Geography Teachers' Association of Victoria Inc.

Resources

Orbis Library
Organisations
Units of work
VCE journal articles
VCE resources

Topographic map set – support materials

GTAV Topographic Map Set 5

Limited numbers of topographic maps from GTAV topographic map set 5 are available at a heavily discounted price. A number of activities relating to these maps and aerial photographs were published in past editions of Interaction.  Due to this special sale, these activities have now been made available for download from the links below.

Berwick :: Mallacoota :: Mildura :: Mt Buller

Some additional activities relating to the VCE Murray-Darling Basin are also available. 

Introduce students to mapping skills through these colourful maps or relate the map areas to specific studies, including fieldwork.  Use the maps in preparing SACs.  Revise skills and topics (change over time in human environments (Berwick); coastal landforms (Mallacoota); land use in the MDB; alpine and recreation studies (Mt Buller). Download an order form.

Trial Examination Paper 2010

The GTAV trial examination paper supports VCE Geography teachers in addressing the criteria for the examination as specified by the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority. The format is similar to the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority paper. The colour A4 data booklet uses a variety of data – maps, graphs, photographs, tables and text extracts. A separate question booklet includes spaces for responses and base maps and table layouts. Download an order form.

New Perspectives Supplement VCE 1-4

This supplementary booklet to the New Perspectives text book published by the GTAV includes new data and information on the two mandated topics for unit 3 and 4 – the Murray-Darling Basin and Human Population. Features include:
* new case studies
* updated data (including maps,
* graphs and statistics)
* new design
* full colour.
The booklet will be available towards the end of 2009 in time to be included on school booklists. Download an order form.

Geospatial Skills Activity Book: Level 5

This 72-page activity book complements the skills being taught
in the classroom by providing students with interesting and
fun activities where they apply the Geoskills learnt.

Tear-out, double-page sheets are self-contained and refer
to black-and-white data as well as 16 pages of colour data in
the centre of the book. Download an order form.

Geography – It's essential

A clear and user-friendly guide setting out the place of Geography in the curiculum. The booklet aims to

* increase awareness and understanding of the characteristics and value of Geography
* support both primary and secondary educators in clarifying the essential components of teaching Geography
* draw together all the current resources that have been written about Geography methodology and skill development, providing links to these.

The full document is available here. Links within the document are hyperlinked to supporting documents.

Why Geography is important

Susy Puszka and Leonie Brown, co-presidents of the GTAV, put the case for Geography's inclusion in the 'core' curriculum.

Many of the most pressing issues currently facing our society are geographic in nature. A cursory flick through any newspaper on any given day would attest to this: climate change, water security, the Murray-Darling Basin, forest management, our ageing population, planning matters, geopolitical conflict and development issues are all topics which students can examine in depth within the Geography classroom. If we want a well-informed and civic-minded population, we can do no better than encourage the study of Geography.

Read the full article

VCE Examiners presentation

Purchase a DVD of the examiners' presntation held on 13 February 2009 – download an order form here.

Beijing Olympics 2008

Geography unit published by AFSSSE - download

Impact of the Beijing Games by Dr Andrew Lee publiched by AGTA & Geographical Association, UK - download

Geoinvestigation:  Fiji

The GTAV has produced an A2 broadsheet rich in data to support the teaching of the Pacific at VELS Level 5 and to develop the knowledge and understanding of one Pacific nation - Fiji. Geospatial skill development can be enhanced through the range of data that includes a topographic map extract, rainfall and land use maps, numerous images, and a variety of statistical data, often represented as tables and using assorted graph styles.

• VELS grid for Level 5 (20KB PDF)
• To the teacher: approaches to using the broadsheet (20KB PDF)
• Class activities (75KB PDF)
• Data sources and acknowledgements (11KB PDF)
• Purchasing the broadsheet (208KB PDF)

Annual conference presentations

Teaching about sustainablity using the Olympics

Keynote presentation by Bob Digby, Community Geographer, Geographical Association, United Kingdom on Monday 13 August 2007 at the GTAV annual conference. Download here (3.9 MB PDF)

What is special about learning through enquiry?

Keynote presentation by Margaret Roberts, Geographical Association, United Kingdom on Sunday 12 August 2007. Download here. (1.9 MB PDF)

Water Management in the Murray-Darling Basin

Workshop presentation by Wendy Craik. Download here. (2.3 MB PDF)

Things That Matter – Poster-based teaching and learning strategies

A series of activities to support the use of cartoons published by AGTA. The posters on which these activities are based can be purchased from the GTAV or other state-based AGTA affiliates. AGTA would like to acknowledge the support of Peter Nicholson, cartoonist for The Australian newspaper, for his support of this important initiative. Download a cartoon order form.

Introduction
Poster Activity 1
Poster Activity 2
Poster Activity 3
Poster Activity 4
Poster Activity 5

VCE Geography 2006-2009

As part of the VCE support for the new study design VCAA has given permission for the presentation slides used in the PD sessions through August and September 2005 to be put up on the GTAV website.

1. VCAA presentation (79KB Adobe Acrobat file).
2. Natural Environments
   • Carbon and water resources in a Mountain Ash Forest - presented by Jason Beringer (1.1MB Adobe Acrobat file)
   • Impact of urbanisation on local climates in Melbourne - presented by Andrew Coutts and Jason Beringer (5MB Adobe Acrobat file)
   • Murray-Darling Basin - A Living Landscape - presented by Lawrie Kirk, Manager Communication, MDBC
     Part 1 (1.7MB Adobe Acrobat file)
     Part 2 (470KB Adobe Acrobat file)
     Part 3 (318KB Adobe Acrobat file)
     Part 4 (728KB Adobe Acrobat file)
     Part 5 (238KB Adobe Acrobat file)
     A copy of More Than A River - The Murray-Darling system and its people and The story of Lake Victoria (DVD and video) are available through the GTAV's Orbis Library.
     
3. Human Environments
   • Urbanisation,dynamics of change and sustainability - presented by Dr Elissa Sutherland
     • Part A (1.3MB Adobe Acrobat file)
     • Part B (592KB Adobe Acrobat file)
   • The World’s population: trends, prospects and challenges - by Jeremy Reynolds (919KB Adobe Acrobat file)

CensusAtSchool data is now available

CensusAtSchool is a resource that allows you and your students to access random samples of raw data about Australian students. 112,000 students (4,295 ACT) have provided their data for the database. This raw data is a very flexible resource that can be used by students from Year 5 through to Year 12.  CensusAtSchool can be accessed here or by going to the ABS web site and clicking on Education Resources in the top right corner, just under the green banner. CensusAtSchool is one of the first menu items. The Random Sampler can be accessed from the Teacher Area or the Student Area.  For more information visit the web site or contact the CensusAtSchool team via email censusatschool@abs.gov.au or phone 1800 623 273.

East Timor materials

• Access resource materials on East Timor here