Year 9 Geography: Australian Environments
Syllabus Dot Points
 compare Australia’s size and shape with other continents and countries
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locate and recognise Australia on a world map using latitude and longitude
explain the origins of the continent from an Aboriginal and geographical perspective
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
Unit Outline
1. Introduction, Location and Continent
2. Size and shape
3. Origins – Aboriginal
4. Origins - Geographical
5. Major landforms
6. Skills – Bearings and map reading
7. Climate
8. Skills - Climate Graphs
9. Skills – Reading weather Maps
10. Flora and fauna
11. Resources
12. Willandra Lakes
Metalanguage List
aquaculture
australia
bearing
catchment
central lowlands
isobars
sedimentary
climate
la nina
continent
erosion
latitude
south australian
highlands
continental drift
floodplain
longitude
oscillation
country
geomorphology
low pressure
sustainable
cross section
gradient
synoptic data
desertification
hazard
metamorphic
tectonic forces
diverse
hemisphere
the dreaming
high pressure system
nomadic
topography
humidity
relief
eastern highlands
indigineous
western plateau
el nino
island
Kick start questions
Brainstorm the characteristics of Australia’s physical environments that make them unique.
Explain why unique animals exist in Australia.
Outline some of the physical difficulties that affect plants in the Australian bush.
Explain why Australia has such a wide range of climates.
Identify Australia’s nearest neighbours
Outline the role played by the spirit ancestors in Aboriginal Dreaming Stories, what
happened to these spirit ancestors oncetheir task of creation had been completed, and the
aspects of the Aboriginal way of life that are determined by these spiritualbeings.
7. Explain the process of continental drift.
8. Outline the evidence that supports the view that all the continents were once part of one
large landmass.
9. Explain why Australia has fewer volcanoes and earthquakes than does New Zealand,
Papua New Guinea, the Philippines and Japan.
10. Explain the origins of the continent from both an Aboriginal and a geographical perspective.
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