1. Australian Curriculum Geography

2. Goals for this session……
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!

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

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

5. Geography has topicality….
Geography examines topical matters & concerns to provide insight into our own & the wider world….
Local
Natural disasters
Environmental issues
Town Planning issues
Provision of services
National
Effect of Government decisions
Carbon impacts & environmental issues
Industry & employment
Migration
Global
Global warming
World poverty
International trade
Natural Resources
Refugees
Natural Disasters

6. Why is Geography important?
‘Geography helps us make
sense of the planet we live on
and discover all we can to
understand our ‘home’….
Matthews et al. (2009)

7. 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?

8. World Knowledge ….. Geography ….
Informs their knowledge & use of our local surroundings;
Fosters what places mean to them – sense of place
Extends 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’!

9. And Fieldwork ~ 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.

10. Environmental 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 and
Helps them recognise the ways people treat the Earth & how environmental decisions are made & their impact.

11. And Sustainability 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.

12. Environmental 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 and
Helps them recognise the ways people treat the Earth & how environmental decisions are made & their impact.

13. Rationale for Teaching Geography
Australian Curriculum -Geography

14. Comparing Rationales for Teaching History & Geography
Activity : 10 minutes
Goals :
To compare the Rationale for the Australian Curriculum History & the Rationale for Geography.
Record observations in a Venn diagram.
Discuss observations

15. 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
Analysis of primary & secondary sources from the past.
Analysis of primary sources
e.g maps, photographs
Analysis of data
Fieldwork

16. Let’s look at

17. s

19. Geographical Skills
‘The key geographical concepts are developed through investigations enabled by skills…..’
Catling, S (2013)

20. Skills Compared History Geography Chronology, terms & concepts
Historical questions & research -
Analysis & use of primary & secondary sources
Perspectives & interpretations
ICT skills
Explanation & communication
Geography
Formulate a question & research plan
Recording & data representation skills.
Interpret & develop maps, tables, photographs, satellite images, diagrams, graphs & other data.
Use a variety of spatial technologies – ICT skills
Communicate using geographical vocabulary.

21. Australian Curriculum Geography Scope & Sequence -A Thematic Approach
Prep to Year 2
Local context
Focus ?
Environmental Characteristics?
Human Characteristics?
Years 3 & 4
National context
Focus?
Years 5 & 6
Global context

22. Australian Curriculum Geography Scope & Sequence
Spend 10 minutes reviewing the Geographical Knowledge & Understanding & Geographical Inquiry & Skills Scope & Sequences.
Comment / discuss observations.

23. An Inquiry Model for Geography

24. 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.
Observing, questioning and planning
Collecting, recording, evaluating and representing
Interpreting, analysing and concluding
Communicating
Reflecting & responding

26. Using ICT in History & Geography
Research
Presenting data
Accessing primary sources
Multi-modal presentations
Geography
Spatial Technologies e.g:
GIS - Geographic Information Systems
GPS - Global Positioning Systems
Google Maps
Google Earth
Analysis of data
Research
Multi-modal presentations

28. Can be purchased from AGTA website & local book distributors.

29. Other Geography Resources… (for teachers of Geography)
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

30. Six Characteristics of Good Geography Teaching
That geography teaching and children’s learning is purposeful.
That geographical topics are frequently problem, puzzle, issue or topically based.
That geographical learning is structured through inquiry.
That children work co-operatively in their geographical investigations.
That geographical inquiries involve children’s active engagement with the world.
That children are stimulated by using good quality resources.

31. Connect History with Geography where ever it fits!!!