Geography 7-10 / Year 7 / Skills / Questioning and researching using geographical methods

Curriculum content descriptions

collect, organise and represent data and information from primary research methods, including fieldwork and secondary research materials, using geospatial technologies and digital tools as appropriate (AC9HG7S02)

Elaborations
  • identifying appropriate primary research methods, including fieldwork, and using specialised digital tools to collect original materials; for example, interview and survey data, photographs of streetscapes, annotated field sketches, diagrams and statistics related to liveability
  • collecting relevant secondary research materials, such as print and online publications, photographs and images, using advanced search functions; for example, “allintitle: community opinion on water scarcity in Australia” or “Australia’s most liveable city”
  • representing relevant data and information in appropriate formats to combine ideas; for example, applying primary research to the design of a questionnaire or survey on what is meant by liveability, with results presented in a table or graph
  • representing spatial distribution of different types of geographical phenomena by constructing appropriate maps at different scales that conform to cartographic conventions, for example using computer mapping to show the spatial distribution of impacts of hydrological hazards on environments
General capabilities
  • Critical and creative thinking Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Literacy Literacy
ScOT terms

Fieldwork,  Data representation,  Maps (Geographic location),  Geographical information systems,  Data collection

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.

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Home water use audit

In this activity, students conduct a home water audit to estimate how much water their family uses and how to reduce their water waste.

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School water audit (Year 7)

In this lesson sequence, students conduct a school water audit and devise an evidence-based action plan to reduce water wastage in the school. They then write a report to the school environment committee recommending three actions that the committee could take to reduce water use in the school.

Downloadable

Explaining our catchment

In this lesson sequence students use conceptual diagrams to identify features and relationships between features in the local waterway. Students create a conceptual diagram, using a hypothetical waterway from 'The story of a river'. They then create a digital conceptual diagram online using data collected from their local ...

Video

Photo sketch

This video demonstrates how to draw a photo sketch (also commonly referred to as a line drawing) used to identify key geographical features and summarise these for future reference.

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Daily maximum temperature extremes graphs

This resource is a Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) web page that provides graphs that show the percentage area of the selected state or territory and the percentage area of Australia that experienced extremely hot, cold or wet conditions on each day of the month selected. Graphs on this page are available for the previous seven ...

Interactive

Waste and materials – sustainability action process (Years 7–10)

This resource guides students through an extended school-based or local investigation focussed on waste and materials using the five-step sustainability action process. The resource supports the investigation of a real-world issue or problem. Students develop and implement a chosen sustainability action and then evaluate ...

Interactive

Water use and efficiency – sustainability action process (Years 7–10)

This resource guides students through an extended school-based or local investigation focussed on water use and efficiency using the five step sustainability action process. The resource supports the investigation of a real-world issue or problem. Students develop and implement a chosen sustainability action and then evaluate ...

Interactive

Thermal comfort – sustainability action process (Years 7–10)

This thermal comfort learning resource will guide students through an extended school based investigation. Students will develop and implement a chosen sustainability action and then evaluate and reflect on their success and their learning.

Video

ABC 7.30: Where do we build next?

Like many Australian cities, Melbourne has been growing rapidly. This clip from 2012 investigates debates about where Melbourne's urban growth should occur. While inner city areas are slowly being redeveloped, the outer suburbs continue to sprawl and their residents battle some serious issues.

Video

ABC News: Getting your facts straight about water use

We hear a lot about water use in Australia. What are the real statistics about water use? What is the breakdown of water use for different groups across Australia? Watch this clip to find out who uses water and how much, and consider the value of water and the 'return' on this use for the Australian economy. The figures ...

Video

BTN: World population explosion, 1996

The growth of the world's population and the pressure this places on resources and the environment is a highly debated topic. Watch this clip from 1996 to find out about the trends and concerns associated with population growth at that time, and consider how perspectives and patterns may differ today.

Video

ABC News: Sydney slips in world cities rankings, 2012

A 'Cities of Opportunity' study in 2012 found that, while Sydney was regarded as a 'livable' city, its residents faced some significant urban issues. With other cities moving ahead of Sydney in the rankings, questions have been asked about why the cost of living in Sydney is so high and what should be done to solve some ...

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Joint Australian Tsunami Warning Centre

This resource is a Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) web page that provides warnings to the Australian community of tsunami threats to Australia's coastline and offshore territories. These warnings are issued by the Joint Australian Tsunami Warning Centre (JATWC) operated by Geoscience Australia and the Bureau. The resource shows ...

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Catchment management: where the river meets the sea

Eighty-five percent of Australians live within 50km of the coast. This activity looks at the waste that washes downstream in our catchments, the impacts it has on our estuaries, wetlands and coastal areas where the rivers meets the sea. Students will: understand the different journey water takes through a catchment; learn ...

Interactive

Exploring Kamay

This resource explores the landscape of Kamay Botany Bay, as well as the technology discovered by the crew aboard the HMB Endeavour in 1770. This resource is one part of the 'Endeavour – eight days in Kamay' resource.

Interactive

Environmental and Zoo Education Centres – high school resources

A collection of geography and science resources for high school teachers and students to support teaching and learning from home. The resources were developed by Department of Education teachers from 25 Environmental and Zoo Education Centres in NSW and include Google Sites, programs and activities.

Online

Mapping our waterway

This is a 29-page PDF unit of work for year 7 that comprises a two-part teaching and learning sequence on waterways. 'Assessing the health of the waterway' involves students collecting data to assess the water quality of a local waterway, while 'Creating a map of the waterway' involves them using Google maps to display ...

Downloadable

Human landscapes – inquiry-based learning through Sydney Metro – Stage 4

This inquiry-based unit of work was created, trialled and peer reviewed as part of a professional learning program in inquiry-based learning for school teachers. The professional learning courses were part of a pilot partnership between the NSW Government’s Sydney Metro transport agency and Western Sydney University. Students ...

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Using water sustainably through science

This teacher resource is a sequence of activities for investigating water resources. The material assists with planning, implementing and assessing a study of how water resources are managed. It covers how water resources are used and shared, particularly by food producers; the impact of changing weather and climate; and ...