Factors that shape places | Geography student learning resource | Field of Mars EEC
Resource overview
Factors that shape places is a Stage 3 geography learning resource from Field of Mars Environmental Education Centre that investigates how natural processes and human actions shape urban bushland and waterways over time. Across sixteen activities with videos and digital resources, students use 360° imagery, field sketches and virtual fieldwork, explore catchments and community use, and evaluate management strategies through tasks such as sign hunts and digital poster creation; it supports the Factors that shape places excursion or incursion.
Learning intention
- We are learning to understand and explain the different factors that shape urban bushland.
Lesson 1 - Characteristics of places
Students describe the characteristics of urban bushland by using 360º images, videos and field sketches to identify natural and built features.
Lesson 2 - Urban bushland
Students explore how people use urban bushland by identifying responsible and irresponsible behaviours and discussing how actions can help or harm these places.
Lesson 3 - Urban waterways
Students investigate how people influence urban waterways by following a catchment story, analysing Buffalo Creek water quality results and creating a message to encourage cleaner waterways.
Lesson 4 - Managing urban environments
Students examine who manages urban bushland, identify positive and negative impacts of different users and suggest management strategies to care for bushland places.
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Learning resources
Discover more primary learning resources from Field of Mars EEC
Factors that shape places excursion
Students investigate natural and human processes that shape places in Field of Mars Reserve and the local area, such as weathering, erosion, land use and settlement, using fieldwork, mapping and data collection.
Factors that shape places incursion
A geography incursion where students investigate natural and human processes that shape places in their local area, using maps, images and inquiry tasks to explore change over time and sustainable management.