Episode 1
14th February 2012
Activity
Summer Flood
Key Learning
Students will investigate why floods occur, how they affect people and how floods can be prevented.
The Australian Curriculum
Geography / Geographical Knowledge and
Understanding
The impact of bushfires or floods on environments and
communities, and how people can respond (ACHGK030)
Geography / Geographical Inquiry and Skills /
Collecting, recording, evaluating and representing
Evaluate sources for their usefulness and represent data in
different forms, for example, maps, plans, graphs, tables,
sketches and diagrams (ACHGS035)
Geography / Geographical Inquiry and Skills /
Interpreting, analysing and concluding
Interpret geographical data and other information, using digital
and spatial technologies as appropriate, and identify spatial
distributions, patterns and trends, and infer relationships to draw
conclusions (ACHGS037)
Geography / Geographical Inquiry and Skills /
Observing, questioning and planning
Develop geographical questions to investigate and plan an
inquiry (ACHGS033)
Discussion Questions
1. Briefly summarise the BtN story.
2. Which parts of Australia were affected by the recent floods?
3. Water always finds the
a. Highest land
b. Lowest land
c.
Flattest land
4. How is water channelled away in the city and country?
5. Complete the following sentence: The size and shape of rivers depends on…
6. What happens when a river bursts its banks?
7. By understanding how water moves, experts can sometimes predict where and when a flood is going
to hit. True or false?
8. Why did officials make the people in the St George are evacuate their homes?
9. What damage can flood water do?
10. Describe the images in the BtN Summer Flood story.
©ABC 2012
Activities
Investigating floods
Discuss with students the affect floods have on people.
Record their responses a concept map and discuss the different categories for the responses (physical and
emotional).
Students choose one of the following investigations about floods. Before students begin the investigation,
ask them to record what they know about the topic and what they want to find out.
Investigation 1 – More about floods
Some possible questions to investigate include:

What do each of the following words/phrases mean in relation to floods: lowest land, rivers burst
their banks, levee, prepare, sandbags, dangerous, catchment, evacuate, emergency

How do floods occur?

What are the different causes of floods?

What are flash floods and what causes them? How are they different to normal floods?
Students can present their research findings as an oral presentation.
Investigation 2 – After the floods
Some possible questions to investigate include:

How do floods affect people? Divide your response into the following categories: accommodation,
services and emotions. What are the immediate and long term needs of people?

What do you think are the most effective ways of helping people who have been affected by a flood?
Students can present their research findings as Power Point presentation.
Investigation 3 – The future
Some possible questions to investigate include:

What can we learn from past floods to minimise future damage?

Should people be allowed to rebuild homes in areas prone to flooding? Why or why not?

How have countries such as the Netherlands lived with floods for centuries? About two thirds of the
country is vulnerable to flooding so flood control is an important issue. What are some of the
strategies they have put in place to cope with them? Select one of these strategies, for example
dykes, and investigate in more detail.

How could public education about floods be improved? Consider factors such as safe places to build
houses and what to do in the event of a flood.
Students can create a brochure, flyer or booklet that makes some recommendations about improving public
awareness and safety. What should people living in flood prone areas be taught about floods?
©ABC 2012
Reflection

What do you understand more clearly since completing this investigation?

What would you do differently next time? Why?
 Related Research Links
ABC News – Floods sweep across Qld
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-02-03/floods-sweep-across-nsw-qld/3809926
State Emergency Service - Flood information
http://www.ses.sa.gov.au/site/community_safety/floodsafe/flood_information.jsp
Geoscience Australia – Floods: Get the Facts
http://www.ga.gov.au/hazards/flood.html
Bureau of Meteorology – Climate Education: Flood
http://www.bom.gov.au/lam/climate/levelthree/c20thc/flood.htm
©ABC 2012