Stage 5 - Environmental Change and Management

Geography

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Program Overview

This unique and highly engaging fieldwork program allows students to investigate first-hand how humans have caused environmental change in the Penrith Lakes Area. Students will see the extent of change to the physical characteristics of the area caused by mining. Students then undertake a primary research assessment of environmental impacts of human alterations to the area. This incorporates water testing, invertebrate sampling and birdlife survey. Finally there is a real life look at management strategies that aim minimise environmental impacts now and in the future.

Students are guaranteed to be involved in a number of engaging and ‘hands on’ experiences during the course of the day through which students will further develop their geography inquiry, field work and group work skills. Students will be thinking and working geographically, using geographic concepts and tools.

Focus

Geography Focus Area

Stage 6: Environmental Change and Management

Water Testing - Abiotic data collection

Macro-invertebrates - Biotic data collection

Waterside Residential Area

Tour to southern section of the Penrith Lakes Area

Program Activities

Introduction to Penrith Lakes and the development of the local freshwater ecosystem

Recess

Short tour to Waterside observing the land use in the Penrith Lakes catchment

Water Testing - Abiotic data collection off site in catchment - Waterside Residential Area

Water Management Practices at Waterside

Bird Observation, Recording and Analysis - Biotic Data Collection

Tour to southern section of the Penrith Lakes Area

Water Testing - Abiotic data collection on-site - Regatta Centre Warm up Lake

Macroinvertebrates Data Collection

Lunch

Wrap up - The success of water management strategies on the Penrith Lakes ecosystem

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Key Syllabus Outcomes

Stage 5 Geography – Environmental Change & Management

GE5 – PRI- 01 analyses the processes and interactions that change people, places and environments.
GE5 - MAN - 01 assesses different approaches to the management and protection of places and environments for sustainability

GE5 - TAP- 01 applies and evaluates a range of geographical tools to acquire and process geographical information

Geographical concepts

Geographical inquiry skills

Geographical tools

Geography 7-10 Syllabus (2024) - Stage 5

Key Content

Thinking and working geographically

Select and apply relevant geographical concepts
Engage in geographical inquiry using geographical information
Select a range of relevant geographical tools

Environmental change

Human-induced environmental changes over time across a range of scales

Consequences of environmental change

Inquiry question: How have human-induced environmental changes affected environments and people in the Penrith Lakes Area?

Environmental Management

Management strategies to reduce the impacts of environmental change, including prevention, mitigation and preparedness strategies

Methods used to assess sustainability when managing environmental change

Inquiry question: Why is an understanding of biophysical processes essential for sustainable management of the Penrith Lakes environment ?

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