Core units: Years F-4 — Key understandings

Illustration 1: Pointers to understanding

Introduction

This illustration of professional practice is based on a series of PowerPoint presentations designed for teachers keen to develop their understanding of the demands of teaching geography in Years F–4. You can view these individually, or perhaps use them more appropriately in professional development activities and staff meetings. They could, for example, be used as a basis for discussion and preparation of learning and teaching programs, and the conceptualisation of classroom learning experiences.

Learning goals

The illustration-specific learning goals are:

  • understanding the aims of teaching primary school geography, and how we know when we achieve these
  • understanding the basic ideas of geography
  • developing an appreciation of the contribution of geography to the three cross-curriculum priorities in the Australian Curriculum
  • developing knowledge of links between geography and other learning areas in Years F–4.

Geographical understanding and context

Four PowerPoint are provided to support your planning and practice. All information contained in the PowerPoints are based on Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) materials.

  • Aims in teaching primary school geography. What are we aiming at in teaching primary school geography? How do we know when we achieve it? The PowerPoint presentation:
    • describes each of the aims of Australian Curriculum: Geography
    • provides suggestions regarding the indicators that can be observed to show the aims are being achieved.
  • The basic ideas of geography. What are the basic ideas of geography? What things does a primary teacher need to keep in mind? The PowerPoint presentation:
    • introduces you to some of the big ideas of geography.
  • Geography links with cross-curriculum priorities. How does geography contribute to the three cross-curriculum priorities in the Australian Curriculum? What things can a primary teacher introduce to students? The PowerPoint presentation:
    • describes each of the three cross-curriculum priorities
    • describes the ways that geography contributes to achieving each of the cross-curriculum priorities.
  • Geography links with other learning areas. What are the links between geography and other learning areas in Years F–4? What things can a primary teacher introduce to students? The PowerPoint presentation:
    • highlights content statements from Australian Curriculum science, mathematics, history and English which link with those in geography.

Teaching approaches

Teaching approaches suggested for Years F–4 in this illustration of practice are intended to give you an understanding of the place of geography in the Australian Curriculum, and how to integrate it into your teaching.

The presentations can be viewed individually, or in a staff meeting or professional development activity led by a facilitating teacher or team leader. They can be used as the basis for discussion and planning. They can also be used as a checklist in the planning of teaching units and lessons.

The presentations are intended to help you clarify your own understandings of aims, priorities and concepts in geography so that you can help students develop their understandings to their highest potential.

What you need

Aims in teaching primary school geography (PPT). What are we aiming at in teaching primary school geography? How do we know when we achieve it?

The basic ideas of geography (PPT). What are the basic ideas of geography? What things does a primary teacher need to keep in mind?

Geography links with cross-curriculum priorities (PPT). How geography contributes to the three cross-curriculum priorities in the Australian Curriculum? What things can a primary teacher introduce to students?

Geography links with other learning areas (PPT). What are the links between geography and other learning areas in Years F–4? What things can a primary teacher introduce to students?