Land+Down-Under+Task

Back to homepage Studying Australia opens up many opportunities for the students to learn many elements of the curriculum. Australia offers the opportunity to study geography due to its diverse landscape. It's also an opportunity to study animals and their habitats due to the many different Australian species. For example, who can resist a kangaroo or a koala? It allows you to explore the many different elements such as emblems, currency, flag, culture, history, government and icons of Australia. As well as exploring different technologies for research and presentation. __**Task Overview**__ Students are encouraged to explore Australia on a visual dimension, using technology to support learning, student will discover many differents aspects and elements of Australia. Also encouraging students to represent there ideas's, present organised multimedia, using techology to provide information, facilitate collaboration and learn by reflecting.
 * __An Authentic Learning Experience for Students to Learn the Wonders of Australia__**

Over a term period the task or main object is learning the geography of Australia incorporating the flag, animals, goverments, history and tourist icons of Australia. The students in small groups are required to establish an itinerary, cost their travels using student resources and the internet, create a budget for travel and create a website or power point to present their work. There are many more resources and suggestions on our **resource page** for both students and teachers. The children will be required to write a blog outlining their experiences, similar to that of a travel diary but on a electronic database, and finally a reflection and final presentation. __**Teacher Advice**__ This wikispace is designed for teachers to get ideas and resourcers for the teaching of Australia incorporating many elements of learning. The suggestions below will assist you in establishing your our own lesson plan. Brainstorming and discussions are a large part of this task with collaboration between students. In the first week of starting this task we suggest establishing groups of 3 - 4 students. After your class discussion breaking into groups and establishing the travelmode, budget, things to see and do, from here you could either allocate a segment of the journey to each small group and then collaborate as a class or you could work in small groups on each segment of the journey. At the end of each week the students are expected to reflect in the kid blog. All resources for the teaching of this task are in the resouce page with links for each suggested resource. You will also see we have incorporated examples of what is expected from the students and a final presentation for the student to gain understanding of the task.

__**Suggested Lesson Plan Schedule**__ Lesson plans over a 10 week period (term)
 * Week 1 – Brainstorm the task and expectations, discussing the areas to visit, things to see, experiences to have, technologies to use.
 * Week 2 - Perth – Adelaide establish budget documents and itinerary flights/cost/time difference/budget/sights/icons
 * Week 3 - Adelaide – Melbourne adding on the the established itnerary with icons/budget/cost/times
 * Week 4 - Melbourne – Brisbane adding to established itinerary with budget/times/icons/times
 * Week 5 - Brisbane - Perth add to established itinerary total distance traveled/different time zones/ total cost / collborate all icons
 * Week 6 - Final details and research present slide show to assist in presentation of final product
 * Week 7 - PowerPoint preparation learn and create powerpoint
 * Week 8 - Presentation/power point/ website discussion on finishings
 * Week 9 - Reflection/finish blog what have they learnt
 * Week 10 - Parents viewing or USB sent home for parents to view.

__**Key Learning Objectives**__
 * Students understand the geographical elements of Australia
 * Students identify key Australian tourist icons
 * Students recognise some of the many technology databases and presentation tools
 * Students gain understanding of mathematics in a authentic environment
 * Students gain skills in planning, scheduling and timing
 * Students use literacy skills in many different genres

__**Suggestions of the 10 experiences the students are required to incorporate into their travel itinerary are:**__ __**Final Presentation**__
 * Animal sanctuary/zoo/park such as Taronga Zoo or Sydney Aquarium
 * Icon of Australia such as the Sydney Opera House
 * A well-known beach such as Melbourne’s Bells Beach or Sydney’s Bondi Beach
 * A Theme Park such as SeaWorld or Luna Park
 * A Museum such a Maritime Museum
 * Food tasting experience
 * Indigenous cultural experience
 * Recreation experience such as Sydney Harbour Bridge climb or surfing at Bells Beach
 * A New experience –something to challenge the student
 * Government house or representative
 * Example PowerPoint Presentation [[file:My Trip Around Australia.pptx]]



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