Natural Environments (Forests / Volcanoes)

Unit 1 Geography / 2013

Unit 1 Outline

Two areas of study:

AOS 1: Characteristics of natural environments

AOS 2: Changes in natural environments

Tuesday / Wednesday (single) / Friday
Week 1
30 Jan - 1 Feb. / Ensure holiday homework finished. If not due Friday.
Ensure students have appropriate resources.
What is geography? YouTube clip
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pbgai3dK16Q / Discuss tobacco plantations
What is geography? NP, page 3. Activities 1-3 p 3
Applying spatial concepts; NP pp. 3-12.
Activities 1-7 p. 7
Week 2
4 – 8 Feb / Applying spatial concepts; NP pp. 3-12.
Activities 1-3 p.9; 1-2 p.10; 1-3 p. 12 / Finish / Revise Spatial Concepts (SC).
Organising geographic data. NP pp. 13-16
Activities 1-3 p.16.
SAFEIT / Complete Organising geographic data. NP pp. 13-16
Activities 1-3 p.16.
Revise mapping, SC and patterns for writing in geography.
Week 3
11 - 15 Feb / Introduction to Natural Environments NP pp. 20 -29.
Activities 1-3 p. 23; 1-4 p. 25
The 4 spheres PowerPoint and interactive game / Change in natural environments NP pp 27 – 29
Activities 1-6 p. 29
Geographic characteristics PowerPoint / Revise what is a Natural environment?
Discuss volcanoes as an option for natural environment Vs Rivers or coasts.
Introduce Forests as a natural environment.
Week 4
18 -22 Feb / Explain Outcome 1 and 2.
Victorias Forest Environments. NP pp. 54 – 79.
Activities 1-3 p. 56.
Youtube clip on forests (3 min) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ajaS5xMSUA
Show forest PowerPoint
Read “Victorias forests a brief history” and “trees and forests”
Read looking at forests introduction pp 4&5
Mapping of the world forests. – use atlas and text on the blank world map provided / Play DVD - Planet earth- Forests
The natural system of forests.
Activities: 1-4 pp 59. Due by next lesson. (Activity 2. D requires some research) / Revise: What are the natural systems and their interaction?
What are natural processes and factors creating forests?
Discuss answers to activities 1-4 pp 59. Make a concept map
Go outside and discuss the processes, inputs and outputs looking at a gum tree etc. – carbon, water and nitrogen cycle.
Week 5
25 Feb – 1 Mar. / Geographic characteristics of Victorias forest environments. pp 60 – 64
Activities 1-5 p. 64.
images of victorias forest environments – PowerPoint
Characteristics of Victoria’s forests pp 65 -67.
Activities 1&2 p. 67.
Homework: All unfinished questions are due Thursday.
Read victorias forests / Discuss answers to activities 1 – 5 p. 64 & 1&2 p. 67.
Have a map of Victoria. Students form groups based on their forest type. (Name of forest type, climate etc) these groups will make a diorama / diagram of their forest type. Ensure you understand microclimates by using a torch etc.
What are these forest used for.... etc, how much is left – spatial change over time
Ensure have materials / Students finish their Diorama, and prepare their discussion.
Week 6
4-8 Mar. / Students explain their forest type.
Case study: Forests of the Otways. Activities 1-4 p 69
Homework: complete activities 1-4 by Thursday. / Changes to Victorias forest environments. pp. 70- 71.
Activities 1-4 p. 71
Read forest fact sheets (Fire and logging)
Why do forests burn? Importance of fire to ecology; fire characteristics / Fire prevention – activity bushfire property protection.
Forest uses; agents of change
SHEEPT analysis for each use
- Recreation
- Tourism
- Logging etc
Week 7
11-15 Mar. / Labour Day / DSE
Who wants to play? Resolving conflict activity – / Who wants to play? Resolving conflict activity –
introduce Case study: Forests of the strzeleckis – will be assessed
Week 8
18 -22 Mar. / Case study: Forests of the Strzeleckis class discussion / Future of Victorian forest environments. / Class discussion on the future of victorias forests.
Mini research project
Week 9
25th -28th March / Mini Research project ‘Protecting East Gippsland’s old growth and iconic forests” / Mini Research project ‘Protecting East Gippsland’s old growth and iconic forests” / Submit research project
Revision of forests as a natural environment for test
Monday (single) / Tuesday / Friday
Week 1 / Pre field work
- Transects / Field trip / Post field work
Week 2 / SAC (1A) (60 marks) / SAC (1A) / SAC (1A)
Week 3 / Forests test / Volcanoes
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Week 7
Week 8 / SAC 1B (40 Marks) / SAC 1B
Week 9 / Revision / Start Unit 2
Week 10
Week 11

Published January 2013Page 1