HASS SKILLS
7 key geography concepts
Scale: The different levels at which geographical studies can take place from local areas to global patterns around the world.
Place: A specific area on Earth that has physical and human characteristics, making it unique and meaningful for people.
Interconnections: The ways in which people, places and environments are linked and how these connections influence changes and events. It is a two-way street, where both parties benefit.
Change: Process of how places develop and transform over time due to natural and/or human influences.
Environment: The abiotic, biotic, cultural and physical elements that make up our surroundings, including land, water, air, animals, plants and human influence.
Sustainability: Meeting the needs of current and future generations by considering economic, social and environmental aspects.
Space: The way things are arranged in a place, how they interact and why they are located where they are.
(SPICESS).
Environmental worldviews: Earth centered, man centered, and our Christian worldview.
Earth centered is the belief that the earth/nature is more important than humans
Man centered is the belief that man should focus on providing for itself through technological processes. They don’t rely on the environment.
Our Christian worldview is that man should use resources responsibly and should care for creation.
Sustainability: Meeting the needs of current and future generations by considering economic, social and environmental aspects.
Environment: all features that surround and influence our lives.
Non-living and living elements
Includes human changes to the Earth’s surface (e.g. croplands, planted forests, buildings and roads).
Spheres: hydro, atmo, litho and biospheres.
Biophysical Environment: Physical, chemical and biological factors. The interactions between abiotic, biotic and physical environments. Elements are all dependent on each other. They rely on each other for survival.
Functions of the Coast: not including coastal processes.
Environmental: protects inland natural and cultural environments and the moderation of climate.
Economical: Trade, tourism, transport, fishing, mining etc.
Social: Living and leisure activities.
The coast is a:
Buffer zone which absorbs the energy of the sea/waves.
Breeding ground – a nutrient rich environment for plant and animal species.
Cultural importance, especially for Aboriginals, but also the stereotype of Australian culture.
4 ‘S’ Functions of the Coast:
Source: earth's natural resources that have originated directly from the biophysical environment.
Sink: earth’s ability to absorb waste and pollution produced by humans.
Service: provision of environmental services that support life (atmosphere, climate regulation).
Spirituality: recreation, physiological, aesthetic and spiritual functions.
PQE: way to describe trends/patterns, and to analyse them.
Pattern
Quantify: reference source – percentages are good when there are no numbers available.
Exceptions: to the pattern.
SHEEPT:
Social – factors relating to culture and people
Historical – factors relating to past events
Environmental – factors relating to natural environment (including climate, landforms and vegetation)
Economic – factors related to the earning and spending of money
Political – factors relating to the government
Technological – factors relating to the availability and use of different types of technology
Field Sketching: will need to label coastal processes (eg constructive/destructive waves) on sketch (and annotate I suppose – which means we need to know coastal processes)
Transect:
A transect is a cross-sectional view between two points, a simplified version of what exists on the ground.
Sketch a cross-section by observing and recording the height of the land between two selected points.
Measure and record the distance between points and include this information in the sketch.
Record approx. height above sea level on vertical scale.
Gather information.
Simplify what is observed (eg look for the main vegetation)
Give your diagram a scale and a title.
While making observations, take photos and make sketches.