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NSW Curriculum
NSW Education Standards Authority

11–12Geography 11–12 Syllabus

Record of changes
Implementation from 2024
Expand for detailed implementation advice

Content

Year 12

Life Skills for Stage 6

Through collaborative curriculum planning, it may be decided that Life Skills outcomes and content are the most appropriate option for some students with intellectual disability.

Human–environment interactions

As part of this focus area, teachers may choose for students to undertake an individual, collaborative or class study to develop an understanding of the interaction between Earth’s natural systems and people. Students may complete a whole study, part of a study or selected aspects of the study.

The areas of study for the Human–environment interactions study are suggestions only:

  • Study 1: A geographic region (this may fall within a state or country or encompass a small group of neighbouring countries)
  • Study 2: A contemporary natural hazard (for example bushfire, flood, earthquake, cyclone)
  • Study 3: A contemporary ecological hazard
  • Study 4: Climate change.

Teachers may choose their own area of study.

Change to Earth’s natural systems over time
  • Recognise natural change and human-induced change

  • Explore climate change and its causes over time

  • Recognise that changes to the Earth’s surface can be natural or human-induced

  • Identify ways that humans can affect a local physical environment

Land use and land cover change
  • Explore how human modifications impact physical environments

  • Collect and record data about human-induced change in a local physical environment

  • Outline how an understanding of natural systems helps humans to sustainably manage Earth’s environments

  • Describe the perspectives of a range of groups about human impacts on the environment

Study 1: A geographic region
  • Location and spatial dimensions of the chosen geographic region

  • Characteristics of the natural environment

  • A physical force in action

  • Spatial patterns

  • Interaction of natural forces and human activity

  • Geographic challenges

  • Responses to geographic opportunities and challenges for future responses

Study 2: A contemporary natural hazard
  • The location, spatial distribution and features of the natural hazard at the chosen scale

  • Characteristics of the natural environment in which the natural hazard or event occurs

  • The physical force in action

  • Spatial patterns

  • Interaction of natural forces and human activity

  • Geographic challenges

  • Responses to geographic challenges

  • Opportunities for future responses to the geographic challenge

Study 3: A contemporary ecological hazard
  • Location and nature of the chosen ecological hazard

  • Characteristics of the natural environment that has experienced an ecological hazard

  • Spatial distributions of an ecological hazard

  • Interaction of natural forces and human activity

  • Geographic challenges

  • Responses to a geographic challenge

  • Opportunities for future responses to the geographic challenge

Study 4: Climate change
  • Location and characteristics of the natural environment

  • Physical forces in action

  • Spatial patterns

  • Interaction of natural forces and human activity

  • Geographic challenges

  • Responses to a geographic challenge

  • Opportunities for future responses to the geographic challenge

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