Planning, programming and assessing geography 7–10

Resources to help you plan, program and assess geography in Years 7–10.

The study of geography looks at where things are, why they are there and how humans interact with environments. It involves students investigating geographical issues including contemporary concepts such as sustainability. Students:

  • ask questions
  • acquire information
  • analyse data
  • evaluate consequences
  • contribute to the management of physical, social, cultural and built environments.

These skills are outlined in the K–10 geographical inquiry skills continuum.

Students of geography are encouraged to form and express their own ideas and arguments while critically assessing the opinions of others. This forms a basis for a deep understanding of geographical issues; active and informed civic participation and responsible membership of society.

Syllabus

The NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) Geography K–10 syllabus (2015) can assist you with programming Years 7–10 geography. It includes a guide to the syllabus, sample scope and sequences and sample units.

Geographical inquiry process

Use a process for geographical inquiry (DOCX 101 KB) to support programming in geography.

Teaching and learning frameworks

The following Stage 4 and 5 sample teaching and learning frameworks cover topics from the Geography K–10 Syllabus. Teachers may adapt these programs to suit the needs of individual students and their local school context.

Syllabus content

  • Landscapes and landforms
  • Value of landscapes and landforms
  • Changing landscapes
  • Landscapes management and protection
  • Geomorphic hazard

Teaching framework

Syllabus content

  • Influences and perceptions
  • Access to services and facilities
  • Environmental quality
  • Community
  • Enhancing liveability

Teaching framework

Syllabus content

  • Water resources
  • The water cycle
  • Australia's water resources
  • Water scarcity and water management
  • The value of water
  • Natural hazard

Teaching framework

Syllabus content

  • Personal connections
  • Technology
  • Trade
  • Production and consumption

Teaching framework

Interconnections

Syllabus content

  • Biomes
  • Changing biomes
  • Biomes produce food
  • Challenges to food production
  • Food security

Teaching framework

Sustainable biomes (DOCX 55 KB)

Syllabus content

  • Causes and consequences of urbanisation
  • Urban settlement patterns
  • Internal migration
  • International migration
  • Australia's urban future

Teaching framework

Syllabus content

  • Environments
  • Environmental change
  • Environmental management
  • Investigative study

Teaching framework

Syllabus content

  • Human wellbeing and development
  • Spatial variations in human wellbeing
  • Human wellbeing in Australia
  • Improving human wellbeing

Teaching framework

Human wellbeing (DOCX 53 KB)

The K–10 Geography teaching framework for Early Stage 1 to Stage 3 can be found on Planning, programming and assessing geography K–6.

Geography 7–10 Life Skills

HSIE Geography – Life Skills (DOCX 124 KB) — ideas for teaching Geography Years 7–10 Life Skills. It is designed to be amended, adapted and used according to your school policies and priorities.

Geography program evaluation

Geography K–10 program evaluation (DOCX 72.3 KB) scaffold will support you to evaluate your geography teaching and learning programs in a holistic way. Use this document to reflect on your programs as an individual or faculty, ensuring that they are compliant and fit for purpose

National Literacy and Numeracy learning progressions

The progressions can be used to identify the capabilities of students.

  • Learning progression indicators give you a clear foundation to target student learning needs and improve the achievement of course outcomes.
  • Progressions provide you with the anatomy of literacy and numeracy.
  • Progressions can be used to link students’ work samples to the indicators and can assist you in identifying the next phase in learning the skills of literacy and numeracy across and between indicators.

The following sample lesson plans aim to assist you to implement the National Literacy and Numeracy Learning Progressions into geography learning and teaching programs. They are a guide and may be amended and adapted to suit individualised learning and teaching programs.

Learning across the curriculum content

Other resources

  • Guide to using picture books in geography K–10 (PDF 4.52 MB)
    • Supports teachers to integrate picture books to enhance their geography teaching and programming
    • Provides examples of learning activities for picture books selected for their geographical and literary value
  • Terminology in geography K–10 (DOCX 79.4 KB)
    • The geography terminology continuum provides a list of essential vocabulary required of the NSW syllabus for the Australian curriculum K–10 geography
  • Geography for those new to teaching the subject (DOCX 1.61 MB)
    • A comprehensive resource to support new and out-of-subject teachers to develop their skills and confidence in teaching geography
    • Unpacks the Geography K–10 Syllabus (2015) in detail and includes a number of resources to support teachers in the use of geographical tools in the classroom and fieldwork opportunities
  • Geographical toolkit K–10 (DOCX 16.3 MB)
    • Unpacks the Tools continuum in Geography K–10 Syllabus (2015)
    • All students in geography K–10, have to use and integrate geographical tools throughout the geographical inquiry process and this resource provides examples of a variety of geographical tools and suggested stages where they can be applied

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  • Teaching and learning

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  • Classroom teachers
  • Educational Standards
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