Geography 3 & 4

In Levels 3 and 4, the curriculum continues to develop students’ mental map of the world and their understanding of place through examining the major characteristics of Australia, Australia's neighbouring countries and Africa and South America. The concept of place is developed by examining the similarities and differences between places within and outside Australia. Students use the geographic concepts of environment and space to examine the similarities and differences between places in terms of the climate and the types of settlements. These comparisons should continue to be made at the scale of the local place.

Students consider the significance of places and environments. They explore how feelings and perceptions form the basis of actions to protect places and environments that are of special significance. They learn that sustainability is about the ongoing capacity of the environment to sustain human life and wellbeing and means more than the careful use of resources and the safe management of waste, and they develop their understanding of the concept by exploring some of the other functions of the environment that support their lives and the lives of other living things. They are introduced to different views on how sustainability can be achieved.

Key questions:

• How and why are places similar and different?

• What would it be like to live in a neighbouring country?

• How does the environment support the lives of people and other living things?

• How can people use places and environments more sustainably?