Map and Globe Skills- Lesson Two
Physical Geography of Oceania
Ms. Emma Clifton
Identify grade level: 5th Grade at Magruder Elementary School- This lesson is to be
taught as a whole group. There are currently twenty one students in this class.
State Standards
WG.1 The student will use maps, globes, satellite images, photographs, or diagrams
to
a) obtain geographical information about the world’s countries, cities, and
environments;
b) apply the concepts of location, scale, map projection, or orientation;
c) develop and refine mental maps of world regions;
d) create and compare political, physical, and thematic maps;
e) analyze and explain how different cultures use maps and other visual images to
reflect their own interests and ambitions.
Resources
21x Blank Maps of the Oceanic
World Map if available to teacher
Region
Tactile objects- red sand/ clay in
21x Work sheets for symbols and
Ziploc bag, saltwater in jar or cup,
features
moss, and sea sponge.
PowerPoint presentation
Content & Instructional Strategies
Time: 15 mins
Anticipatory Set-: To introduce/ review the area of Oceania, focusing on Papua New
Guinea, New Zealand, and Australia. Have the student’s visithttp://education.nationalgeographic.com/education/encyclopedia/oceania-physicalgeography/?ar_a=1&ar_r=3 Discuss the physical geographical features located on
each country. (See background information.) Distribute the narrative map (attached),
and have the students color in Australia in green, Papua New Guinea in Red, and New
Zealand in blue. Bring up a world map on the computer and discuss which
hemisphere they think Oceania is in.
Purpose: The purpose of this lesson is to map various physical features of Oceania,
specifically Papua New Guinea.
Objectives: -Given a map of Oceania, the students will map, locate, and create a key
for the following features: Southern Alps in New Zealand, The Cook Straight, Uluru
(Ayers Rock), Great Barrier Reef, Great Dividing Range, and Mount Hagen (PNG).
-The students will be able to describe the features that are listed above in the
objectives.
Time: 15 mins
Instructional Input: Using the computer, document camera and projector display a
photograph of each geographical feature from each country that is listed by using a
PowerPoint presentation. In addition the photos of each geographical feature pass
around tactile representation of each object where possible (red dirt, salt water, moss,
sea sponge.) This encourages engagement and visualization amongst the students.
When displaying the pictures, tell the students about each feature (see background
information.) The students should be able to describe each of the features listed above
in detail. Using this knowledge the students will then produce a logical symbol for the
key.
Time: 10 mins
Modeling: Tell the students that they will be continuing to work on the map that they
have already colored the three different countries. The teacher should also hand out
the worksheet that is needed for this part of the lesson. Explain that the class will now
work to map each of the features on the Oceania map. To begin, the teacher will
model where to place the tropic of Capricorn (use background information) that runs
through the top half of Australia. The teacher will then model how to create a symbol
for the Great Barrier Reef. Explain to the students that the symbol should represent
the feature you are trying to display. For example a reef should represent coral and
flowing water. Then direct students to place the symbol and the description into the
table (attached). Discuss how the equator separates the Northern and the Southern
Hemisphere, and as the students to think which hemisphere the USA is in, and which
hemisphere Oceania could be located.
Time: 10-15 mins
Guided Practice:
Label the Oceanic region on the top of the map. Call on students to explain how you
would determine which hemisphere Australia is located in. Encourage the students to
refer to the world map that is displayed on the PowerPoint. Next have a child explain
what symbol they would use for the Great Dividing Range (mountains/ triangles), and
from looking at the PowerPoint map of Australia get the children to place the symbol
on the map. Next have a child explain what they would use for Ayres Rock (Uluru),
and have them identify on the map on the PowerPoint where they would place the
symbol.
Time: 15 mins
Independent Practice: For the rest of the symbols have the students go through and
create their own for each of the different features. Encourage them to work
independently and be creative with their answers. The students should be placing their
symbols and information that they have gathered from the PowerPoint in the
worksheet attached, before transferring their answers to their map. Once the students
have finished creating their own symbols, the teacher should place their version on
the document camera. Next, allow the students to label the map with their own
symbols. Allow the students to refer to the teacher’s version as reference for
locations. Discuss at the end of the exercise why students chose their symbols, and
why are symbols and keys important when reading maps. Lastly, hand out a sheet
with multiple choice question on it, to check for understanding.
Closure: At the end of the less, collect all of the student’s worksheets. Call on
different students to name their favorite feature that they have learned about, does
their symbol accurately represent the feature. The show them the 2 minute video on
the Great Barrier Reef- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3kPgbPPqvQ This will
allow the students to visualize what a reef looks like.
Evaluation:
Formative: The teacher will observe participation during the lesson as well as
checking for understanding when the students are working on their maps and
worksheets.
Summative: The teacher will collect the maps and keys to check for understanding.
The teacher will also distribute the multiple choice question sheet, and have the
students return the sheet after the lesson is completed.
Background Information
Oceania or the Oceanic region is the planets smallest continent. It is
considered to be one of the most diverse and fascinating areas on the planet due to its
physical features. Collectively Oceania includes Australia, New Zealand, Papua New
Guinea, as well as the thousands of coral atolls and volcanic islands of the South
Pacific Ocean, including the Melanesia and Polynesia groups. The Oceanic region
also includes Micronesia, which is comprised of a widely scattered group of islands
that run along the northern and southern edges of the equator. In the Oceanic region
there is a vast contrast in physical geography including mountain ranges, reefs, straits,
and volcanos.
One of the most well-known physical geography features in the Oceanic
region is the Great Barrier Reef. The Great Barrier Reef is the biggest coral system in
the world with the reef containing an abundance of marine life with reef incorporating
over 3000 individual reef systems and coral cays. The Great Barrier Reef is located of
the coast of Queensland, Australia. The Great Barrier Reef is larger than the Great
Wall of China and is the only living thing that can be seen from Space, most likely
why it is one of the seven wonders of the natural world.
Another natural phenomenon that is located in the Oceanic region is Uluru
(Ayers Rock). As well as being a massive physical presence in central Australia,
Uluru also have an immense spiritual quality for the Aboriginal People.
Name:
Date:
Oceanic Region
1. What hemisphere is the Oceanic region located in?
a. Northern
b. Southern
c. Eastern
d. Western
2. What two physical features are found in New Zealand?
a. Uluru and The Great Barrier Reef
b. The Great Dividing Range and Lake Eyre
c. Cook Strait and The Southern Alps
3. If I was standing next to a large sandstone rock, where would I be?
a. Uluru
b. Great Barrier Reef
c. The Southern Alps
Oceanic Map
Symbol and Key Worksheet- Oceania
Feature
The Cook Strait
The Southern Alps
The Great Barrier Reef
The Great Dividing Range
Uluru (Ayers Rock)
Mount Hagen
Symbol
Description