Objective

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to understand what a place is and locate major geographical divisions of the world in relation to Australia.

Materials and Prep

• Globe or world map
• Computer or tablet with internet access (optional for using Google Earth)

No prior knowledge or materials are required for this lesson.

Activities

1. Locating Continents: Use a globe or world map to find and name the seven continents. Write down the names of each continent and discuss their locations in relation to Australia.
2. Discovering Oceans: Identify and name the five oceans of the world. Discuss their locations and how they surround the continents.
3. Mapping the Equator and Poles: Locate and mark the equator, North Pole, and South Pole on a map or globe. Discuss their significance and how they divide the Earth.
4. Exploring Tropics and Hemispheres: Learn about the tropics and hemispheres. Identify the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn on a map. Discuss the concept of hemispheres and how they divide the Earth into different parts.
5. Understanding Local Place Names: Research the names of features and places in your local area. Discuss the meanings behind these names and why they were chosen. Share your findings with the class.
6. Learning from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples: Investigate the names and meanings given to local features and places by the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. Discuss the importance of Indigenous perspectives in understanding places.
7. Exploring Hierarchy of Places: Describe the hierarchy of places from your personal scale (home) to the regional scale (state) and national scale (country). Discuss the differences between these scales and how they contribute to defining places.
8. Recognizing Major Geographical Divisions: Review the major geographical divisions of the world, including continents, oceans, equator, poles, tropics, and hemispheres. Discuss their importance in understanding the Earth's surface.

Talking Points

• "A place is a part of the Earth's surface that has been given meaning by people. It can be a city, a country, a continent, or even your own home!"
• "To locate continents, we can use a globe or world map. Can you name any continents? Let's find them together!"
• "Oceans are huge bodies of saltwater that surround the continents. Can you name any oceans?"
• "The equator is an imaginary line that divides the Earth into the Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere. The North Pole is at the top of the Earth, and the South Pole is at the bottom. Can you find them on a map?"
• "The tropics are areas near the equator that receive a lot of sunlight and are usually warm. The Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn mark the boundaries of the tropics. Can you point them out on a map?"
• "Local place names often have interesting meanings. Let's research and share the meanings behind the names of places in our own area."
• "Indigenous peoples have their own names and meanings for places. It's important to learn from their perspectives and respect their knowledge."
• "Places can be organized into different scales. From your home to your state and country, each scale represents a different level of importance and size."
• "By recognizing major geographical divisions, we can better understand how the Earth is divided and how different places are connected."