1. Australia Geography Activator
Look at the map below. See if you can locate and label the following features on the map: Coral Sea, Great Barrier Reef, Ayers Rock and Great Victoria Desert.

2. Essential Question(s): 1
Essential Question(s): 1. Where are the major physical features of Australia and where are they located on a map? 2. How does the factors of location, climate, access to water, and natural resources affect where Australians choose to live, work and trade?

3. Standards:
SS6G1a. Locate on a world and regional physical map: the Great Barrier Reef, Coral Sea, Ayers Rock and Great Victoria Desert.
SWBAT identify characteristics (size, shape and texture) of select physical features (landforms and bodies of water) found in Australia IOT describe the topography (landscape) of Australia.
SWBAT describe Australia’s location, climate (usual weather), and natural resources (things in nature that people value) IOT analyze factors’ impact on human activity , including population density (how spread out or clumped together people are)

4. Turn to a partner and discuss this question for few minutes then provide a response: Is Australia a continent or country? Why?

5. Australia, Satellite View!

6. Australia Climate Map Write notes on where climates are located
Australia Climate Map Write notes on where climates are located. How would it effect where people live and work? The Australian Climate (3:46)

7. Australia Resource Map Turn and take a few minutes to discuss how resources effect where people live, type of work they do and how they trade? Focus on the Australia Trade Balance (3:03)

8. Australia Population Density Map What regions are most populated
Australia Population Density Map What regions are most populated? Least populated? Why?

9. Australia Location, Climate, Resource and Land Use Activity Take 10 minutes to cooperatively complete the chart below.
Location
Climate
Resources
Land Use & Industries
Trade

10. Australia Location, Climate, Resource and Land Use Activity Complete the Chart below.
Resources
Land Use &
Industries
Trade
Southern Hemisphere:
Neighbors: East Asian Countries, Pacific and Indian Oceans
Coastal Region: Tropical, Temperate (seasonal)
Interior Region (Desert, Semi-arid)
Gold, Coal, Copper, Iron Ore, Petroleum, Uranium, Zinc, Bauxite, Livestock
Farming, Mining, Manufacturing, Fishing, Herding
China, Japan, South Korea, United States
Exports: crops, oil, coal, metals, livestock, natural gas
Imports: Machinery (computers, office machine)

11. Based the data, where do most people live and work in Australia? Why?

12. Australia is an island location on the Pacific and Indian Oceans
Australia is an island location on the Pacific and Indian Oceans. This makes it easily to access and ship goods. The most pleasant climate, land use, and resources are along the coastal regions, especially in the southeast. Due to interior region’s desert/dry climate, less resources, and land use, most people live and work along the coast, especially in the southeast.

13. Many people think that Australia is a country because it has only one capital city. What is it?

14. Canberra! Located in the state of New South Wales!

15. Complete the Australia Physical and Political Features Map Activity (Assort color the six states to show boundaries)
Australia Physical and Political Features
Feature
Description 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.
10. 2 1 9 3 5 7
10. 6 4 8

16. Great Barrier Reef 1.

17. https://Great Barrier Reef Video (4:06)
Great Barrier Reef: An underwater system of coral. Located on Australia’s northeast coast

18. Discuss with your group the most popular known fact about the Great Barrier Reef? What is it?

19. The world’s largest living organism!

20. Coral Sea 2.

21. Coral Sea: Off the northeast coast of Australia, forming part of the Pacific Ocean

22. What types of Activities can you do while at the Coral Sea
What types of Activities can you do while at the Coral Sea? Are there any environmental concerns you can mention? If so, what are they?

23. Ayers Rock, Uluru 3.

24. Ayers Rock, Uluru: A huge rock jutting out of the desert
Ayers Rock, Uluru: A huge rock jutting out of the desert. The Anangu Native People call it Uluru. They consider it to be a sacred place.
Rock, Uluru Video (3:32)

25. Ayer Rock/Uluru is considered a monolith. What does this mean?

26. It is a huge single rock or piece of stone!

27. Great Victoria Desert 4.

28. Great Victoria Desert: The third largest desert in the world
Great Victoria Desert: The third largest desert in the world. British colonist named it for Queen Victoria in 1875.

29. Queensland 5.

30. Second largest and most populated state in Australia .
Queensland:
Second largest and most populated state in Australia .

31. New South Wales 6.

32. New South Wales: A state located on the east coast of Australia
New South Wales: A state located on the east coast of Australia. It borders Queensland to the north, Victoria to the south and South Australia to the west.

33. Western Australia 7.

34. Western Australia: The largest state occupying the entire western third of Australia

35. Victoria 8.

36. Victoria:
New South Wales in north, the Tasmania island south, South Australia is west and Pacific Ocean to the east.

37. North Territory 9.

38. North Territory is a cosmopolitan, as well as home of Australia's most vibrant Indigenous culture, and a multicultural population of over 100 nationalities

39. South Australia
10.

40. South Australia is located with Western Australia to its west and Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria to its east..
South Australia is located with Western Australia to its west and Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria to its east..

41. Exit Ticket Create a Mnemonic Device to help remember the four physical features of Australia
Have students work individually or with a partner to create a mnemonic device to remember the countries of Latin America. Students can write their mnemonic device on the bottom of their map sheet. Share several devices with the class.

42. Physical and Political Features Review Activities [if needed]
Latin America Physical and Political Features Flashcards
Physical and Political Features Slipcover