Humanities - Natural Disasters: The Grapes of Wrath

Subject Area: Humanities / History

 

Unit of Study: Natural Disasters: The Grapes of Wrath

 

Brief Description: Natural Disasters: The Grapes of Wrath will explore the wild consequences that emerge from natural, man-made and man-accelerated disasters. The unit will look at prominent disasters in our recent past, as well as the underlying causes of these hugely impactful events. 

 

Scaffolding Learning

At the conclusion of this unit of study students will have: 

 

An understanding of key knowledge

  • Environmental, economic and technological factors that influence environmental change and human responses to its management (VCGGK145)
  • Causes and consequences of an environmental change, comparing examples from Australia and at least one other country (VCGGK147)
  • Issues affecting the development of places and their impact on human wellbeing, drawing on a study from a developing country or region in Africa, South America or the Pacific Islands (VCGGK153)

Attained these key skills 

  • Predict changes in the characteristics of places over time and identify the possible implications of change for the future (VCGGC127)
  • Collect and record relevant geographical data and information, using ethical protocols, from reliable and useful primary and secondary sources (VCGGC130)
  • Select, organise and represent data and information in different forms, including by constructing special purpose maps that conform to cartographic conventions, using digital and spatial technologies as appropriate (VCGGC131)

Demonstrated the Victorian curriculum standards and capabilities

  • Sustainability
  • Intercultural capability
  • Ethical capability
  • Literacy and numeracy

Assessment Tasks

Students will be required to complete the following assessment tasks:

  • Natural Disaster Reporting - Mock Editorial
  • Gathering Data and Fieldwork - Combined Excursion and Assessment
  • Future Proofing Our World - Group Project
     

Additional learning opportunities

  • Excursion to the Melbourne earthquake fault lines
  • Assessment task fieldwork
  • Victorian State Emergency Service school incursion 

Resources

  • Matilda Education - Year 10 Humanities Textbook
  • Digital device (laptops preferred)

Pathways

This unit of study could provide students with the following pathway.