
• Rainforest
• Swamps/Wetlands
• Outback
• Desert
• Mountains
• Plains
• Great Barrier Reef
• Islands

Gulliver Media Videos

Google for youtubes

Geoscience Australia Classroom Resources

Fisheries Research & Development for Kids

Natural Disasters

Research briefly each of the following Australian natural disasters, watch videos, narrate orally. Read books from booklist.

• Floods
• Fire
• Drought
• Cyclones
• Landslides

Google for youtubes

Geoscience Australia Classroom Resources

 

Culture: General

The following are suggested areas of study; research a couple of topics that interest you. Fill in fact sheets or create Notebooking Pages. Read books from booklist.

• Food

Bake some national favourites such as; pavlova, lamingtons, meat pies, Anzac biscuits

• Sport
• Leisure
• Celebrations
• Festivals
• Film
• Literature
• Performing Arts

Government – Teenagers

Watch a selection of videos then orally narrate.

• Basic Facts; Federal and State

Parliamentary Education Office

Civics and Citizenship Education

 

Economics – Teenagers

Research briefly, fill in fact sheets or create Notebooking Pages, watch videos.

• Industries
• Resources

Natural Resources

 

Literature

Enjoy the following and booklist to follow.

• Short Stories – Teenagers

Henry Lawson 

Other Australian Short Story Authors

• Poetry

John O’Brien

AB Patterson

Other Australian poets

Picture Study

Study a picture a day; observe, recall

• Aboriginal Artists
• Australian Artists

 

Art/Craft

• Wattle Painting with Pom Poms
• Lots of Ideas!
• Aboriginal Art
• Colouring pages
• Youtubes & Pinterest: search for ideas

 

Movies

• 30 Movies to Learn About Australia
• Youtubes & Pinterest: search for titles