1. L INKS TO THE GENERAL CAPABILITIES IN THE A USTRALIAN C URRICULUM Core units: Key understandings Years 5–6 Illustration 1: Pointers to understanding

2. How does geography contribute to the general capabilities in the Australian Curriculum? How can primary teachers support the linkages?

3. General capabilities in the Australian Curriculum Literacy Numeracy Competence in ICT Critical and creative thinking Ethical behaviour Personal and social competence Intercultural understanding

4. Literacy Listening, viewing, reading, writing, speaking are all developed throughout geography Students create print, visual and digital materials and evaluate them Maps, diagrams, photographs and images are interpreted and explained in words

5. Numeracy Counting and measuring in fieldwork Reading instruments (weather, GPS) Constructing and interpreting tables and graphs Calculating and interpreting statistics Map scales, grids, distance, area

6. Competence in ICT Investigating, creating and communicating ideas and information using ICT Exploring the effects of ICT on places, people’s jobs and lives Understanding geographical changes caused by technology

7. Critical and creative thinking Thinking broadly and deeply, using reason and imagination Testing explanations Analysing arguments Thinking about questions and issues without straightforward answers

8. Ethical behaviour Students need to understand and act in accordance with ethical principles Investigating geographical issues using the criteria of environmental sustainability, economic viability and social justice raises ethical questions Students consider responsibilities to protect other forms of life in the environment

9. Personal and social competence Understanding and managing their lives, work, relationships and learning Inquiry based learning develops self- management Working towards becoming independent learners

10. Intercultural understanding Students need to value their own culture and those of others Geography challenges stereotyped views of other places and peoples Studies of other places leads to recognition of similarities and differences of cultures and beliefs, and the validity of these