Australia – a unique continent Year 9 Geography

Syllabus Requirements The Australian continent locate and recognise Australia on a world map using latitude and longitude compare Australia’s size and shape with other continents and countries explain the origins of the continent from an Aboriginal and geographical perspective Physical characteristics that make Australia unique identify and represent Australia’s major physical features and patterns on a variety of maps describe Australia’s major physical features and patterns explain the interrelationships that exist in the physical environment of Australia explain adaptations of flora and fauna to the Australian environment

Agenda Australia’s geographical dimensions: relative size and shape latitude and longitude the origins of the continent: Aboriginal perspective geographical perspective major landforms and drainage basins patterns of: climate weather vegetation unique flora and fauna natural resources

Australia's Size & Shape http://www.travelphoto.net/a-photo-a-day/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2006/05/australia-picture0012a500.jpg http://hunancce.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/australia.jpg

(A) What Makes Us Unique Complete the activity sheet: What Makes Australia Unique A-Z

Draw a free-hand map of Australia (A)What Do We Look Like On an A4 page: Draw a free-hand map of Australia 1. Locate natural features (a) Cape York, (b) Gulf of Carpentaria, (c) Great Barrier Reef, (d) Bass Strait, (e) Great Australian Bight, (f) Shark Bay, (g) Cape Byron, (h) South East Cape (i) Lake Eyre, (j) Mt. Kosciuszko . 2. Locate state capital cities 3. Locate Australia's capital city 4. Draw in state borders http://www.bugbog.com/maps/australasia/australia_map.html

The Natural Features Of Australia The highest point in Australia is = Mt Kosciuszko at 2228m The lowest point in Australia is = Lake Eyre at 15m below sea level The hottest recorded temperature in Australia is = Cloncurry 53.1°C The coldest recorded temperature is = -22°C at Charlotte Pass http://www.adsoft.com.au/fisher/OutbackSeries/LakeEyreRain_lge.JPG http://year5d.files.wordpress.com/2007/08/p205.jpg

Top 10 Countries By Land Area http://www.mapsofworld.com/world-top-ten/world-top-ten-largest-countries-in-area-map.html Russia Canada USA China Brazil Australia India Argentina Kazakhstan Sudan Top 10 Countries By Land Area http://www.mapsofworld.com/world-top-ten/world-top-ten-largest-countries-in-area-map.html

Origins Aka “where do I come from?” Indigenous Australians Perspective Geographical perspective

Indigenous Australian Peoples View of Australia

(a) Dreamtime Many Indigenous Australians also refer to the Creation time as "The Dreaming". The Dreamtime laid down the patterns of life for the Aboriginal people Using the internet investigate the story of the origins of Australia from the indigenous peoples of Australia perspective Remember to use the 5 W’s to create a complete answer

Geographical Perspective of Origins Geo Focus 2

Get the drift? What is the continental drift? When did it happen? The continent of Australia has migrated across the Earth’s surface for millions of years. When did it happen? By studying the age and structure of rock formations geographers have been able to determine the continent’s previous positions and its movements. Why is it important? The topography of Australia is the result of processes that have taken place over millions of years. Plate movements have given the continent its basic form, but the processes of weathering and erosion have shaped the features. P14 text

Where Are We?

Hemispheres http://www.worldatlas.com/aatlas/newart/hemispheres.gif

(a) Activity On a blank map of the world Label the north, south, east and west hemispheres (the map on the previous slide will help). State which 2 hemispheres Australia is in.

Latitude & Longitude http://mathforum.org/cgraph/history/pictures/greekmaps/globe.gif

Latitude To locate places more accurately on a world map geographers use latitude and longitude. The lines of latitude are parallel to the Equator and are measured in degrees north and south. Their values range from 0° at the Equator to 90°N at the North Pole and 90°S at the South Pole. Australia is found between 10°S and 44°S (the Tropic of Capricorn passes through Australia)

Longitude Lines of longitude run from pole to pole and are not parallel. They are measured in degrees east and west of the Prime Meridian, which runs through Greenwich in London. Their values range from 0° at the Prime Meridian to 180° on the opposite side of the globe. The International Date Line follows the 180° line of longitude. Australia is found between 113°E and 154°E longitude. REMEMBER NORTH OR SOUTH BEFORE EAST OR WEST When locating a place using latitude and longitude the latitude always comes before the longitude. For example, the latitude and longitude of Canberra is 35°S 149°E.

(a) Parrot Island Activity You have won the squillionaires lottery (woohoo) and have the opportunity to create your own island. You have decided to create an island with the following attributes: Beach Mountains Small Desert Freshwater source Resort Village (just for you and your family) Staff village (for all of the people to who work for you and their families. A small reef for snorkeling & diving Draw a map of Parrot Island and label. These should include : the latitude and longitude Which Tropic ? Which hemisphere it belongs to Location Geographic coordinates: Land boundaries: Total Area (incl a scale) Area – comparative e.g. it’s the size of Tasmania Climate e.g. tropical monsoon (Mar-Jun) Weather mean (see over)

Parrot Island Weather http://www.bom.gov.au/jsp/awap/temp/index.jsp

Asia Pacific Region http://www.ranbaxy.com/UploadInc/GlobalOperation/Region/AsiaPacific.gif Make sure you know this one as there is always a school cert question on the countries included

(A) Neighbours On a blank world map draw: Australia’s neighbours. Country name Capital City Colour and label: The 7 continents the equator, both tropics and the prime meridian (O° longitude) Make sure to apply BOLTS (Border, Orientation, Legend, Title and Scale)