Stage 2 – Geography – Significance of Environments

Stage 2 students sketching and identifying landmarks at Bournda Lagoon, Bournda National Park

 

Program Overview


Bournda National Park is located on the Far South Coast of NSW, between the small towns of Tathra and Merimbula. The Park is very popular with locals and tourists who come to enjoy the spectacular coastal scenery and rich biodiversity.

Students will be guided through the geography inquiry process to answer key questions about the important features of the Park and to find out about its history. Students will observe how the park is used by different people and discuss why the Park needs to be protected.

Key Questions


  1. Where is Bournda National Park?
  2. What features of Bournda National Park make it unique?
  3. How do people use this Park?
  4. Why does this Park need to be protected?

Learning Experiences and Content

Geographical Tools


Students will:

  • use a map to find their way around Bournda National Park.
  • use field sketches and annotated diagrams to collect data about natural features and human use of the Park.

An interactive Google Map has been prepared to highlight the significant features that the students will explore during their field trip.  Students can edit the map to add photos, text and other information that they collect. The map can be viewed in your browser or in the Google Maps app.

A Google Map for the program is available

Bournda National Park walk from the Field Studies Hut to Hobart Beach Camping Ground


During the walk students look at different locations in the Park and discuss the natural features, habitats and use by people. Students take on the role of a specific Park user and identify how they will look after the Park and follow rules to protect the environment.

Bournda Lagoon Lookout – The spectacular beauty of Bournda National Park


Students will complete a simple sketch and identify important landmarks. A map will be used to mark each location that is visited including Bournda Lagoon, Bournda Beach and Bournda “Island”.  Students should be able to identify waterbirds and a range of plant communities including the Bournda Rainforest from this location.

Bondi Lake Track to the Shelter Shed – A journey through history.


The Bondi Lake track has a wonderful history. Students will discuss how Aboriginal people used the natural environment and how traditional pathways connected important parts of the landscape. The establishment of a road by Surveyor Bransby in the 1850s gets students thinking about the human impacts that have changed this area over the last 200 years.

Preparing for an Excursion

Post-visit material

Syllabus Outcomes


Geography K-6

  • GE2-1 examines features and characteristics of places and environments.
  • GE2-2 describes the ways people, places and environments interact.
  • GE2-3 examines differing perceptions about the management of places and environments.
  • GE2-4 acquires and communicates geographical information using geographical tools for inquiry.

Geography Content


This program explicitly teaches: Significance of environments

Students: investigate the importance of natural vegetation and natural resources to the environment, animals and people, for example: (ACHGK021, ACHGK022, ACHGK024).

  • identification of types of natural vegetation eg forests, grasslands, deserts.
  • explanation of the importance of natural vegetation to animals and the functioning of the
    environment eg provision of habitats, production of oxygen.

Supports: Perception of environments

Students: investigate the ways people, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, value environments, for example:
(ACHGK022, ACHGK023, ACHGK024)

Description of how custodial responsibility for Country/Place influences Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ views of the environment.

Differentiation adjustments for High Potential and Gifted students


Higher Order thinking – What if we didn’t have National Parks? Use six thinking hats for a deeper analysis.

Complexity –  How can we share with others the value of National Parks? Do different people value National Parks in different ways? Role playing different park users and their different needs.