Biomes of Australia
Biomes and ecosystems
Curriculum overview
The Australian Curriculum: Geography content description addressed in the illustration is:
The distribution and characteristics of biomes as regions with distinctive climates, soils, vegetation and productivity (ACHGK060)
Source: Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA).
Learning goals
The illustration-specific learning goals are:
understanding that ecosystems are communities of living things together with the physical environment that sustains them developing the ability to identify ecosystems at all scales, from a small patch of vegetation to the earth's biosphere developing the capacity to identify and describe the major biomes of Australia and the world, and explaine their spatial distribution understanding the relationship between climate soils and vegetation.
Geographical understanding and context
Biomes are major world ecosystems characterised by distinctive climates, soils and vegetation. Throughout history humans have depended on biomes for their survival, and have modified them to produce food and a wide range of other products.
An understanding of the nature of the original biomes is necessary if we are to develop more sustainable primary production systems. The sustainability of the systems depends on restoring some of the characteristics and functions of the original ecosystems.
Teaching approaches
This illustration of practice is based on four areas of inquiry, and resources are provided to support students inquiry activities.
1. Exploring environmental spheres
Introduction to ecosystems (PDF, 758 KB) features the information and activities needed to introduce students to the four environmental spheres, ecosystems and biomes. Ask students to read the information and undertake the various activities contained in the resource. They will investigate the various relationships between the living and non-living components of an
Curriculum overview
The Australian Curriculum: Geography content description addressed in the illustration is:
The distribution and characteristics of biomes as regions with distinctive climates, soils, vegetation and productivity (ACHGK060)
Source: Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA).
Learning goals
The illustration-specific learning goals are:
understanding that ecosystems are communities of living things together with the physical environment that sustains them developing the ability to identify ecosystems at all scales, from a small patch of vegetation to the earth's biosphere developing the capacity to identify and describe the major biomes of Australia and the world, and explaine their spatial distribution understanding the relationship between climate soils and vegetation.
Geographical understanding and context
Biomes are major world ecosystems characterised by distinctive climates, soils and vegetation. Throughout history humans have depended on biomes for their survival, and have modified them to produce food and a wide range of other products.
An understanding of the nature of the original biomes is necessary if we are to develop more sustainable primary production systems. The sustainability of the systems depends on restoring some of the characteristics and functions of the original ecosystems.
Teaching approaches
This illustration of practice is based on four areas of inquiry, and resources are provided to support students inquiry activities.
1. Exploring environmental spheres
Introduction to ecosystems (PDF, 758 KB) features the information and activities needed to introduce students to the four environmental spheres, ecosystems and biomes. Ask students to read the information and undertake the various activities contained in the resource. They will investigate the various relationships between the living and non-living components of an