Geography 7-10 / Year 10 / Knowledge and understanding / Environmental change and management

Curriculum content descriptions

the human-induced changes that challenge the sustainability of places and environments (AC9HG10K01)

Elaborations
  • identifying tensions between the conflicting perspectives of individuals, communities and governments on the use of sustainable practices
  • explaining the nature of human-induced environmental changes (for example, water and atmospheric pollution; loss of biodiversity; degradation of land and aquatic environments) and the challenge they pose for sustainability
  • discussing the concept of sustainability in relation to environmental functions and identifying tensions between the conflicting perspectives of communities, businesses and government
General capabilities
  • Ethical understanding Ethical understanding
Cross-curriculum priorities
ScOT terms

Environmental sustainability,  Biodiversity,  Climate change,  Human impact,  Pollution

Course

Digital stories of the land

This is website that presents a collection of 11 digital stories about the connection people have with their surroundings, in particular the land. Topics include the Gippsland bushfires, growing up in rural Victoria, marrying into a farming family, and Indigenous connection to Country. Teacher discretion is advised for ...

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Our role in ocean acidification

This is a colour video clip of marine scientist Abby Smith discussing the effects of increased levels of carbon dioxide on marine animals. Smith is a teacher and researcher at the University of Otago, New Zealand.

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Ocean acidification

This is a colour video clip of marine scientist Abby Smith discussing the process of ocean acidification and the effects on marine animals. Smith is a teacher and researcher at the University of Otago, New Zealand. The clip also shows some marine animals, and some activities that have led to ocean acidification including ...

Video

Studying bryozoans

This is a colour video clip of marine scientist Abby Smith discussing her interest in bryozoans. The clip shows Smith, a researcher at the University of Otago in New Zealand, being interviewed. The clip also shows some images of bryozoans.

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Bryozoans' role in the ecosystem

This is a colour video clip of marine scientist Associate Professor Abby Smith discussing the role bryozoans play in marine ecosystems. The clip shows Abby Smith, a teacher and researcher at the University of Otago, New Zealand, being interviewed. The clip also shows underwater photos of bryozoans, fish and corals.

Image

Bryozoan skeletons in acidic solution

This is a colour photograph of two tubes, each containing bryozoan skeletons in acidic solution. The photograph depicts a scientific experiment investigating the effect of different pH levels on bryozoan skeletons. (Classification - Phylum: Bryozoa)

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A Pain in the Guts: Analysing Gut Contents

In this activity, students investigate the impact of plastics on living things as they explore and analyse the replicated gut contents of five animals.

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Digital stories

The three short stories in this resource look at Australian bread-making in 3 different eras – pre-colonial, colonial and near-future. They explore how environmental world views and practices have differed across time.

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Introduction to Ocean Acidification

In this series of activities students investigate how carbon dioxide affects the pH of water, and how carbon dioxide may affect fish and other marine species. They then brainstorm changes that can be made to reduce human impact on reefs, research carbon capture and storage technology, and design a device to remove carbon ...

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Sample Teaching and Learning Outline: Humanities and Social Sciences Year 10

Find ideas and relevant links for teaching Year 10 History, Geography, Civics and Citizenship and Economics in this resource.

Downloadable

Visualising water quality

This lesson sequence provides a rich opportunity to discuss sustainable water management issues, particularly those related to a local catchment. Students gather and map data which allows them to answer questions and add simple environmental data such as water quality parameters to maps using Google Maps.

Online

Creating an Indigenous plant-use garden: plant list

For thousands of years, First Nations peoples across Australia have been growing and cultivating plants. Plants are grown for many different purposes, including food, tools, medicine, shelter, clothing, hunting, carrying, water craft, ceremony and land management. Everything they needed to survive is provided by the bush. ...

Online

Creating an Indigenous plant-use garden: harvesting

The satisfaction of eating straight from the garden is one of life’s best learning experiences, however we need to be respectful and mindful to only harvest what we need to allow the plant to continue to thrive for generations to come. This activity involves the assessment and mapping of local environments to create a successful ...

Online

Creating an Indigenous plant-use garden: resources from the bush

For thousands of years, First Nations peoples across Australia have been using plants for many different purposes. Plants are used for food, fibre, shelter, medicine, tools and utensils, hunting, music and ceremony. Everything they needed to survive comes from the land. Outcomes of this learning activity are for learners ...

Online

Creating an Indigenous plant-use garden: planting

The outcomes of this learning activity are for children to: follow instructions and a planting plan; understand the steps involved in planting out and maintaining a successful Indigenous plant-use garden enjoy being active and productive outdoors and build their social and teamwork skills; physically be involved in the ...

Online

Catchment management: what’s in a drop?

Water is a precious resource, yet water is also wasted every day. This activity investigates water consumption and how you can reduce the amount of water wasted. OUTCOMES of this learning activity are for students to: understand the urban water cycle; learn different ways to reduce water usage; discover how much water is ...

Online

Catchment management: water sustainability

Water is an important resource, and is required by all living species to survive. Water is also important for many industries and businesses. This activity investigates the different land uses over time across your local catchment. OUTCOMES are for children to: understand the natural and urban water cycle; learn about the ...

Video

Magical Land of Oz: Join the Numbat Taskforce!

Numbats are native Australian marsupials that can be found in Western Australia and South Australia. Unfortunately, their numbers are declining rapidly. What are the causes? What can we do to combat this and protect these unique Australian animals? Find out what one community group, the Numbat Taskforce, is doing to help ...

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Understanding the causes of climate change

Did you know that climate change is not a recent phenomenon? In the past, natural events led to changes in the climate. Although natural events still affect climate, they're not enough to explain the big changes we've been seeing in the last 150 years. What changes on earth can account for such dramatic changes to our climate? ...

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Foreign Correspondent: The Mekong: A damming example

The government of Laos has plans for many revenue-raising dams along the Mekong River. Find out about a dam, the Nam Theun 2, which was completed in 2010 and lies across the Nam Theun river in the Nakai Plateau. This clip from the same year asks if the dam could be the flagship for others to be built along the Mekong. Discover ...