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Education Services home page > Geography GEO 01 – Whatever Happened to? You can download these activities as rich text files (RTF) using the links at the bottom of the page. Subject Area Geography Suggested Level 7–8 Overview In this unit the loss of biodiversity in Australia is studied with a variety of group activities for students. Each activity contributes to a large classroom display about the topic based on a timeline constructed from 1788 to the present day. The activities cater for a range of learning styles and variations in group size. Groups select different activities based upon their interest. Information has been drawn from ABS publication Measures of Australia's progress (cat.no.1370.0) and other ABS publications and should be supplemented with texts, atlases and the internet. Exploration of the topic begins with a class brainstorm before groups undertake their own learning tasks. The tasks cover the nature of faunal extinction on the Australian continent, examination of changes over time, noting in particular the role of population increase, vegetation clearance and introduced species. Students may investigate one or more endangered species, compare the conservation of land in Australia's states and territories and explore some of Australia’s national parks. The information gained is shared through the classroom display, a presentation from each group and completion of a crossword or game to integrate the learning undertaken. Requirements Computer Internet Connection Spreadsheet software program Pens and paper Large maps of Australia suitable for a wall display Additional resources such as atlases and textbooks Instructions Clear a large space on the classroom wall. The creation of large maps of Australia suitable for display may be achieved by projecting an image of the country onto a wall space covered with a large sheet of paper. Alternatively, photocopy several large maps. Activities The table below outlines the theme and nature of each activity. Each activity is available for download at the end of this document. Activity Title Theme Comments Whole Class Activity 1 What do we mean by environment? Explore the nature of the environment All students complete Brainstorming Mindmapping May be assessed for detail, organisations and correct classification, facility with mind mapping software Group Activity 1 Is Australia an important biodiversity hotspot? Explores endemic species and makes comparison with selected other countries Graph and mapping 2 students Group Activity 2 Which species have become extinct? Explores mammalian extinction in Australia Creation of timeline Research Digital imagery of species Caricatures of species 4 students Group Activity 3 Which species are threatened? Explores threatened species Graph creation and analysis 2 students Group Activity 4 How has Australia's population grown? Explores the growth of population from 1788 to present day Timeline and graphing 3–4 students Group Activity 5 Which species have been introduced? Explores introduced animals Research 3–6 students Group Activity 6 Where has land been cleared in Australia? Explores land clearance Graph and mapping 6 students Group Activity 7 Making a tree of life Explores the importance of trees for biodiversity Creative construction of material for display Research 4–6 students Group Activity 8 How are we protecting biodiversity? Explores conservation of land in Australia's states, territories and national parks Mapping Research 4 students Whole Class Activity 2 Class Presentations Each group present their main finding to the class Extra Activities Completion of crosswords and word search Creation of crosswords and game Consolidation of learning Individuals Whole Class Activity 1 Refer students to the student worksheet class activity 1. Ask the students to brainstorm what the word 'Environment' means to them. Students may present their responses on the worksheet or use a mind mapping tool. Ask students to classify their ideas. The diagram (Figure 1) showing the four spheres and human interaction is provided as an example of an approach. The overlap between the human or built environment and the four spheres are points for discussion. Ask the students to annotate the diagram with appropriate images. Note: Begin by developing the four natural spheres, before considering the interaction of people with the natural environment. Environment: the aggregate of surrounding things, conditions, or influences (Macquarie Dictionary). Answers Group Activity 1 Mammals Number species Endemic species % Endemic Mammals 252 225 89 Birds 497 387 78 Reptiles 876 760 87 Source: World Resources Institute, EarthTrends available at http://earthtrends.wri.org/ Group Activity 3 Term Definition Most severe Extinct There is no doubt that the last member of the species has died Extinct in the wild Species is known to only survive in captivity or cultivation Critically endangered Species is facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild in immediate future Conservation dependent Species is the focus of a conservation program without which it would become vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered within 5 years Endangered Species is not critically endangered or endangered, but is facing a high risk of extinction in the wild in the medium -term future Least severe Vulnerable Species is not critically endangered Source: Department of Environment and Heritage, Threatened species and ecological communities in Australia, pamphlet sighted 12th April 2010 Group Activity 6 Table: annual area of land cleared (hectares), 2005 2005 (ha) 2005 (Km2) Area of State and Territory (Km2) Area of Land Cleared as % of State or Territory New South Wales 59 100 591 800 642 0.074 Victoria 27 400 274 227 416 0.120 Queensland 187 100 1871 1 730 648 0.108 South Australia 9 300 93 983 482 0.009 Western Australia 38 200 382 2 529 875 0.015 Tasmania 7 900 79 68 401 0.115 Northern Territory 7 900 79 1 349 129 0.006 Australia 333 600 3336 7 692 024 0.043 Source: Adapted from Measures of Australia’s Progress: Summary Indicators, Table 7, 2009 Glossary Biodiversity – (biological diversity) the existence of a huge variety of living things on earth – plants, animals and micro-organisms. Endemic- found nowhere else on earth. Deforestation- loss of forested areas Extinct- There is no reasonable doubt that the last member of the species has died Extinct in the wild- Species is known to survive only in captivity or cultivation Critically endangered- Species is facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild in immediate future Endangered- Species is not critically endangered or endangered, but is facing a high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future Infrastructure – the roads, railways, water supply, electricity, gas, phone networks and other capital equipment that supports a region. Vulnerable- Species is not critically endangered Conservation dependent - Species is the focus of a conservation program without which it would become vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered within 5 years References (Note: Links to ABS publications are to the most recent release. Previous releases can be accessed by selecting the 'Past & Future Releases' tab.) Australian Historical Population Statistics Pub. No. 3105.0.65.001, http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/3105.0.65.001 Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, <http://www.environment.gov.au/>, last viewed June 2010 Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, Protected Area Management Agencies in Australia and New Zealand, <http://www.environment.gov.au/parks/hoa.html>, last viewed June 2010 Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, <http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/invasive/index.html>, last viewed June 2010 Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, <http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicthreatenedlist.pl?wanted=fauna>, last viewed June 2010. Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, <http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/invasive/ferals/index.html>, last viewed June 2010 Measuring Australia’s Progress, 2002, Mammalian Extinctions since 1788, Cat. No 1370.0, <http://www8.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/2f762f95845417aeca25706c00834efa/9A0C82D0F59158DCCA256BDC0012240D?opendocument>, last viewed June 2010. (10 Based on information in Flannery, T. and Schouten, P. 2001, A Gap in Nature, Text Publishing, Melbourne; and data from the Committee for Recently Extinct Organisms, URL: www.crea.amnh.org last viewed 22 February 2002. 11 Strahan, R. 1995, The Mammals of Australia, Reed Books, Chatswood, NSW.) Measures of Australia’s Progress, 2006, http://www8.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/allprimarymainfeatures/8CCED7939CA66EC6CA25717F0019014A?opendocument World Resources Institute <http://earthtrends.wri.org/pdf_library/country_profiles/bio_cou_036.pdf> last viewed June 2010 Downloads Class Activity (RTF file, 661 KB) Group Activities (RTF file, 719 KB) (RTF file, 764 KB) (RTF file, 715 KB) (RTF file, 731 KB) (RTF file, 927 KB) (RTF file, 1,075 KB) (RTF file, 931 KB) (RTF file, 684 KB) Revision Worksheets (RTF file, 3.4 MB) (RTF file, 648 KB) (RTF file, 673 KB) (RTF file, 623 KB) To provide any feedback regarding this activity, please contact ABS Education Services on 1800 623 273 or email education@abs.gov.au. Back to Geography Classroom Activities This page last updated 28 May 2012

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