Scotch College

GEOGRAPHY From Sea to Summit [Semester Unit] Year 10 — 2010

Rationale:

This unit aims to examine issues facing Australian and global environments including the interaction between people and environments and strategies for better managing environments.

Student Outcomes

• describing the main characteristics of the selected issue and where appropriate explaining the underlying processes
• identifying and describing management strategies
• evaluating the effectiveness of these strategies
• working co-operatively with others
• applying oral and written communication skills
• critically evaluating, drawing conclusions and expressing opinions in an informed manner

Course Content

Mountains: What are mountains? Where are the world’s main mountain ranges? What forces shape mountains? What are mountain ecosystems? What is it like trekking in the Nepal? How are Victoria’s Alpine National Park and NSW’s Kosciusko National Park manages?

Coral Reefs: Coral reefs are the most spectacular of all the marine ecosystems. This unit investigates the location and types of coral reef, the coral reef ecosystem, and threats to the ecosystem and how reefs should be managed. Case studies include the Great Barrier Reef and the Caribbean region.

Managing our coasts: Why has the Victorian Government introduced a system of marine parks? How should Boating be managed in Port Phillip Bay? What are canal estates? What is the best way of managing the dolphins of Port Phillip Bay? How are the Mediterranean and Californian coasts used and managed? What can be done to stop Venice sinking?

Tourism issues: What are the characteristics of global tourism? What are the advantages and disadvantages of tourism for Nepal and Bali and other Developing countries? How can negative impacts of tourism be prevented or better managed in Developed and Developing Countries? How important are overseas tourists to the Australian economy? What is ecotourism?

ICT Skills

• The Internet for research and analysis
• CD ROM for research, simulations and problem solving activities
• Excel for the construction of graphs and charts
• GIS (Geographic Information Systems)

Assessment

• Fieldtrip report
• Practical activities
• Examination