Format
This is not a passive session! This program is driven by your student's questions, as such please have your students ready to ask them. The format of this session is designed to be responsive to your student's questions and as such the content is very much tailored to what your students would like to know. As we answer each question we will show photos of the question topic and discuss the realities of living in Australia.
The following details a broad outline of what generally occurs in terms of themes, however the actual program we run with your class will be driven entirely by your class.
1. We introduce the program with a discussion on the timezone and temperature differences between our two locations. This leads to a discussion on Australia's location relative to your class and why Australia's land mass is situated in the Pacific.
2. We then cover Australia's general geography, from the Great Dividing Range and coral reef through to it's semi-arid desert, alpine areas and temperature regions.
3. We then look at the arrival of indigenous people to Australia and their stewardship of the environment. This leads onto a brief discussion of 'bush tucker' foods used by Australian aboriginals in the Sydney area.
4. The program moves on to discuss the arrival of Europeans. We discuss modern Australia's initial convict history and then move onto how agriculture and mining transformed the colony
5. On Federation Australia became a
unified nation of 6 States and 5 Territories under the Constitution in 1901. We discuss the remaining ties to England and how the political system operates.
6. We discuss the money used in Australia and how counterfeiting is stopped with modern technology.
7. We discuss general culture; food and language i.e. what is it like to live in Australia?
8. The program concludes with any further questions your students might have.
Please ensure that you have shared this description with your classes so they know what to expect. We look forward to chatting with your students about Australia soon!
Objectives
The participant will, based on the questions they ask:
- learn why Australia's landforms exist
- explore Australia's indigenous and convict history
- find out how Australia's political system operates
- be able to identify Australian currency
- participate in a discussion on Australian culture
- learn why timezones exist
Standards Alignment
National Standards
NSS-G.K-12.1 THE WORLD IN SPATIAL TERMS
As a result of activities in grades K-12, all students should
Understand how to use maps and other geographic representations, tools, and technologies to acquire, process, and report information from a spatial perspective.
Understand how to use mental maps to organize information about people, places, and environments in a spatial context.
Understand how to analyze the spatial organization of people, places, and environments on Earth's surface.
NSS-G.K-12.2 PLACES AND REGIONS
As a result of their activities in grades K-12, all students should
Understand the physical and human characteristics of places.
Understand that people create regions to interpret Earth's complexity.
Understand how culture and experience influence people's perceptions of places and regions.
NSS-G.K-12.3 PHYSICAL SYSTEMS
As a result of their activities in grades K-12, all students should
Understand the physical processes that shape the patterns of Earth's surface.
Understand the characteristics and spatial distribution of ecosystems on Earth's surface.
NSS-G.K-12.4 HUMAN SYSTEMS
As a result of their activities in grades K-12, all students should
Understand the characteristics, distribution, and migration of human populations on Earth's surface.
Understand the characteristics, distribution, and complexity of Earth's cultural mosaics.
Understand the patterns and networks of economic interdependence on Earth's surface.
Understand the processes,patterns, and functions of human settlement.
Understand how the forces of cooperation and conflict among people influence the division and control of Earth's surface.
NSS-C.K-4.4 OTHER NATIONS AND WORLD AFFAIRS
What is the Relationship of the United States to Other Nations and to World Affairs?
How is the world divided into nations?
How do nations interact with one another?
NSS-C.5-8.4 OTHER NATIONS AND WORLD AFFAIRS
What is the Relationship of the United States to Other Nations and to World Affairs?
How is the world organized politically?
How has the United States influenced other nations and how have other nations influenced American politics and society?
NSS-C.9-12.4 OTHER NATIONS AND WORLD AFFAIRS
What is the Relationship of the United States to Other Nations and to World Affairs?
How is the world organized politically?
How do the domestic politics and constitutional principles of the United States affect its relations with the world?
How has the United States influenced other nations, and how have other nations influenced American politics and society?