Features of Places - Teaching resources

1.     What are natural and human features?

With your students walk around the school grounds and ask the students to identify human and natural features they can see. Take photos of different features or have students sketch a human and natural feature.

2.     How do we care for places?

Use the information gathered on the school walk to get the students thinking about how they use these built and natural features, and how they can be cared for. Students pick one human and one natural feature of their school environment to draw and write a couple of sentences about what the feature is, how they use it and how they can care for it.

3.     What are National Parks and how do we care for them?

A National Park is a special area of land that protects Australian native plants and animals, places of cultural significance and natural features. National Parks have a saying to help you care for this place:

        Take nothing but photos, leave nothing but footprints

Ask your students:

-        What do you think this means?

-        How will this help you on your excursion?

1.     Natural features

Using the guiding questions below, students draw their favourite natural feature that they observed on the excursion, and write a few sentences about what it is and how they can protect it for other people to enjoy. 

-        What were some natural features they observed on the excursion? 

-        What was their favourite? 

-        What was so special about it? 

-        What can people do to protect this natural feature? 

2.     Make a Sound Map

A Sound Map is an excellent activity for instilling greater awareness of one’s surroundings.

Take your students outside and have them create a sound map of the natural and human features they hear.

3.     Mapping - Features of my school

On the excursion, students used a bird’s eye view map.

Look at a google map image of your school grounds (a bird’s eye view map). Locate your classroom and other significant features.

Have students draw a simple map of the school (a bird’s eye view) and mark natural and human features on their map using simple symbols.