Research and Development - CARTOGRAPHER

How ancient Aboriginal star maps have shaped Australia's highway network

Middle  Secondary

Australian Curriculum Cross Curriculum Priorities: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures

Australian Curriculum General Capability: Critical and creative thinking
Australian Curriculum General Capability: Personal and social capability

Australian Curriculum General Capability: ICT Capability

1. You are to read the following article from The Conversation 7 April 2016. With a partner, list 10 things that interested you both. Was there any facts you thought amazing? Some you disagreed on?

You might want to listen to this audio file of the interview as well: SBS

2. Look at the road map overlaid with the Star Map as shown in the Conversation. 

Here is the Star Map of this section of the Milky Way

(Source: Earth Date)

Using Google Earth, find the distances between:

a. Dalby to Chinchilla

b. Chinchilla to Surat

c. Surat to Carnarvon Gorge

d. Surat to Goodooga.

3. The Conversation mentions the Kamilaroi Highway running from the Hunter Valley to Bourke in NSW. Find a map of this highway.

4. Using SWAY, you are to make a detailed presentation that shows the effect of Aboriginal star maps on the creation of our national highways. Include a map of the Kamilaroi Highway.

5.

Reflection.

What have you learnt about Aboriginal star maps?

Cartography, Politics  & History

Secondary

Australian Curriculum General Capability: Critical and creative thinking

Australian Curriculum General Capability: Literacy

Australian Curriculum General Capability: ICT Capability

Cooperative Learning Activity

Teacher

You are going to use the Expert Jigsaw Strategy to cover the content of this activity. Here are the details about the Expert Jigsaw Strategy.

Students

1. In groups of four, you are each to research ONE of the following articles 

The Conversation 11 August Putting 'Australia' on the map	The Conversation: 30 January 2013 Google's map of North Korea stirs social media passion and tensions
The Conversation 23 March 2017: Five maps that will change how you see the world	The Conversation 14 August 2015: The truth about politics and cartography: mapping claims to the Artic seabed

2. Explain the contents and the implications of each of the articles to each other using the Expert Jigsaw Strategy.

3. In order to explain these articles to the rest of the class [or another class],  your group is to make an entertaining presentation using Voki answering the Big Question:

"What are the implications in Political terms of cartography?"

4. In an essay, give your own opinions, ideas and thoughts about the Political implications of cartography.

An Introduction to Bathymetry (developed by Olivia Belshaw, Jindabyne High School)

Middle  Secondary

Australian Curriculum General Capability: Critical and creative thinking

Australian Curriculum General Capability: Numeracy

Teacher

Local Copy: Lesson Plan & Student Worksheets (PDF 16p)

This resource was developed as a result of participation in CSIRO’s teacher professional learning program, Educator on Board, by Olivia Belshaw (2019). Copyright owned by Department for Education, New South Wales.

Time taken: 5 - 6 Lessons x 50 minute lessons that include a variety of learning tasks including discussion, modelling, research, comprehension and application tasks.

Nature of the inquiry problem: How do scientists know what lies beneath the sea surface?

Suitable year levels and subject areas: Earth Science Year 9/ Senior Earth Science

Curriculum links: Australian Curriculum Science: Year 9

• The theory of plate tectonics explains global patterns of geological activity and continental movement. (ACSSU180)

• Scientific understanding, including models and theories, is contestable and is refined over time through a process of review by the scientific community (ACSHE157)

• Advances in scientific understanding often rely on technological advances and are often linked to scientific discoveries (ACSHE158)

• Use knowledge of scientific concepts to draw conclusions that are consistent with evidence (ACSIS170)

Senior Earth Sciences

Development of complex models and/or theories often requires a wide range of evidence from multiple individuals and across disciplines (ACSES009)(ACSES038)
Conduct investigations, including using map and field location techniques and environmental sampling procedures, safely, competently and methodically for the collection of valid and reliable data (ACSES032)
Select, construct and use appropriate representations, including maps and other spatial representation, diagrams and flow charts, to communicate conceptual understanding, solve problems and make predictions (ACSE035)

NSW Marine Studies Senior Course: Optional module 7: Oceanography

Learning Objectives
  
Students will learn about underwater geological features and how scientists map the sea floor, looking at specific examples of bathymetric maps collected from the RV Investigator 2019 voyage into the Coral Sea. Students will apply skills to interpret maps, construct a 3D model and plot modified bathymetry data.

Student Learning Outcomes*
Students will

• Learn about the process of bathymetry and the role of SONAR

• Investigate the range of underwater geological features

• Apply knowledge to interpret actual bathymetric images obtained by the RV Investigator

• Use data from bathymetry maps to create a 3D model of an underwater geological feature

• Plot modified bathymetric data to construct an image of the sea floor and identify the possible feature mapped

Assessment outcomes
  
A short formative quiz is included if teachers wish to use it to assess student learning.

Information and communications technology (ICT)
   
Students will need access to a device to complete the research components. Teachers can print out copies of the Investigator Blog articles for students without access to the internet at home. Teachers will need access to a computer and projector to display images of the bathymetry maps.

Find it with GPS! (developed by Try Engineering)

Primary Middle  Secondary

Australian Curriculum General Capability: Critical and creative thinking

Australian Curriculum General Capability: Numeracy

Teacher

Local Copy: Lesson Plan + Student Worksheet [PDF 24pages]
Local Copy: Student Worksheet [Word 17 pages]

This lesson explores the technology that makes GPS possible and takes a look at global variations. Students work in teams to brainstorm recommendations for applying GPS technology to meet the needs of a global society.

Learn about global positioning systems.
Learn about engineering design.
Learn how engineering can help solve society’s challenges.
Learn about teamwork and problem solving.

Build Materials (For each team)
Required Materials

Student Worksheets
Rope or string
At least one handheld GPS system (phone or separate device)

Design Challenge


You are a team of engineers who have been given the challenge of solving a problem the world faces through the use of GPS. First, you will compare measuring the distance between two spots in your school yard using both a GPS system (either handheld, or one embedded in a phone) and a traditional measurement, using a rope or string.

Then, you will brainstorm within your group to identify three problems, and then determine which of the three has the greatest impact on society. You’ll develop a proposal to present to your class and then each team will reflect and consider the best new application of GPS. You’ll have to consider whether potential errors or even sabotage of the GPS system would cause more problems than your application would solve.

Criteria

Compare the distance between 2 spots.
Propose 3 problems.

Constraints

Use only the materials provided.

Websites, Games & Apps

Science Buddies: Cartography: Projecting the Globe on a Rectangular Map Primary Middle Teacher: Lesson Plan [PDF instructions] Australian Curriculum General Capability: Critical and creative thinking
Wolf-GIS APEX App FREE By Wolf-Tek, Inc.
Primary Middle  Secondary Australian Curriculum General Capability: ICT Capability Wolf-GIS APEX provides easy-to-use mobile GIS, drawing, and mapping tools for the collection, management, and display of your location-based data, providing you with the visual context to make better, more informed decisions. With powerful GIS functionality, enhanced performance, useful map-based tools, and data-sharing capabilities, APEX