Outcomes

A student:

› recognises features and characteristics of places and environments GELS-1

› demonstrates an understanding that places and environments change GELS-2

› explores interactions and connections between people, places and environments GELS-3

› explores management of places and environments GELS-5

› collects and uses geographical information for inquiry GELS-7

› communicates geographical information GELS-8

Related Stage 4/5 outcomes: GE4-1, GE4-2, GE4-3, GE4-5, GE4-7, GE4-8, GE5-1, GE5-2, GE5-3, GE5-5, GE5-7, GE5-8

Key Inquiry Questions

· What are biomes?

· How are biomes used and altered?

· What are the factors affecting food production?

· How will the world feed its future population?

Content focus

Students identify the physical features of biomes. They investigate threats to biomes and the effect of those threats on biomes. Students explore factors influencing and affecting farming and food production in Australia and other countries. Students examine how a growing population affects global food security.

Geographical concepts, skills and tools

Content including knowledge, understanding, concepts, skills and tools should be integrated to provide meaningful learning experiences for students. Refer to the Overview of teaching and learning.

Content

World biomes

Students:

· identify different types of biomes in Australia and around the world eg deserts, grasslands VR

· identify the location and distribution of biomes around the world M

· examine differences in the climate of biomes M

· explore the distinctive vegetation and animals found in different biomes VR

Changing biomes

Students:

· identify how biomes are used by people to produce food, industrial materials or fibres eg agriculture, mining

· investigate threats to biomes eg agriculture, mining, natural hazards, war, salinity, pollution, tourism, hunting, urbanisation VR

· share ideas about the effect of threats on biomes eg reduced biodiversity, habitat destruction, extinction of vegetation and/or animals ST VR

· explore sustainability strategies that minimise environmental impacts eg reuseable strategies, solar energy

Food production

Students:

· identify types of farming eg grain, meat, dairy, vegetable, fruit, nut, sugar cane VR

· recognise the location and spatial distribution of farming across the world M F

· investigate environmental factors influencing food production eg climate, soils, topography, rainfall

· explore environmental challenges to food production eg changing weather patterns, insect plagues, natural hazards, water scarcity, climate change VR

· explore other factors that affect food production in Australia or in other countries across the world eg economic trends, political policies, social attitudes, technology, land degradation

Food for future populations

Students:

· explore population growth rates in Australia GS

· compare Australia’s population growth with that of a country with a rapidly growing population M GS VR

· share ideas about how future population trends may affect food supplies in the future

· explore ways food shortages can be addressed eg household or community vegetable gardens, technological advancements